History

The idea of a War Veterans’ Home was conceived in 1961 by a group of ex-servicemen who felt concern for their less fortunate ex-service colleagues. This dedicated group of men and their wives challenged the ex-service community to participate in a wide range of fund raising activities, culminating in the opening by Sir Robert Menzies on 26th April 1964, of the Sir Leslie Morshead War Veterans’ Home.

Sir Leslie Morshead was chosen as the patron of the Veteran’s home in recognition for his outstanding service in WWI and WWII. He was known as a gifted organiser in war and peace, and a successful leader of pivotal campaigns. He received the Distinguished Service Order (1917) and the American Medal of Freedom with Silver Palm (1948) Read more about his life and his contribution through battles at Tobruk and El Alamein on the Sir Leslie Morshead Profile courtesy of the Australian Dictionary of Biography Online.

Starting with eighteen rooms with shared bathroom/toilet facilities for male veterans, together with an administrative wing and administrators flat provided care services Morshead Home has grown significantly over the past 40 years. The original residents were about sixty years of age and quite independent. They carried out most of the kitchen, cleaning and gardening duties themselves, saving in labour costs.

On 20th March 1971 another 18 male rooms, five female rooms and two staff flats were completed. Once again these were single rooms with shared facilities. Fifteen one-bedroom, self-care rental units were opened and occupied on 9th May 1982. On 10th of September 1988 a further twenty hostel suites were opened and in June 1991 the upgrading of twenty three original rooms was completed. 1993 saw the completion of forty, two-bedroom resident-funded self care units and during 1994 the Board built eighteen new ensuite Hostel rooms to replace the remaining single rooms built in 1964. In May 2000 a 23-bed, high level care wing was opened and 23 of the older rooms built in 1971 were closed. In 2002, 18 of those rooms were reopened after extensive renovations to give the Home a total of 79 beds, two of which are for Respite Care.

Morshead Home is an accredited Residential Aged Care Facility caring for those residents in both high and low care who have been assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) as requiring Care.