Historic ‘Lober House’ in Castle Hill turns 100 

An historic house in Sydney’s north-west, which went on to become Australia’s first retirement home, is celebrating 100 years. 

Lober House, now the social heart of Anglicare’s Castle Hill villages, was built in the 1920s as a private residence by Robert and Eva Dixson and originally known as Elwatan. 

Purchased by the Anglican Church in 1958 and opened the following year, it was the launchpad for a new model of retirement living shaped by two influential women — Dorothy Mowll and Dame Pattie Menzies — who pushed for aged care that supported retirees to live independently. 

The property now connects residents as a community hub and provides a gathering point for regular clubs and social groups.  

“We love it when one of our residents turns 100, but this is the first time one of our residences has hit the centenarian milestone,” said Anglicare Castle Hill Village General Manager James Iliffe.

“This is where it all began for us, and we think Dorothy Mowll and Dame Pattie Menzies would be very impressed with how their vision has been realised,” he added.  

The house was one of architect BJ Waterhouse’s largest designs. Surrounding cottages, staff quarters and a distinctive tower house were added by JF Munnings, echoing the style of early Canberra. 

“There is so much rich and wonderful history surrounding this property,” said resident historian Robin Wood, who has been researching the property since she moved into the villages.  

“From the way Eva Dixson brought the land parcels together, to the incredibly detailed craftsmanship you can still see today, this house has seen so much, and has so much to say,” she added.  

The Anglican Church purchased the estate for £75,000, supported by a major gift from car industry pioneers Mr and Mrs W.H. Lober. A condition of sale meant the name Elwatan could not be used, and the house was renamed Lober House in their honour. 

Other points of interest about the house include:  

• It’s original name ‘Elwatan’ comes from Arabic, and means ‘home’ or ‘homeland’ 

• When it had the telephone connected in the 1920s, there were just 12 other subscribers in the area 

• The Anglican Church leased 25 acres to Yates (then Arthur Yates & Co) in the 1960s and 70s, who operated plant trials and research on the site 

• The house underwent a restoration and repurposing project in 2015  

• Independent living villages were added to the site through the 60s and 70s 

Lober House is at the centre of the Castle Hill Villages, where an exciting development project has recently begun. The first phase of the project will deliver more than 50 independent living residences across several low-rise buildings within the existing Anglicare site.  

This is the first stage of a two-stage development on the site which will eventually allow for up to 100 new residents to join the community.  

About Anglicare Sydney 

Anglicare Sydney is a Christian not-for-profit organisation providing care to older people and community services throughout Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Illawarra, Southern Highlands, New England North West, Central West and Norfolk Island. Anglicare has been serving those in need for more than 160 years, employing more than 5,000 staff and serving alongside 1,300 volunteers. Anglicare provides a diverse range of services including providing care through residential aged care homes, at home care services, retirement living communities, affordable homes for people over 55, community services for children, families and those experiencing social isolation, disaster recovery in times of crisis and helping to effect change through research and advocacy. 

Anglican Retirement Villages first began when Dorothy Mowll, wife of Archbishop Howard Mowll, had a vision to provide a home for retired clergy and church workers. Following her initiative, Anglican Retirement Villages opened its first village at Castle Hill in 1959. This work expanded to include residential care and home care services.   

On 1 July 2016, Anglicare Sydney and Anglican Retirement Villages officially merged. With more than 200 years of combined service to the community, Anglicare Sydney offers tremendous capacity to serve communities across greater Sydney and beyond. As needs have grown and changed, so too have our services.  However, one thing remains the same. The organisation continues to uphold the original values reflecting God's love through care and sharing the good news of Jesus.