Hall & Prior Aged Care has officially completed the transition of ownership of Blue Haven Bonaira Residential Aged Care Home, ending a period of major disruption for the beleaguered home on the South Coast of New South Wales.
The development of Blue Haven Bonaira began as an ambitious project by the Kiama Council to create a modern aged care home. Initially proposed as a 134-bed residential aged care home with an estimated cost of $41 million, the scope expanded significantly over time.
The final price tag reached approximately $107.2 million by the time the facility was completed in late 2019. This included not only the 134-bed aged care home, featuring eight purpose-built care houses, but also 59 independent living units, a community hall, and the restoration of the historic Barroul House into a public café.
It was the largest council construction project in Australia upon completion.
Unfortunately, the council never recovered financially, and in February 2022 both Blue Haven and Kiama Council were on the brink of collapse. The facility was losing around $3 million annually.
Mounting challenges led to the Council’s decision to sell the home with Hall & Prior Aged Care stepping in. It purchased Blue Haven Bonaira Residential Aged Care Home for $95 million in July, 2024, with the Hall & Prior team taking ownership of the site as of March 31, 2025.
A bittersweet moment for Kiama Council, Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald proudly reflected on the Council’s 40+ year involvement with aged care in the area.
“I hope our staff and our community feel pride in the facilities, the services and the staff providing those services that we have delivered here at Blue Haven Bonaira and Blue Haven Terralong for many years,” Mr McDonald said.
“Blue Haven encapsulates Kiama Council’s strong history of caring for our community. That’s why, when the previous Council resolved to sell Blue Haven Bonaira, we were adamant it should stay open, in our community, and that staff would retain their conditions and entitlements.
“It’s also because we care for our community, that we’re handing over Bonaira to aged care specialists Hall & Prior, and we warmly welcome the Hall & Prior team to our area.”
Hall & Prior is committed to retaining most staff and has already planned $1.2 million in refurbishments, starting with upgrades to independent living unit bathrooms and Barroul House.
The organisation confirmed that the majority of staff accepted the new offer of employment to work with Hall & Prior.
“We’re absolutely delighted to take the reins at Blue Haven Bonaira. We acknowledge the effort and spirit shown by Kiama Council and the wider community in creating and supporting this valued service over the years. A sincere thank you to all the staff and executive team who have contributed to a smooth transition,” Hall & Prior CEO Graeme Prior said.
“We’re excited about the future and committed to enhancing the services and facilities for residents and the broader community for many years to come. These works will elevate the offering at Barroul House and allow us to extend its opening hours, giving even more people the chance to enjoy this special place.
“Our transition team has been on location at Bonaira on and off for the past few months, working hard to ensure a smooth handover. We hope any changes noticed by residents and their loved ones are positive. We’re looking forward to getting started.”
Mr Prior added that a range of important maintenance tasks will also be conducted to ensure the facilities continue to operate at their best.
As for Kiama Council, after adjusting for liabilities such as employee entitlements and accommodation deposits, the council netted approximately $26 million from the sale. This will help the Council return to a stronger position and relieve pressure on numerous fronts.
Blue Haven Bonaira is Hall & Prior’s 14th aged care home in New South Wales and its 39th overall, alongside 24 in Western Australia and one in the Australian Capital Territory.
