Description

Steeped in history, Unison’s Station Street property has housed vulnerable women for over 100 years. View our online video to see how a former 22-bedroom Fairfield rooming house has been fully renovated into 38 self-contained modern studio and one-bedroom apartments for women in need.

The Marjorie Oke Apartments will be showcased in a digital format which will facilitate dignified and quiet enjoyment of tenants of their own home.

Built in 1893 by noted businessman and philanthropist MacPherson Robertson as his family residence, ‘Carmalea’ went on to serve as an important social asset, being variously a home for single pregnant women, a refuge for domestic violence, a home for the aged and finally a social housing rooming house.

Before development, the site presented as a disparate collection of low-quality structures and the accommodation was beneath current standards. This development becomes a participatory member of the neighbourhood by successfully reinstating the prominence and character of an eclectic Marvellous Melbourne era structure, returning a sub-standard property to use, extending its economic life, and improving tenant and community amenity and outcomes. New and old components were physically and visually separated, enabling the form of the heritage building to continue to be understood.

What's On

In this video and online package, Unison CEO, the architect and builder explore the history of the ‘Carmalea’ site and their approach to striking a balance between heritage outcomes and facilitating new housing availability for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.