The Southport School: Gold Coast’s elite TSS buys Marana Gardens aged care facility for development

One of the Gold Coast’s most elite private schools is taking control of a retirement village, with plans to dramatically change the site. FULL STORY

It’s out with the old and in with the new – quite literally.

One of the Gold Coast’s most elite schools is taking control of a neighbouring retirement village, with plans to convert it into housing.

The Southport School (TSS), in what is believed to be a first for the city, has lodged plans with the Gold Coast City Council to turn the Marana Gardens aged care facility into housing which will be rented out.

The 19,150 sqm Ridgeway Ave complex, operated by the Church of Christ since 1989, currently has 71 beds spread across 10 single-storey buildings.

The Marana Gardens aged care facility has been bought by TSS Picture Glenn Hampson

TSS, under the Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane, has bought the site and will transform it into a 22-dwellling housing estate.

The existing buildings will remain in place, with internal modifications made to covert them into self-contained units.

A TSS spokeswoman said the internal construction would begin in 2025, with work expected to take around six months.

“The Church of Christ reached out TSS and we were delighted to this accept fabulous opportunity to extend the TSS Prep campus,” she said.

“Staff will be given the opportunity first followed by the local community.

“Once ready for lease, TSS will be pleased to have rentals available to support.

“We look forward to the opportunities this property offers to our families for the near future and long term.”

TSS plans to use the site as housing.

The retirement village backs onto the historic education institute’s primary school campus.

The parcel of land where the buildings sit was subdivided prior to the sale from the existing Golden Age Retirement Village which is also operated by the Church of Christ and will not be affected by the redevelopment works.

Under the plans, there will units of several forms, topped by a single six-bedroom unit, They will include seven with five bedrooms, three four-bedrooms, six with three-bedrooms and five one-bedrooms.

“The proposed development (conversion of buildings to dwellings) is intended to be undertaken in stages, allowing residents to occupy the earlier stages prior to the completion of the building work for the later stages.

“Staging plans have not yet been prepared and will be subject to further consultation with the building contractors.”

Councillor Mark Hammel. Picture: Glenn Campbell

It comes amid growing concerns about the lack of affordable housing in the city.

City planning boss Cr Mark Hammel said the TSS move was a first but was unlikely to be the last as the Gold Coast’s housing market remains under pressure.

“This is the first of these (from a school) I've heard of but it’s an issue I’ve heard a lot about from principals that staff have trouble finding housing near where they teach,” he said.

“It’s a same issue that a lot of essential services are now finding here – police and nurses – who need to live near where they work but are now having to move further and further away due to the cost of rentals.

Brooke Patterson Picture: Portia Large.

“It is why it is critical to get a new planning scheme in place that encourages additional dwellings in the right place.”

Area councilor Brooke Patterson said it was a “creative approach for ensuring affordable housing for new teachers”.

“I was pleased to hear the retirement body was happy with it going to a school which was aligned with them,” she said.

Originally published as The Southport School: Gold Coast’s elite TSS buys Marana Gardens aged care facility for development