Rocky Bay says it is “exploring relocation options” for its headquarters following the sale of its Mosman Park and Belmont sites for a combined $69 million.
The disability services provider has sold 60 McCabe Street in Mosman Park to Curtin Heritage Living for $56.1 million, RP Data shows.
The Mosman Park site housed Rocky Bay's therapy and accommodation facilities for more than five decades.
Curtin Heritage Living confirmed last week that it would convert the 2.8-hectare site into aged care accommodation.
The recent divestment followed the $13 million sale of a vacant block at 113 to 151 Abernethy Road in Belmont, where it had initially planned to build a new facility which had been scrapped.
RP data shows Stron and ATR Assets bought the Belmont property earlier this year.
Stron and ATR Assets are linked to Osborne Park-based business Imported Ceramics, ASIC records show.
Rocky Bay purchased the 1.91-hectare Belmont property for $13.5 million in 2022, when it signalled its intention to relocate from its Mosman Park facility.
The recent move raises questions about where Rocky Bay plans to be located in future, with thousands of Western Australians relying on their services.
Responding to Business News’ queries today, Rocky Bay managing director Michael Tait welcomed the divestment of the properties.
“The sale of our Mosman Park and Belmont sites is a great outcome that allows us to fund modern, purpose-built facilities for people living with disability,” he said.
“Our 60 McCabe Street head office is no longer fit for purpose or ideally located for contemporary disability services.”
He said the organisation would continue to operate from Mosman Park under a 12-month leaseback, which would ensure a smooth transition for staff and customers.
“This gives us the time to explore relocation options and potential partnerships, so we can stretch the proceeds of the sales to have the greatest impact possible,” he said.
“Our Supported Accommodation customers will remain at 62 McCabe Street.
“In the longer term, our focus is on optimising our network of hubs across Perth and regional WA to bring services closer to where our customers live.”
It is unclear how much Rocky Bay spent on gaining development approval for the Belmont site, which included the use of prominent architects Hames Sharley.
Mr Tait described the development application as a “modest investment and relevant at the time.”
He added that changes to the NDIS funding model have meant Rocky Bay’s approach to future developments must adapt.
“We don’t plan to transfer the Belmont scheme to another site, as each new development will be designed around the unique needs of the community it will serve,” he added.
Rocky Bay also operates a child and youth hub at Cottesloe’s Lady Lawley Cottage.
The organisation acquired the Belmont site to accommodate for its relocation from Mosman Park, as its McCabe Street site was listed on the market.
A $78 million proposal to build a three-storey hub on its site in Belmont was approved by an assessment panel in mid-2023.
However, Rocky Bay scrapped its Belmont plan and restarted the search for its new home in September 2024.
Speaking to Business News at the time, Mr Tait said the organisation was no longer convinced that Belmont was the right spot for its relocation.
“Where to next, we’re not sure. We might look at the conversion of a building, so we’re working through where that might be but there’s still work to be done on that,” he said.
Rocky Bay also encountered some snags over its Mosman Park site, which was initially planned to be sold to fund its Belmont project.
Rowe Group, on behalf of Rocky Bay, lodged a scheme amendment with the Town of Mosman Park in 2023.
The service provider proposed to rezone the 2.8-hectare site from ‘social care facilities’ use to ‘residential’, and applying residential density codes.
The plan to rezone the site received some local opposition.
Late last year, the Town of Mosman Park received the Planning Minister’s endorsement to advertise the proposed scheme amendment to the public.
“The amendment is classified as complex because the town's current adopted Local Planning Strategy never considered the possibility that the land would be rezoned,” the town said on its website.
“Any amendment that does not directly align with the requirements of the strategy automatically becomes complex.”
The final decision on the rezoning will be made by the Planning Minister, on advice from the Western Australian Planning Commission.
