Resthaven Celebrates its 90th Anniversary

Resthaven is proud to celebrate its 90^th anniversary in 2025 with a series of events, activities and concerts to be held across all of Resthaven’s residential, community services and retirement lifestyle sites.

‘Ninety years ago, in the coastal southern suburb of Brighton, Resthaven opened its doors for the first time,’ Darren Birbeck, Resthaven CEO says. ‘Formed from the belief that older women with nowhere to live deserved charitable accommodation, members of the Methodist Church set about establishing this home.’

 
Exec team David Norton, Merridy Baylis, Kelly Geister, Sylvia Powell, Mel Ottaway, Darren Birbeck

‘Rest Haven’ was officially opened on 11 May 1935, by Lady Isabel Kidman, wife of the prominent pastoralist, Sir Sidney Kidman. Providing aged care for just a handful of residents, demand for Resthaven’s services grew quickly. Today, Resthaven has 12 residential aged care homes, 23 community service locations across Adelaide and regional South Australia, and 31 retirement living villages.  

‘We have come a long way since those early days,’ Darren says. ‘For one thing, we provide services to both men and women of all backgrounds. We were also one of the early pioneers of home care, for more than 30 years, we have been supporting older people to live in their own homes for as long as they wish and are able to.

‘Importantly, we also offer support for carers in our community so they can continue looking after their older loved ones.

‘Our retirement living portfolio has grown significantly in the past few years, including the addition of serviced apartments, making us one of only a select few aged care providers in Australia offering the full range of aged care service options.’

 
Darren Birbeck and Mark Porter cut the cake

Speaking at the official acknowledgement of Resthaven’s 90^th anniversary, held at Resthaven’s head office at Wayville, Board President, Mark Porter said ‘Like the elderly people we serve, organisations age differently. Some lose their vision; some their strength and vigour; and some even lose their identity. Fortunately, that’s not the case with Resthaven. From its humble beginnings in 1935 through until today, Resthaven has remained committed to its faith, its purpose, and its values.’

A not-for-profit aged care community service associated with the Uniting Church in Australia, Resthaven’s operations and revenue are solely focussed on Resthaven’s purpose of ‘Working together: outstanding care and support for older people and their carers.’

‘Resthaven is committed to supporting older people, including those at risk of homelessness through the provision of affordable rental accommodation and low cost studio apartments at select locations,’ Darren says. ‘We engage with older people to seek their input and consideration in a number of wide-ranging decisions and matters, including the development of programs and services.’

‘Ninety years ago, Resthaven started a tradition of providing quality care, support and accommodation to older people in South Australia,’ Darren says. ‘That proud tradition lives on.’

A full list of the public events to be held at Resthaven locations this year is available to see on the Resthaven website.

Established in 1935, Resthaven is a South Australian not-for-profit aged care community service associated with the Uniting Church in Australia.

Every day, Resthaven shares the lives and wisdom of older people and their carers, opening doors to the full range of aged care service options available.

Services are provided throughout metropolitan Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, Murraylands, Riverland, Fleurieu Peninsula, lower Barossa region and the Limestone Coast of South Australia.

Find out more about Resthaven