Resthaven Mount Gambier

With aged care places allocated in Mount Gambier, Resthaven set about finding a suitable site in the area to build its new aged care home. Connecting with the local Uniting Church, Resthaven took up the offer to purchase a section of the Mount Gambier Uniting Church site in Elizabeth Street.

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On 26 November 2009, a formal ‘Turning of the Turf’ ceremony marked the beginning of the new residential aged care home at Elizabeth Street, Mount Gambier.

The first stage of the project was completed in June 2011, with the first residents invited to move in on 4 July 2011. The home encompassed 70 residential care places, comprising 55 high care and 15 low care beds, including four respite places. Stage 2 was completed at the end of the year.

The home was officially opened on 16 April 2012. Paying homage to its origins, the leadlight windows within the worship space were originally from the 1884 St Andrews Uniting Church Sunday School that once stood on the same ground. Likewise, the cross between the windows, crafted by artist Guy Detot from an original red gum fence post, includes old coins discovered on the site during the build process. Local pink dolomite was also incorporated into the stone pillar at the home's entrance.

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Following the allocation of financial incentives from the Australian Government, Resthaven Mount Gambier benefitted from some improvements. The $1 million refurbishment included a secure scooter shed for residents to store and charge their scooters, new screen doors, weatherproof blinds for the café area, and a vergola roof to enclose the first floor rear balcony. The refurbishment also encompassed the installation of smart televisions in residents’ rooms.

On 5 August 2020, Resthaven Mount Gambier celebrated the 85th anniversary of Resthaven with a morning tea. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebrations ended up different to how they were initially planned. However, staff and residents were still determined to make it a special occasion.

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Two suites in the 'Wattle' area were refurbished into four large single rooms, completed in October 2023. During the renovations, residents were invited to use the temporary internal walls as a canvas for a beautiful spring mural. The result was a colourful work of art to brighten up the space.

In conjunction with the Australian Government’s Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA), Resthaven Mount Gambier welcomed three international nurses to its workforce. The nurses made the move to Australia from overseas — with the United Kingdom, Ireland and United States being their countries of origin.