Vacant Baulkham Hills convent could become seniors housing complex

THE vacant Sisters of Mercy convent in Baulkham Hills could one day become a sprawling seniors housing development.

Aerial shot of land that could become a seniors housing complex in Baulkham Hills. Picture: Google Maps

THE vacant Sisters of Mercy convent in Baulkham Hills could one day become a sprawling seniors housing development.

The Windsor Rd site, opposite The Hills Private Hospital, could become a two- and three-storey seniors housing complex with retail space in a proposal before tonight’s meeting of The Hills Shire Council.

The 20,483sq m block currently contains the convent, a 16-place child care centre, a family centre and housing for the Sisters of Mercy nuns.

The proposal outlines increasing the height limit from 9m (two to three storeys) up to 12m (three to four storeys).

It also seeks permission to add retail uses to the development, including a hairdresser, cafe and medical consulting rooms.

The original building of St Michael’s Family Centre, which operated as an orphanage for young boys in 1902.

If approved, the development would house up to 120 residential aged care beds and up to 70 independent living units.

The accommodation building, which houses nine nuns, will be retained.

The applicant, Wakefield Planning, also has plans to expand the childcare centre to up to 30 children.

It is the second plan brought forward for the site after the original proposal was knocked back for seeking to increase the height limit to 16m (or five storeys).

The council deemed the original proposal as “in excess of what was considered appropriate for the site”.

“The planning proposal addresses the need for additional housing stock that allows the population to ‘age in place’ and would enable the provision of a range of housing options for seniors and people with a disability,” the council report said.

“The site is located in proximity to bus services and the Baulkham Hills Private Hospital, which offers rehabilitation programs that can be beneficial to seniors and people with a disability, such as cardiac rehabilitation, falls prevention and lifestyle programs.

The block of land is in between St Michael’s Church and the Alliance Church.

“The number of residents aged 64 (and over) is anticipated to grow significantly by 2036.

“This will result in an increase in demand for smaller homes and seniors housing in an area that has a high proportion of existing detached dwelling stock.”

The Windsor Rd site is wedged between two buildings of environmental heritage significance — the Alliance Church and St Michael’s Church.

The site was known as the St Michael’s Family Centre and was opened by the Sisters of Mercy in 1902.

It was used as an orphanage for young boys and more than 4000 boys have been looked after during its time.

The centre was also used to assist people who were homeless and at-risk women and children with medium-term accommodation, education programs and counselling services.

The centre and convent was closed in 2012.