Stage one works have commenced on Pavilions Blackburn Lake retirement village with Federal Member for Deakin and Assistant Minister to the Treasurer, Michael Sukkar, turning the first sod of soil at the official ground-breaking ceremony on 30 July.

The development by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, who have owned the site since 1920s, and designed in partnership with VIA Architects and Hecker Guthrie, Pavilions Blackburn Lake has been described as an environmentally sensitive, innovative retirement development.

Comprising 136 residences across seven buildings Pavilions Blackburn Lake is located 30 minutes’ drive east of Melbourne’s CBD and is set amongst lush, protected woodlands. According to VIA Architect principal Frank Bambino the intention was to create a lifestyle retreat that brought people together and promoted healthier living, complemented by Paul Hecker’s interior design.

The project will be delivered in three stages with completion due in early 2020.