Over-55s Village Planned for WA Quadriplegic Centre Site

Disability and elders support group Alinea Inc wants to redevelop its Quadriplegic Centre at Shenton Park in Perth’s leafy western suburbs into two apartment buildings for over-55s.

Located at 4-6 Orton Road, about 5km west of the Perth CBD, Alinea, formerly known as the Spine and Limb Foundation, has applied to redevelop its adjacent Quadriplegic Centre property at 2 Orton Road into two apartment buildings and associated structures.

If approved by Western Australia’s Inner Metro Development Assessment Panel, the buildings will be of three and five storeys.

The lifestyle village will also include a 178sq m al fresco dining area, 41sq m art studio, 56sq m loungeroom, 159sq m functions room, 19sq m physiotherapy and health area and 106sq m gym spa and sauna area.

Designed by Perth-based SPH Architecture and Interiors, the 46-apartment project is the first of four stages planned for the 19,099sq m site.

The Quadriplegic Centre has operated at the site since the 1960s, providing rehabilitative care and permanent accommodation to people living with quadriplegia and other serious spinal injuries.

Alinea executive director Shane Yensch said that after changes to WA government patient care practices, including an emphasis on at-home care, the Quadriplegic Centre had just 11 residents, A decade ago there were around 70.

Yensch said the remaining residents would move to a building being developed next door by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Western Australia.

“It’s better for everyone because the [Quadriplegic] centre is well past the end of its useful life and the people who had been here for a while didn’t want to move out of the area,” he told The Urban Developer.

He said Alinea would own and operate the planned over-55s village.  

“We’re looking to pitch it at a level that’s not over-the-top western suburbs expensive,” he said.

Alinea also operates the Osboine and Koh-I-Noor aged-care facilities at nearby Wembley and the Camelia Court retirement village and Ritcher Lodge aged-care facilities in the eastern Perth suburb of Bayswater.

Alinea’s Shenton Park plans are open for comment until February 27.