IRT’s Diment to get facelift after 50 years

IRT Group has announced that Wollongong City Council has approved its development application for a comprehensive redevelopment of the Diment seniors’ living complex.

The 50-year-old Diment site was IRT’s first development, and the first seniors’ living high-rise building in the Wollongong central business district.

It originally combined retirement living and residential aged care, but in 2022 the not-for-profit announced the cessation of aged care services in the towers, noting the size and layout as no longer fit for purpose and as incapable of providing an environment that could support older adults needing higher levels of care.

The redevelopment of the complex will include a complete refurbishment of 102 independent living units and will see modern interiors fitted, a refreshed building façade and new communal spaces.

The Diment tower – named in honour of one of IRT’s founders Dr Max Diment – will also be transformed.

IRT chief executive officer Ross Gallagher said the project has deep significance for the not-for-profit and the Illawarra community. 

“We’re excited to be revitalising the place where IRT’s story began,” Mr Gallagher said.

“This transformation honours our past while delivering a future-focused, cost-accessible community that meets the evolving needs of older Australians. It’s about creating spaces that foster wellbeing, connection and lifestyle – and a place residents can truly be proud to call home.”

He added that the adaptive development approach will reimagine the existing structure and transform it into a “progressive, welcoming space” that can continue to serve the Illawarra community into the future.

“Diment has always been a pillar of the IRT community, and we’re honoured to give it a transformation that celebrates its legacy while ensuring it remains a vibrant, practical and inspiring home for residents,” he said.

Since Diment was built in 1971, IRT has grown to operate more than 40 communities across New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland.

IRT hopes to deliver 800 new homes in the next ten years and alongside the Diment redevelopment, has several other major projects underway across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla regions of NSW, including:

• the unveiling of an enhanced masterplan for its proposed seniors living community in the South Coast town of Milton
• the lodging of an application for a state significant development for the revitalisation of its seniors’ living community in the north Wollongong region of Woonona
• early plans for a purpose-built seniors’ living community in the South Coast town of Moruya.

“Our goal is to expand access to quality seniors’ living spaces, as well as lifestyle and wellbeing opportunities that support older people through every stage of ageing – both now and into the future,” Mr Gallagher said.

Construction company SHAPE has been appointed as the principal contractor for Diment’s redevelopment, with Stage 1 of construction scheduled to begin this month and practical completion expected for early 2027. 

Diment residents will be supported to temporarily relocate ahead of construction and IRT will then assist them in returning to their newly refurbished homes once the project is complete.

IRT’s announcement follows several other construction projects announced across the sector last week, including OneCare breaking ground on its new retirement community Barossa Living and HammondCare celebrating the commencement of construction on its new $300 million integrated health site.

There was also the announcement that Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care and Uniting NSW.ACT have partnered to build a 50-bed Aboriginal-led aged care home in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Redfern and that Hall & Prior received development approval for Perth’s first Aboriginal aged care home.

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