Bolton Clarke announces new Bundoora retirement village

Aged care provider Bolton Clarke officially launched its second retirement and aged care community in Melbourne last week.

The planned retirement village, ‘Callisto Place’, will feature 90 one, two- and three-bedroom apartments in the Bundoora suburb.

Next to Callisto place, Bolton Clarke anticipates building an integrated community with 108 aged care beds and 30 assisted living apartments during the second stage of construction.

Bolton Clarke is Australia's fourth largest residential aged care provider and leading not-for-profit organisation.

Project director, James Mantis, said the first residents are expected to move in during the first quarter of 2024.

“We decided to build a second retirement living community off the back of the success of our first one, which is in St. Kilda, Melbourne,” Mantis said.

“The village will offer age-friendly accommodation with a contemporary design.”

Bolton Clarke kicked off the first stage of construction on the retirement village in October last year.

Mantis said the community would boast shared facilities such as a senior-specific gym, library, cinema and rooftop entertainment terrace.

One of the key features will be the 2,000 square metres of public parkland with barbecues and shade areas surrounding the village.

Mantis said that making the parkland accessible to anyone from the public would help combat loneliness among older people.

“We wanted to hone in on intergenerational relationships,” he said.

“Anyone from the public will be able to use that space, which will hopefully be filled with life and laughter.”

Loneliness is considered one of the primary reasons for older people to enter aged care prematurely.

Studies have shown that older people are more at risk of social isolation and loneliness.

As we become older, we’re more likely to become less mobile, have fewer economic resources and experience the deaths of loved ones.

Loneliness has been associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, cognitive deterioration and mortality.

“Social participation significantly helps in combating loneliness,” Mantis said.

“So, by including these active spaces, we hope to foster a sense of inclusiveness and engagement with its residents.

“They’ll become part of the community, which is essential for anyone to continue their sense of self and purpose.”

Bolton Clarke Board Member Dr Cherrell Hirst said Bundoora lends itself to be an intergenerational hub due to its unique characteristics.

Bundoora is the headquarters of the La Trobe University campus, residing close to 40,000 students, and the RMIT university campus.

The community will also be close to public transport, cafes, restaurants, and community services.

“We hope that Callisto Place will extend this local presence with a contemporary integrated community providing connected care services that will support people to age well,” Hirst said.

“With our dedicated at home support nurses, carers and allied health professionals based on site, I know Callisto Place will be a community that residents are proud to call home.

“I am pleased to be able to mark this milestone with our local teams and future residents and look forward to seeing this work progress over the coming year.”

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