ABOUT THE BENSON

Safe, secure, elegant, independent
retirement living.

The Benson Toorak view from street front.

A dedicated concierge

Assistance with the small daily logistics that consume time and energy, leaving you free for things that matter.

  • Appointments and bookings

  • Deliveries and pharmacy pick-ups

  • Transport arrangements

  • Personalised support

  • Pet care coordination

Maintenance-free living

At The Benson, cleaning, gardening and building maintenance are handled by professional firms, organised by VMCH.

  • Garden and grounds maintenance

  • Building and facilities upkeep

  • Regular cleaning of shared areas

Safety & Security

The confidence that you are living in a safe and secure community, with emergency contact at your fingertips.

  • 24hr emergency call system

  • CCTV surveillance and access control and intrusion detection system

  • Secure underground parking, lift access and lock up storage.

The Benson has a commercial kitchen and island bench top for social or family gatherings, an elegant dining room, and various meal options that residents can order from quality local fine food providers and restaurants.

Comfort, privacy and peace of mind.

The Benson is a boutique retirement residence with 33 spacious, light-filled apartments in the heart of Toorak. Designed for independent living, it combines elegant architectural detailing, landscaped gardens, generous apartments and beautifully appointed shared spaces.

Bronze statue of a St Peter outside St Peter's Toorak church.

OUR STORY

Built with purpose

The development and construction of The Benson Toorak was initiated to primarily fund the restoration and renovation of St Peter’s Catholic Church.

The sandstone façade of the Church was suffering significant deterioration and there was the potential danger of falling sandstone fragments. The façade had to be restored to safeguard parishioners, visitors and ELC staff and students.

The only assets of St Peter’s Parish, apart from the Church, were two adjoining allotments, that contained an old house that served as a Parish Office, 3 tennis courts at the rear of the property and car parking.

Parish Priest, Father Brendan Hayes and John Ralph AC, Chair of the Parish Renewal and Development Committee, worked with a dedicated team to bring the vision of The Benson to life. The project included a new Parish Centre that was incorporated into the building complex.

The Benson opened in March 2018 bringing a new standard of boutique retirement living to one of Melbourne’s most established and sought after suburbs. Today, The Benson is home to over 40 residents.

St Peter’s Restored

Following the opening of The Benson in 2018, the final stage of the project was the restoration and renovation of the historic St Peter’s Church. The project was completed in November 2020 and included the replacement of the majority of the sandstone façade, the complete refurbishment of the Church interior and a new western extension.

MANAGED WITH CARE

Trusted Management and Support

The Benson is owned by the Parish of St John Paul II, Armadale and Toorak and is managed by VMCH, a Catholic, for-purpose organisation. VMCH provides a wide range of services to people across Victoria including retirement living and in-home and residential aged care. VMCH care is available at The Benson as your needs change, delivered discreetly and with the dignity every resident deserves.

The Benson entrance lobby with a fireplace, modern wall art, and comfortable seating.

ORGANISE A TOUR WITH YOUR FAMILY

For families navigating this decision

We understand that the questions are many and the concerns are real. We welcome conversations with families (not just prospective residents) and are happy to walk you through exactly what life would be like at The Benson.