Prime Fullarton site once home to Julia Farr Centre sold and set to be redeveloped into a residential precinct

The site of the former Julia Farr Centre in the eastern suburbs has been sold and is set to be completely transformed. Find out what’s planned.

An artist’s render of the planed development at the former Julia Farr Centre site which has sold for $42m. Supplied by state government

The former site of the Julia Farr Centre at Fullarton has been sold to two leading national healthcare and retirement providers for $42m.

Proceeds from the sale of the former disability accommodation site at Highgate Park will be placed in a Trust – to fund initiatives in support of South Australians living with a disability.

The developers plan to turn the site into “a high-end residential, retirement and aged care precinct.”

One of the buyers, Living Choice, develops retirement communities throughout Australia, with several developments across South Australia.

It purchased the centre’s West Block in 2011, opening Living Choice Fullarton in December 2014 which won multiple awards.

The other buyer, Opal HealthCare, owns five residential aged care communities in Adelaide and several others nationwide.

The 2.8ha site at 103 Fisher Street, Fullarton, includes an 11-story building with panoramic views of Adelaide on the upper levels which will be retained while much of the remainder of the site will be cleared to make way for new infrastructure.

The old Julia Farr building. Picture Supplied

Plans for the redevelopment of the old Julia Farr Centre site. Supplied by state government

Highgate Park, known as the Julia Farr Centre for many years, dates to 1878 when Mrs Julia Farr founded a committee to focus on the needs of people with disability.

In recent years, the site has been owned by a Trust with the Minister for Human Services Nat Cook as the sole trustee.

No new residents have moved in since it was earmarked for closure in 2014, with the last residents moved to supported community accommodation in April 2020.

A working group facilitated by the disability organisation JFA Purple Orange will provide recommendations on the future priorities and governance of the Trust that will hold the sale proceeds.

It is envisaged it will invest in initiatives to help connect people living with a disability to their communities.

It will not fund services that are the responsibility of the NDIS or government.

Options for a memorial to honour the legacy of Julia Farr and the lives and experiences of people with disability who spent time living at the site are being considered.

Ms Cook noted that prior to entering politics she spent decades as a nurse including time at Highgate Park supporting people with complex disability.

Human Services Minister, Nat Cook. Picture: Matt Loxton

“We provided great care but the days of large institutions delivering disability support are over,” she said.

“The decision to sell Highgate Park was made with strong support from the disability community, with clear agreement that new community-based care is a better approach.

“I’m really pleased the sale means two great organisations can build a new future on the site while the proceeds will support South Australians with disability.

“I look forward to the working group providing advice on how the sale proceeds are used – given the site has a history dating back more than 140 years, I hope the proceeds will support South Australians with disability for decades to come.”

JFA Purple Orange chair Tricia Spargo said the sale of the site was a significant milestone and an opportunity to reflect on how to build a fairer society which is genuinely inclusive of all people.

“Many South Australians living with disability spent time at Highgate Park and while some had positive experiences, there are others for whom the site is associated with struggle and trauma, reflecting a loss of liberty and personal choice per the institutionalisation approaches of past times – times that we have thankfully moved on from,” she said.

Living Choice director Ian Tregoning said: “Our masterplan includes further retirement apartments, an aged care community in conjunction with Opal HealthCare, residential townhouses and a central park with a large green space for public interaction and use.”