Building begins at Rushall Park

Building has started on a multi- million dollar development at the heritage-listed Rushall Park village in Fitzroy North, Melbourne.

The Old Colonists’ Association of Victoria (OCAV) has appointed Manresa Constructions as builders. The anticipated completion date is mid 2019, in time for the Association’s 150th anniversary celebrations.

The new dementia-friendly development includes 35 new units for older Victorians in need. These include single and double units within a three-storey development. Car parking and landscaping is included.

“Our mission is to provide affordable accommodation and support to older Victorians in need. We chose Manresa Constructions, after a comprehensive expression of interest phase, because of the company’s track record in delivering major projects on time, budget, and working sensitively in living communities,” CEO Phillip Wohlers said.

The new development has been designed by award-winning MGS architects, which are well known for their experience and expertise in designing social housing, ageing in place housing and sustainable architecture.

“Our architects have designed high quality, contemporary homes which take into account the needs of elderly people, and the existing architectural and urban qualities of the village,” Mr Wohlers said.

The architecture for the new build reflects contemporary style, and fits in with OCAV founding member George Seth Coppin vision who, almost 150 years ago, said the need for future housing should reflect the housing style of the times.

Antony Morris, Managing Director of Manresa Constructions, said the company, as part of the McCorkell Brown Group, has a solid experience in building multi-unit residences including heritage and social housing and is delighted to be a part of this important development and is pleased to be undertaking works once again for OCAV.

Currently OCAV’s wait list is over 1,000 people, the equivalent of seven years. This development will make significant inroads to the wait times. OCAV is currently investigating options for expansion beyond its current sites.

Affordable social housing is scarce in Victoria, as is noted in the recent Infrastructure Victoria’s draft 30-year strategy. The state’s social housing stock is amongst the lowest in Australia with 32,000 Victorians currently waiting for public housing.