Resthaven Malvern

Corinna, the property of the noted surgeon, Dr Shorney, at Cambridge Terrace, Malvern, was purchased for £8,690. The Resthaven Board, mindful of the growth in the need for accommodation for the aged, looked forward to the development of another scheme that would add lustre to the name, Resthaven.

Resthaven received a £10,000 cheque from Senator George McLeay to further the work at Resthaven Malvern; he recognised that this home was ‘a fine project’, worthy of ‘tribute’. Positions were advertised for a matron-housekeeper and domestic staff.

In May 1954, it was declared that a building project would soon commence at Resthaven Malvern, adding 14 bedrooms with an aim of providing for 50 residents. The state government, mindful of the need for aged care, assisted with a £1-for-£1 subsidy for capital works. Building began in October 1954, with Mrs Thomas Playford laying the foundation stone.

The newly completed wing was dedicated to Rev. Eric Tregilgas. With the addition, the home could accommodate 28 people; however, this left a lot to be desired considering the 200+ people on Resthaven’s waiting lists.

Through ‘two generous gifts’, three large rooms were added to the Tregilgas Wing.

A bequest from Mr Heinrich T. Noske was used to erect the Noske Wing, featuring seven double units and one single unit, and the Noske Men’s Wing, consisting of five single units. This marked the first time accommodation had been offered to men at Resthaven.

A gift from the Leaker family enabled the new 'Leaker Therapy Room' to be built. In addition, an expansion to the Noske Wing provided accommodation for an additional four men.

On 9 September 1985, Resthaven’s Head Office relocated from Pirie Street’s Epworth Building to Resthaven Malvern. The site continued to house head office employees for 30 years until a dedicated office building was constructed at Wayville in 2015.

The noise of chairs scraping on the vinyl flooring in the main dining room became irritating to many. After much consultation, it was decided that carpet would be laid in the room, and a donation of paint completed the new look. This collaborative work spread to the nursing home too, where three rooms were refurbished with new curtains, bed screens and colour coordinated bedspreads, all made possible by a donation.

With the aim of providing holistic care to residents and other older people in the community, the Resthaven Malvern Day Therapy Centre began operation with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech pathology and continence management all on offer. The service was free to people aged over 60.

The home's annual fete was held on 28 November 1987. It was the main fundraising effort for the year and was a 'tremendous success'.

After extremely lengthy negotiations, approval was finally given by the Unley Council to redevelop the bathrooms. Unfortunately, the building process was almost as lengthy as the negotiations, with each aspect taking twice as long as originally estimated. For example, it took three solid days to jackhammer the terrazzo floors in each bathroom instead of the estimated one day. When completed, a plunge bath was an exciting new feature — proving to be not only relaxing but also beneficial to skin and joint care.

Although plans for the major redevelopment of Resthaven Malvern were still a few years away, a building committee, including two resident representatives, was formed. A concept plan, to be completed in four stages, was tabled by the architects and meetings were held to discuss modifications.

In June 1989, Resthaven Malvern held a fundraiser to raise money for bus maintenance. The local theatre was booked out entirely for a film night, with a screening of Driving Miss Daisy inducing donations. With support from other Resthaven fundraising, the goal amount was reached.

In July 1991, an extensive a $6.5 million building program was finally underway. Approximately 75% of the existing buildings were scheduled for demolishment (except the three-storey central Shapley building). The goals of the redevelopment were a brand-new nursing home, upgrades and changes to self-care units and hostel rooms, and better incorporation of Resthaven’s Head Office staff.

With the refurbishment of the Shapley Building completed, making it a suitable office space for corporate personnel, Head Office staff moved into the new surroundings in January 1992. Following this, construction of the new hostel building commenced. To make way for the new build, a most spectacular feat took place, with the relocation of two large palms to the northeast corner of the site. Replanted with the help of a large excavator, and an even larger crane, the move was a requirement of planning approval due to pressure from local residents to retain the palms.

On 29 August 1992, a ‘Rock-n-Roll Night’ fundraiser was held at Fonzies. Staff from Resthaven Malvern and other Resthaven sites came together to raise almost $1,000.

A 28-room hostel building was completed in January 1993, with the construction of new self-care units and the nursing home commencing shortly thereafter. An Open Day was held on 21 May 1993 to celebrate the building redevelopment progress.

On 9 September 1994, the Resthaven Residential Dementia Care Resource Manual was launched at Resthaven Malvern. Developed and published by the Resthaven Dementia Resource Group, the manual attracted significant interest interstate and overseas.

At the end of October 1994, the last stage of Resthaven Malvern’s building redevelopment was completed with the newly built nursing home. The redevelopment attracted praise for the standard of accommodation offered to residents.

On 25 February 1995, residents, staff, family and friends of Resthaven Malvern celebrated the 60th anniversary of Resthaven with an International Food Fair. Later in the year, a dedication service was held at the Malvern Uniting Church.

