Australian Unity is spending $125 million transforming its former 15-storey head office, located opposite Albert Park Lake in South Melbourne, into a new residential aged care development dubbed The Alba.
Co-located with the 19-storey, 79-apartment retirement village, the award-winning The Grace Albert Park, the development, due to open early next year, will include 83 aged care beds and 71 assisted living apartments, designed for people who need additional support day-to-day, but want to remain living independently in their own home.
Each one- or two-bedroom assisted living apartment will comprise a living and dining area, a kitchenette, one or two bathrooms, plus a balcony. Most have views of Albert Park Lake or the Melbourne city skyline with in-house services such as meals, cleaning, laundry services and nursing care on hand.
Shared spaces will include residents’ lounges, restaurant, recreation and games rooms, library, in-house cinema, café and rooftop recreation deck.
Beverly Smith, Australian Unity’s Executive General Manger of Residential Communities, said the demographic drivers for high-quality accommodation for seniors, including assisted living apartments and specialist aged care, are clear.
“This health precinct in South Melbourne, that includes The Grace and shortly The Alba, will enable people to access a continuum of accommodation and health care options to meet their changing needs,” she said.
“As a result of the social and economic uncertainty, there is a growing understanding that we need to find new ways to invest in age-friendly accommodation and services for older Australians.”
