Former Ritz Nursing Home in Leura to be refurbished into new aged care facility

A NSW aged care provider has made a second attempt at breathing new life into the heritage-listed site of a failed Blue Mountains nursing home. Here’s the latest.

Pathways – a residential aged care provider with four other locations in NSW – is planning to renovate the old Ritz Nursing Home in Leura and turn it into a brand new aged care facility, called Pathways Leura Village.

A NSW aged care provider is making a second attempt at resurrecting an old nursing home in the Blue Mountains which was shut down in 2018.

Pathways – a residential aged care provider with four other locations in NSW – has lodged plans with the state government to renovate the old Ritz Nursing Home in Leura.

The site was previously an aged care home run by provider Milstern until it was closed down following a failed audit into its quality of care.

The application proposes to restore the heritage-listed building to its former glory with 120 beds. Plans also include an extension to the main building and transforming the former manager’s residence into a wellness centre.

There are also plans to transform the historic landscaped gardens.

The Ritz Nursing Home (pictured) was shut down in 2018 after it failed an audit of its quality of care the year before.

This is not the first time the provider has attempted to redevelop the site, after failing to get council approval for similar works in 2021.

An appeal for that application was lodged in the Planning and Environment Court, but was ultimately dismissed by Commissioner Danielle Dickson in February 2024.

If the latest application is approved, the site will become Pathways' Leura Village aged care facility – the fifth in its portfolio.

The Pathways Leura Village website states the aged care provider acquired the property the year after it was shut down, with the intent of turning it into a “luxurious residential aged care facility supported by a wellness centre and allied healthcare services”.

A Pathways spokeswoman said the organisation was putting together a “refreshed team” and revising their approach to refreshing the site to bring “much needed, high quality residential aged care accommodation” in Leura.

“The Blue Mountains population is older and ageing faster than the NSW average,” she said.

“The proposal will assist in meeting the urgent and growing need for seniors housing.”

She said Pathways would be seeking community feedback in the coming months to help plan the new design, but could not confirm when residents could expect to see the new aged care facility open, as the application process is guided by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.