In March 2000, staff, volunteers, and residents worked tirelessly to make items fora stall at the Mitcham Rotary Fair, which raised $1,200 for resident activities.

Following receipt of a Community Development Grant from the City of Unley, staff, residents, family and volunteers embarked on upgrading the home’s central courtyard. The resultant garden, with a painted mural, became a pleasant place for residents and families to sit and enjoy the serene, therapeutic environment.

Providing a pleasant environment for residents, a sensory garden was developed in the home’s memory support unit. This area, with new furniture and a bird bath, provided an improved external environment for residents to enjoy.

Marking 50 years since its opening in 1954, Resthaven Malvern held anniversary celebrations at the site, with an Open Day on 7 July 2004. A visit from the Governor, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, was a major highlight.

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Responding to feedback from residents’ families, Resthaven Malvern staff organised a supportive social get-together for family representatives. An after-dinner drinks evening provided the opportunity for residents’ family members to meet each other and connect with staff in a relaxed and social atmosphere. The response to the initiative was very positive.

In October 2006, the home held an Open Day to demonstrate the services provided. A number of entertainers and invited members of the community participated in the event.

Following an invitation by the site, the Unley Senior Citizens group held concerts, attended by both Resthaven residents and local senior citizens, in the Activities Hall at Resthaven Malvern.

Accommodating the need for easy access to dental services, a regular dental clinic was established at the site. Residents also benefited from the new ‘Imprest’ site medication system, which allowed quick access to certain medicines. This same year, improved clinic room facilities on site enhanced consultation experiences, and ‘in house’ influenza immunisations were offered, a valuable service to residents and staff.

Resthaven’s 75th anniversary celebrations kicked off with a church service held on 21 March 2010 at the Malvern Uniting Church. Resthaven Malvern residents, staff, families and friends celebrated the milestone with an Open Day on 29 October 2010.

On 15 December 2011, Mark Butler, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, attended the Residents’ Christmas Luncheon at the home.

Planning work was undertaken to explore upgrading the shared rooms and bathrooms in the high-care wings of Resthaven Malvern. The goal was to eventually transform all living quarters into single rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

On 4 May 2012, Kate Ellis, Member for Adelaide and Minister for Employment Participation, and Early Childhood and Childcare, visited Resthaven Malvern.

Construction of a new memory support area began early in the year, incorporating premium suites, along with large communal areas, landscaped courtyards, and a new reception and staff administration area. The building redevelopment was officially 'handed over' on 21 December 2016, with residents able to move into their new rooms before Christmas.

Following the establishment of a partnership with Baan Sudthavas (a family funded, 135-bedcharitable facility in Thailand for destitute, elderly women) five years earlier, residents at Resthaven Malvern developed an international pen pal program with the Thai residents. This program was named a finalist for ‘Innovation of the Year—Service Implementation’ at the 5th Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards in April 2017.

Resthaven partnered with the City of Unley to showcase local ‘legends’, in which a local program, ‘Unley Legends’ featured memorable Resthaven residents on film. The program was launched in June 2017 and formed part of Resthaven’s participation in the Unley ‘Age Friendly City’ strategy.

Acknowledging the work of Resthaven Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Peter Jenkin, Palliative Care Australia undertook filming at Resthaven Malvern. Peter was awarded Palliative Care Australia’s ‘Excellence in Palliative Care in an Aged Care Setting’ award.

An official opening ceremony of the home’s new redevelopment was held on 19 April 2018. With work completed late the previous year, the finished product included 16 rooms and suites and large open lounge areas. Coinciding with the ceremony, the home celebrated 65 years since opening with a birthday cake and afternoon tea. The day also featured a video presentation from Baan Sudthavas residents, with whom Resthaven Malvern had an international pen pal program.

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Following on from the film production of ‘Unley Legends’ the year before, Resthaven collaborated with the City of Unley a second time to produce Unley Legends II. This celebration of ageing was launched in October 2018 at the Capri Theatre in Unley, attended by Peter Tsokas (City of Unley CEO), Richard Hearn (Resthaven CEO), Governor Kevin Scarce and long-serving Resthaven Malvern volunteer Liz Scarce, along with a group of Resthaven Malvern residents, friends and family.

On 5 November 2020, Resthaven Malvern hosted a press conference by the Minister for Health & Wellbeing, Hon Stephen Wade. The conference focused on the latest changes to the emergency management directions (i.e. lifting of mask requirements) relating to residential aged care homes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The press conference was attended by television crews from all major free-to-air channels, along with Cassie Mason, Director of the Office for Ageing Well. The Minister was interviewed in the home’s courtyard, which was a great source of entertainment for residents enjoying their lunch inside.

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In October 2024, Resthaven Malvern celebrated 70 years of operation with a week of events and activities: an afternoon tea, a performance by ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ dancers, 1950s-themed ‘happy hour’, and a jukebox temporarily installed in the site’s foyer.