AUSTRALIA | Stage 2 of RSL LifeCare's development in Quentin Place in Kaleen is set to introduce more offerings for seniors in Canberra.
RSL LifeCare will begin construction in June on Stage 2 of St Quentin Place in Kaleen, adding 83 new homes for seniors in an estimated AUD 65 million project as Canberra faces rising demand for housing that supports ageing in place.
The new stage will deliver 72 apartments and 11 townhouses, along with a new community hub, moving the project from planning into delivery at a time when the ACT’s population aged over 65 is projected to grow from 62,203 people in 2021 to more than 114,000 by 2060.
Canberra-based builder Bloc is expected on site from early June, with construction forecast to take about 20 months and completion targeted for early 2028. A sod-turning event on 10 June will mark the official start of construction.
Stage 2 follows the completed first stage of St Quentin Place, which delivered 20 homes. Together, the two stages will bring the community to 103 homes and deepen RSL LifeCare’s retirement living presence in Canberra’s north.
The project comes as the ACT Government works to enable 30,000 new homes by 2030, including more diverse housing options for people at different life stages, while national retirement living data points to a tight market with limited vacancy across the sector. It also comes as aged care reform is placing greater focus on choice, independence and supporting seniors to remain in their communities for longer.
RSL LifeCare CEO Drew Pearce said the project reflected the need for more housing options for seniors and the importance of expanding well-located retirement living supply.
“This is about giving veterans and seniors more choice in where and how they live, in a part of Canberra they already know. It combines quality housing with access to care and support as needs change, adding to the range of options available for older people at a time when demand is only increasing,” he said.
Developments like this are increasingly part of the broader housing conversation, expanding retirement living options for seniors through homes designed for convenience, connection and confidence in established communities.
RSL LifeCare Chief Property Officer Steve Thomas said Stage 2 would add both new homes and community infrastructure to an established retirement living community in Canberra’s north, responding to demand for lower-maintenance housing designed around ageing in place.
“For the sector, this is about delivering the types of homes seniors are looking for in locations close to services and community. The mix of apartments, townhouses and shared amenity reflects changing resident expectations and the direction of demand,” Thomas said.
The new homes will include ageing-in-place features such as step-free access, wider doorways, secure entry, lift access for apartments, storage and the option to access home care services if needed.
The final design reflects changes made through the planning process, including townhouses and lower building heights along the Warrego Circuit frontage, as well as extensive landscaping across the site.
More news here.
