Hornsby, Wahroonga Senior Living Upgrades Move Ahead

A pair of State-Significant senior living upgrades worth more than $250 million are progressing about 6km apart in Sydney’s north-west.

The United Protestant Association has won approval for its $178.2-million demolition and extension to an existing facility at 1610, 1614-1634 Pacific Highway and 5 Munderah Street at Wahroonga.

Six new buildings, with heights from five to seven storeys, will comprise 132 independent living units. A new village square, 180 car parking spaces, and a collection of new amenities will also be added to the facility.

The 21,910sq m site, about 20km from the Sydney CBD, will yield 32,465sq m of gross floor area, at a floor space ratio of 1.54:1.

UPA will devote more than 50 per cent of the typology mix to the 70 four-bedroom units (including three-bedroom with study).

Two one-bedroom, 42 two-bedroom or two-bedroom with study, and 19 three-bedroom homes will also be added. When the upgrade is complete, the facility will comprise 167 independent living units as well as 56 existing residential care facility beds, and up to 373 residents.

10,000 seniors’ homes needed

According to the application, the over-75-years demographic is proportionately one of the fastest-growing in the Ku-ring-gai local government area, and is projected to increase by nearly 7000 from 2036. The 65-74 years demographic will grow by almost 4000 over that time period. 

The Ku-ring-gai Council, which finalised an alternative Transport-Oriented Development in November last year, has also said that the 30,245 residents over 65 years old will require 10,704 homes by 2036, according to the proposal.

An emphasis on downsizing and ageing in place is necessary, but over the past five years an average of just 76 senior living homes have been approved annually.

▲ Landscaped and communal open space form key parts of the proposal.

Hornsby activity ramps up

Meanwhile, Thompson Healthcare is exhibiting plans for a $64.7-million project at 132-134 Beecroft Road in the Hornsby Shire, less than 6km from the UPA site.

The existing 77-bed facility would be demolished to make way for a three-storey residential aged care facility, along with resident amenities and staff offices and a 55-space basement car park. A Federation-style cottage on the site would be relocated.

The 7911sq m site would apply FSR of 0.99:1 to yield GFA of 7893sq m. On-grade landscaped area of 3185sq m (or 40 per cent of site area) would be complemented by another 550sq m on slab, and 3599sq m (or 37 per cent) would be dedicated to communal open space.

▲ The Hornsby local government area will face a severe shortfall of homes appropriate for senior living within a decade.

According to the application, the population of the Hornsby local government area is older than the NSW average, and ageing faster. Occupancy rates for residential aged care facilities are at a five-year high and about 88,000 people are on the waitlist for places.

The proposal also cites a study by Colliers in conjunction with Boxwell and Co (“Aged Care Supply shortfall is now a crisis”) that found only 578 net residential aged care places were added in 2025, while demand increased by over 9000.

Elsewhere in Hornsby, TBG Senior Living Services is pursuing the emerging trend of vertical senior living facilities with a 12-storey project at 228-234 Pacific Highway.

And on the border of Hornsby and The Hills, Anglicare began work this month on a 595-home masterplanned senior living precinct. The expansion to Kilvinton Village, believed to be Australia’s oldest retirement living community, will proceed over the next 15 to 20 years.