Resthaven Mount Gambier

Resthaven Mount Gambier is a residential aged care development located one block from the commercial centre of Mount Gambier, positioned alongside a State heritage listed church and manse on a site with over six metres of fall. The development provides 92 residential places, including two-room apartment accommodation. The design mediates between the intensity of the adjacent commercial area and the finer grain of surrounding residential neighbourhoods, while responding carefully to the presence of the adjoining church and its heritage context.

A strong sense of place underpins the architectural response. The site’s history, which includes a former girls’ college and church hall, informs a design approach that references both its heritage character and its contemporary setting. Built form, materiality and scale are articulated to establish a cohesive streetscape and a considered dialogue with the church.

Connection to community has been a key driver of the project. The design supports engagement with the adjoining precinct and reinforces a visible and welcoming presence within the local context.

The project also introduces an adaptable apartment model, based on a Class 9C bedroom module. Each apartment is designed with services in place to enable efficient conversion to two high care rooms, supporting evolving care needs over time. A comprehensive consultation process informed the design, including multiple visits to Mount Gambier and community engagement sessions with local stakeholders.