Wollongong City Council has approved an $11 million refurbishment of the IRT Diment facility in Staff Street. The aged care provider will upgrade the 52-year-old complex, which was originally built in 1971 as the first seniors' living high-rise in the Wollongong CBD.
The project will retain the existing tower but significantly change the facade. All 102 independent living units—a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments—will be fully refurbished. The lower-level adjacent buildings will also be upgraded.
New features include landscaped gardens, accessible walkways, and communal areas. IRT closed the aged care component of Diment Towers in 2022, citing an unsuitable environment for care. After discussions with the council about converting the site to residential flats, IRT decided to keep it for seniors living.
IRT CEO Ross Gallagher said the transformation honors the company's history while creating a future-focused community. Construction is set to begin this month, with completion expected in early 2027. Current residents will be temporarily relocated and assisted to return to their refurbished homes.
