With Australia having to deal with an ageing population, the Parishes of Deepdene and Balwyn included retirement living as part of their 21st century vision by developing and building Barnsbury, 32 luxury lifestyle apartments.  Barnsbury was built on the former site of the parish tennis club which was moved to nearby Genazzano FCJ College. 

Barnsbury compromises four double storey buildings with four apartments on each level, giving each one apartment a desirable corner aspect.   Each of the four buildings are named after a significant contributor to the parish:

• Fr Thomas Walsh who was the first Parish Priest of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Deepdene
• Fr Laurence Godwin who bought the tennis club site
• Monsignor John Kelly, Parish Priest 1968-1985
• Mary Hession, a life long parishioner of OLGC Deepdene who passed away in 2013.

The apartments are meticulously designed to provide an abundance of natural light, three metre high ceilings, hydronic heating and air-conditioning.  Residents can access a comprehensive suite of communal facilities and services, all complemented by delightful gardens.  The residents are a close-knit community where lifestyle and social interaction is very much encouraged through social groups, networks and associations.

Barnsbury is situated in the heart of leafy Deepdene where residents enjoy access to a quaint shopping strip full of lovely cafes and restaurants, lush parks and the historic Palace Cinema is close by.  The location is well connected with the Box Hill tram running every 10 minutes along Whitehorse Road and the Balwyn shops, Glenferrie Road, Kew and Camberwell Junction are all within a few minutes of this wonderful location.  

Barnsbury welcomes people from diverse cultures, nationalities, faiths, and walks of life.  We share our humanity, our respect for one another and the community we create together.  

Choosing to live in one of our luxury apartments represents a conscious choice offering a comfortable, secure and flexible lifestyle.

Barnsbury luxury retirement living is managed for the parish by Villa Maria Catholic Homes.  

For enquiries regarding available apartments for sale or to arrange a tour, please call 9816 1100.

Barnsbury – a comfortable living environment for you to call home.

By Kate Baines