The Benson Toorak Wins Design Award

The Benson Toorak has been recognised for design excellence, receiving the top award at the 2019 National Retirement Living Awards.

Designed by local architects Demaine Partnership and developed by St Peter’s Catholic Parish, The Benson was created to offer a new standard of retirement living in Toorak. The residence combines spacious, light-filled apartments with elegant shared spaces, a dining room, outdoor terrace and beautifully maintained gardens.

From the beginning, the vision for The Benson was to create a retirement living community that felt refined, secure and deeply connected to its local setting. The building needed to sit comfortably beside the historic St Peter’s Church, contribute positively to the Toorak Road streetscape and offer residences that reflected the expectations of those wishing to continue living in one of Melbourne’s most established suburbs.

John Ralph AC, Chairman of the Parish Committee at the time, said the committee had set a challenging brief for the architects. The aim was to create spacious, beautifully appointed independent living residences supported by high-quality communal spaces for residents.

Demaine Partnership, under the leadership of principals Simon Hanger and Michael Jeffreson, delivered a building that balanced architectural presence with sensitivity to its surroundings.

The award recognised not only the planning and construction of The Benson, but also the quality of its facilities, landscaping and overall design. Judges considered the way the building responded to its brief, its residents and its Toorak setting.

Today, The Benson continues to reflect that original commitment to quality. Its generous apartments, elegant interiors and thoughtfully designed shared spaces remain central to its appeal.

For those seeking independent retirement living in Toorak, The Benson offers the reassurance of an award-winning residence in a location that feels both familiar and exceptional.