Levande expands Melbourne footprint with two major retirement living developments

Retirement living provider Levande has marked construction milestones on two major developments in Melbourne’s south-east, highlighting continued investment and growth in the retirement living sector.

The EQT-backed operator this week celebrated a topping-out ceremony at its redeveloped Oak Grange community in Brighton East while also marking the official start of construction on a new retirement village in nearby Bentleigh East.

Together, the projects will deliver more than 450 independent living apartments, adding significant new retirement housing supply in established Melbourne suburbs.

The milestones reflect ongoing investor confidence in the retirement living sector as demand grows for housing that supports independence, connection and ageing in place.

Oak Grange redevelopment reaches construction milestone

In Brighton East, Levande celebrated a traditional topping-out ceremony at its Oak Grange redevelopment, marking the completion of the building’s highest structural point.

The ceremony included the placement of a ceremonial evergreen tree on the rooftop, a centuries-old construction tradition symbolising safety, prosperity and appreciation for the construction teams involved in the project.

The revitalised Oak Grange community will deliver 201 architect-designed independent living apartments across six mid-rise buildings ranging from three to five storeys.

The development will also include 266 basement parking spaces and a new clubhouse designed to serve as the social heart of the community.

Planned amenities include a heated indoor pool and spa, gym, cinema, library, hair salon and nail bar, along with café and dining spaces, outdoor BBQ areas and concierge services.

The redevelopment is being delivered across three stages, with Stage 1 expected to be completed in late 2026.

Levande chief executive Kevin McCoy said the milestone marked a key point in the project’s progress.

“A topping out marks a tangible point of progress, where the building’s form is realised and the focus shifts toward the homes and community that will soon take shape inside,” Mr McCoy said.

Construction begins on Bentleigh East village

In nearby Bentleigh East, Levande also marked the start of construction on a new retirement living community, transforming a former light industrial site into a large independent living village.

The development at 12–16 Market Boulevard will deliver 256 one-, two- and three-bedroom independent living apartments across several architect-designed buildings.

Landscaped gardens, shared courtyards and generous outdoor spaces will surround the buildings, with one of Levande’s largest clubhouses positioned at the centre of the community to support social connection and wellbeing.

Mr McCoy said the sod-turning ceremony represented the moment when years of planning moved into the construction phase.

“Days like today matter. They mark the point where ideas, planning and commitment become something tangible – a place that people will one day call home,” he said.

The development forms part of the broader East Village urban renewal precinct, which is delivering new housing, green open space and community infrastructure in Melbourne’s south-east.

Continued growth in retirement living

Levande’s projects in Brighton East and Bentleigh East are part of a broader pipeline of retirement living developments underway across Australia.

For operators and investors, the continued expansion of retirement living communities reflects strong long-term demand from older Australians seeking housing that offers independence, security and access to community.

With both developments progressing, Levande will add more than 450 retirement living apartments to Melbourne’s south-east in the coming years.