Abandoned retirement village covered in vile graffiti ‘ruining’ a Melbourne riverfront
A $14m riverside property has become Melbourne's most expensive ghost town, with children now exploring its burnt-out ruins as demolition demands grow.
Shocking new images of an abandoned retirement village dubbed a “cesspit” by frustrated neighbours has sparked a fresh call for its immediate demolition.
Local Cameron Howe says the derelict Patterson Lakes estate should be cleared ahead of a Supreme Court ruling on its potential sale.
“The picturesque Patterson River setting has been marred by this ugly eyesore for almost a decade,” Mr Howe said.
“Neighbours have had to put up with fires, vile graffiti and rubbish.
“It’s a cesspit.”
The former Kingston councillor said neighbours of Berkeley Living estate have been waiting eight years for action on the derelict village.
The estate has been empty since it was closed in 2017 following a bitter financial dispute between staff and residents’ families.
Squatters and vandals quickly turned the site into a “ghetto” which was later ravaged by a series of fires.
Vandals have covered what remains of the structures with obscene graffiti and $100,000 worth of fences installed by the local council in 2022 have been either ripped out or pushed aside.
When the Herald Sun visited the site on Monday afternoon there was no fencing across the back or sides of the old village.
The burnt and crumbling buildings were easily accessible and one Gladesville Blvd resident, who did not want to be named, said the site had become a magnet for adventurous local schoolchildren.
“I’ve seen kids in school uniform, some primary school age, going into the buildings,” she said.
Mr Howe, who now works as a real estate agent, said the prime site overlooking Patterson River was worth at least $11m.
“It could fetch up to $14m if the site was cleared and remediated before it was sold,” he said.
Consumer Affairs Victoria is currently seeking a Supreme Court order to forcibly sell the retirement village land to repay former residents and their families, left out of pocket when Berkeley Living Retirement Village closed.
Mr Howe feared a new owner would not immediately demolish the remaining buildings and secure the site.
A Kingston Council spokesperson said the council was “eagerly awaiting” a decision from the court on the proceedings instigated by Consumer Affairs.
“We continue to periodically review the site and have spent significant resources trying to secure what is private land,” the spokesperson said.
“Council will continue to review the status of the site, which has been a challenge during the protracted period while the building has not been occupied.
“We intend to further engage with the State Government and work with the local member once the court decision is handed down.”