A rose by any other name

A two-storey Federation house in Sydney’s upper north shore is to become the centrepiece of a new luxury seniors living estate.

An artist’s impression of luxury seniors living estate The Rose by Moran.

A red-brick, two-storey Federation house in one of Sydney’s premium upper north shore suburbs will become the centrepiece of a new luxury seniors living estate to be delivered by well-known aged-care boss Shane Moran.

The estate, The Rose by Moran, will be developed by Dr Moran’s Provectus Care and offer 34 two- and three-bedroom premium residences. The stately Rosemorran mansion will reside in front of the living quarters and will act as a communal space for residents to socialise and access on-site amenities.

Ensuring the nearly 120-year-old home stays true to its original design, it will soon be refurbished and look largely unchanged from the entrance.

“A lot of the residents who will be coming to The Rose by Moran will be locals who are downsizing and have grown up around these sorts of properties. They’ll still want that feel and that stability and heritage around them,” Dr Moran says.

“I think the baby boomers are demanding a lot and expect higher levels of comfort and care.”

Dr Moran is no stranger to restoring heritage homes. In 1997, the Moran family — led by patriarch Doug, wife Greta and their seven children — restored the 57-room Victorian mansion known as Swifts, in Darling Point.

Following the deaths of his parents, Dr Moran bought out his siblings and is now the primary owner of the project home. He said there is still a fair bit of work to do and the home is constantly changing.

Services at The Rose by Moran will focus on wellbeing and lifestyle, offering 2500sq m of shared space. A club room, bar, dining room, library, a music room will be available for socialising, while for the active there is a spa, sauna, gym and pool.

The service will also include a concierge, shuttle bus, 24-hour emergency service, cellar and ­cinema

Prices start at $1.2m and range up to $3.4m for a three-bedroom penthouse.

The Rose by Moran will be the first independent living estate to fall under the “by Moran” brand.

Dr Moran has been in the aged-care industry for more than 30 years and was the former CEO of the family business, Moran Health Group.

Provectus Care was launched in 2001, with the latest project joining luxury aged-care facilities in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and China.

Downsizers are looking for low-maintenance homes and comfort. Dr Moran says the reason independent-living estates, similar to those on offer by others in the market like Aveo and LendLease, have become so popular is because they offer community.

“Loneliness among older Australians is a major social issue.

“It’s not just medical care or nursing support that people need, but it's the ability to have social interactions and to be in an engaging environment,” Dr Moran says.

“Being in a place such as The Rose, you can be very private and independent but you’ve got neighbours who hopefully have similar interests and come from similar backgrounds to form friendships.”

Pets will be allowed in each of the 34 apartments to keep residents company.

Antoniades Architects designed the project to be spacious, light-filed and modern. Timber flooring will run through living spaces, while bedrooms will have 100 per cent wool carpets. There are lifts in the underground carparking areas to connect to residents to their homes.

Inside, luxury finishes include quartz benchtops, and brass or chrome tapware. There are also furniture packages on offer through interiors designer Coco Republic.

The Rose by Moran apartments are due for completion by late 2020 and will be available under standard retirement village terms with monthly fees and a departure fee.