The Bushland History

The original Manning Valley Senior Citizens Homes’ Committee was formed in November 1958 with the aim of carrying on a Public Benevolent Charitable organisation for the care, comfort and maintenance of the aged and disabled.

In February 1960 at a public meeting, a Ladies Auxiliary was formed. This committee continues today as Bushland Place Auxiliary, and has been a tower of strength to management. Membership is no longer restricted to women.

The Manning Street building which was known as “Karingal Nursing Home” for years was purchased in November 1961. It was remodelled and renovated to meet the requirements of the Department of Health by voluntary labour from local tradesmen. The Home was officially opened by Dr A Muscio in June 1962 and the first 5 residents were admitted. Karingal ultimately accommodated 47 residents.

The attractive site in Bushland Drive was obtained by the generous donation of 4.5 hectares from the Kempe Family during 1977.

In 1984 the organisation was incorporated under the Companies Act as a company limited by guarantee, with a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors includes members of the Company and one Nominee of the Taree RSL Sub-Branch.

The Board of Directors has been pleased to have a very close association with the Taree RSL Sub-branch which, during the ten year period 1980-1990, resulted in direct donations to the organisation in excess of $250,000. The initial donation of $25,000 in 1980 was the founding donation of the Bushland Place Nursing Home Appeal, which saw the communities of the Manning and Wallamba Valleys raise $160,000 in 8 months, so that the nursing home entitlements, which were on hand, could materialise.

BUSHLAND PLACE NURSING HOME / KARINGAL GARDENS (100 BEDS)         

During 1976 the Federal/State Co-ordinating Committee approved a 33 bed Nursing Home for Bushland Place. A special fundraising appeal was launched and, as a result of the public support, the General Committee was able to convince the Government that a 40 bed Nursing Home could be financed and the additional seven beds were granted.

Planning and construction programs were introduced immediately and in August 1982 Bushland Place 40 bed Nursing Home was officially opened by Sir William Keyes, who was the National President of the Returned Services League of Australia.

The Nursing Home was extended in 1984 to accommodate a further 5 residents, and again in 1987 with a further 42 residents. Both of these increases were as a result of reductions in our capacity on the Karingal site at 91 Manning Street. Two respite beds were added in 1991, providing short term accommodation. The residents of Karingal Nursing Home were transferred to Bushland Place Nursing Home on 26 September 1987.

In October 2008, Karingal Gardens, a new purpose built 100 bed aged care home only 500 metres from Bushland Place Nursing Home, was opened.

 The 89 beds from Bushland Place Nursing Home were transferred to Karingal Gardens, together with an additional 11 beds approved in the 2008 Aged Care Approvals Round to take the total number of approved beds to 100.

BUSHLAND PLACE HOSTEL / BUSHLAND PLACE / ALKIRA LODGE (91 BEDS)

During 1978 the Committee received a Commonwealth Government Grant and subsequently contracted for the construction of a 43 bed Hostel within the retirement village.

This Grant was provided through the Department of Social Security in attempting to provide adequate homes to care for the aged. The Grant for the Hostel, which was in excess of $750,000, was for the construction, site works and part furnishing of the project. The Hostel was occupied on 5 January 1980.

In August 2013, after extensive redevelopment of the former Bushland Place Nursing Home building, a 40 bed memory care unit with single rooms and ensuites was opened for resident admissions. These extensions increased the number of places at Alkira Lodge from 43 to 83.

In November 2018, the Bushland Place residential aged care home was renamed Alkira Lodge with the second stage of the Alkira Lodge redevelopment seeing the completion of an additional 28 rooms, and the moving of residents from the older building into these new rooms to facilitate the next stage of the redevelopment.

In January 2020 the refurbishment of the North Wing of the older building was completed with the residents in the South Wing moving into the newly refurbished 21 rooms. 

A further 2 beds were added with the relocation of Administration, Chapel and Hairdressing Salon to the rear of the premises, taking the total number of beds to 91.

BANYULA LODGE (94 BEDS)

Banyula Lodge, at Old Bar, has 94 suites and opened for its first residents in June 2001. 

The capacity of the facility doubled in July 2014 to 80 beds with the opening of a 40 bed memory care unit.

Another 14 bed wing in the Mainstream section of the home was completed in December 2021, taking the number of suites available for occupation to 94. This wing is yet to be opened.

KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY SERVICES

At the closing down of the Karingal facility in Manning Street, the central kitchen and laundry service provided from that site was re-established at Alkira Lodge in an area between the hostel and nursing home with a separate service entry between the buildings.

The kitchen facility established at that time was of the highest quality, as are the 1000 meals provided daily from that facility.  In February 1991, the Organisation expanded its laundry services and now undertakes its own linen service.

Due to an increase in operational beds over the past 10 years, a new expanded Central Laundry was built adjacent to the old laundry and opened in August 2020.

A new expanded Central kitchen was built in the place of the old central Kitchen / Laundry at Alkira Lodge and opened in October 2022, providing a more functional amenity in line with the recent redevelopment of the home.

ADMINISTRATION CENTRE, STAFF CENTRE AND CHAPEL

The original Administration centre and Chapel were officially opened and dedicated in a ceremony on 21st July 1991, however, they have since been moved as part of the redevelopment of the Alkira Lodge site.

A new Administration centre, Chapel, and hairdressing salon for the residents of Alkira Lodge was opened in March 2022 at the rear of the home.

BUSHLAND PLACE / JACARANDA AVENUE & JARRAH PLACE VILLA UNITS

In addition to the 54 Villa Units which are situated on the Bushland Place site, the organisation has 38 Villa Units on a separate site at Jacaranda Avenue & Jarrah Place, approximately 500 metres from Bushland Place.

BANYULA VILLA UNITS

Situated in Old Bar, Banyula Village has 52 Villa Units, and 8 Apartments, and is co- located with the 91 bed Banyula Lodge aged care home.

The construction of Villa Units commenced in July / August 1993 with the first Units occupied in January 1994.

WARRANA PLACE VILLA UNITS

Warrana Place Village, on the corner of Wingham Road and Marie Avenue, was officially opened in June 2004. The Village comprises 94 Villa Units.

PARKLANDS VILLA UNITS

parklands is the newest Village, located at 7 Bligh Street, and was opened in August 2016. The Village comprises of 14 Villa Units and a Community Centre.