Mittagong’s St Joseph’s Convent development approved

A Mittagong convent built in 1926 is set to be transformed into affordable housing with hopes of bringing to an end its troubled past.

A historic Southern Highlands convent will be converted into a boarding house after $6.5 million plans were approved, hoping to move forward after years of turmoil.

The building locals know as Sunshine Lodge has been approved for development to create an affordable boarding house in Mittagong with 48 single rooms.

A development application was conditionally approved in March, but the applicant is seeking to review the deferred approval with the planning panel.

The heritage building, at 5 Alice Street, Mittagong, has a dark history including deaths and a suspicious fire. There have also been many failed proposals to redevelop the building, which has sat empty since 2013.

It was built as a convent in 1926 to house the nuns and girls at St Joseph’s Catholic School. The building is still in the middle of the town’s conservation area, although its facade is badly damaged by neglect.

St Joseph’s Convent and boarding school has a long history in Mittagong. Picture: Noel Thompson Architecture

In 1972, the convent closed and the building became Sunshine Lodge, a boarding house for people with disabilities.

After the death of the owner in 2010, the lodge was sold to new licensee Carolina Torregrosa. In her two years at the helm, Sunshine Lodge had three deaths and 49 breaches of Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care regulations.

John Graham, 62, John Dawson, 56, and Ferdinand Drjanc, 68, all died in a three-month period in 2011 while living at the lodge.

Mr Graham died after he became seriously ill and was placed in palliative care, Mr Dawson died of pneumonia while at the lodge, and Mr Drjanc died after choking on food hours after eating.

An in-depth review by the Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care revealed 34 high-level breaches at the lodge.

They included inadequate access to medical services, lack of response to alleged incidents of sexual assault, unfit staff, and quality and quantity of food.After a number of cautions and a notice of intention to revoke her licence, Ms Torregrosa gave up her licence and the Lodge closed in October 2012.

80 people had to be rehomed after years of living in the area.

Artist impression of the attempt by owners to respectfully reflect the heritage elements of the convent’s architecture. Picture: Sunshine Lodge

An inquest into the deaths at the lodge was due to start in April 2013 when Sunshine Lodge went up in flames. Magistrate Sharon Freund determined the “suspicious” fire was deliberately lit, although she was unable to uncover the culprit.

he fire had been lit after the subpoenas had been served. Magistrate Freund was similarly unable to determine whether Sunshine Lodge was responsible for the three deaths.

However, she told the court Ms Torregrosa had profited from the neglect of the disabled residents by providing only the bare minimum for residents.

Following the fire, Sunshine Lodge has been a contentious issue in Mittagong. There have been numerous attempts to develop the site, all of which have been fiercely knocked back by either residents or councillors.

In 2015, an application to partially demolish the heritage building was met with strong opposition in a council meeting. Despite the council’s heritage advisor telling the meeting he thought it was a good result, the council voted to refuse the partial demolition in favour of preserving its heritage value.

Another application in 2018 was also knocked back for relying on demolition, a decision which was contested in the Land and Environment Court.

The ensuing mediation resulted in the submission which was approved in March, albeit conditionally. The latest development application will turn Sunshine Lodge into a $6.5 million affordable housing block with 48 single rooms.

The application is back before the council to request a review of the conditions imposed by the now-suspended council for their approval.

Sunshine Lodge in 2012 was becoming run down even before the fire. Picture: Noel Thompson Architecture

The conditions stipulate the development can’t begin until council is satisfied the original facade of the convent will be restored, the floor space ratios are compliant with council policy, and the resolution of a zoning issue.

These conditions were imposed to appease opposed residents and to ensure the convent retains its heritage aesthetic.

Developer Scott Lee said the applicant doesn’t think the council conditions are necessary or fair for the development and hopes the planning panel will agree.

When asked about the turbulent history of the building, Mr Lee said the applicant was optimistic about the future of the building with such an “interesting history”. “We think we’ve got a very good development and one that reflects the discussion with council previously,” he said.

Mr Lee said the deadline for the approval review will be in early September.

“The sooner, the better,” he said.

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