Heart of Willoughby officially opened today unveiling a new model for ageing, care and community – and cementing a future for our beloved Club Willougby.
Heart of Willoughby, by family-owned Australian developer Hyecorp, has officially opened in Willoughby marking the completion of a $400 million mixed-use precinct.
Completed in October 2025 at 20 Crabbes Avenue, the 15,000 square metre site has been designed as a ‘vertical village’ where older Australians can live, age and stay connected in their own neighbourhood.
The precinct comprises 111 retirement living apartments under Hyecorp’s ‘Hyegrove’ brand, 47 HyeCare high care suites, our new three-storey Club Willoughby, a retail and medical precinct, and a 2,000 square metre memorial park and memorial walk that honour the Willoughby Legion Ex-Services Club heritage.
A Strong Partnership At Heart
Stephen Abolakian, Managing Director of Hyecorp and Chair of the HyeCare Board said: “What made this partnership work is that the Club did not have to sell its land or walk away from its legacy to secure its future”.
“The Club brought decades of community history and a clear sense of purpose. We brought development and operational expertise and a commitment to remain a long-term neighbour on this site.
“Together we have been able to turn ageing assets into a precinct that generates sustainable income for the Club and delivers real social infrastructure for the Willoughby community.”
Club Willoughby President Ves Campion said the project had given Club Willoughby a renewed future as a modern hub – ‘built for the community, by the community’.
“This project has transformed Club Willoughby into a place where members, residents and the broader community can come together in a contemporary setting that honours the club’s heritage while securing its future,” said Ves.
The three-storey Club Willoughby already includes a bistro, alfresco dining, sports bar, and venue and meeting rooms for community groups and special events.
In more exciting news for the community, a Chinese seafood restaurant within the Club will also open soon!
Putting The Care Into Aged Care
For Hyecorp, Heart of Willoughby represents a major step into integrated retirement living and aged care, demonstrating how legacy club land can be transformed into community infrastructure that supports housing, care, social connection and long-term club sustainability.
“This was designed to respond to one of the most pressing challenges facing Australian communities: how to help people age with dignity, connection and choice,” said Mr Abolakian.
For local residents, the project creates the opportunity to downsize locally, remain close to family and friends, and access a continuum of care in the same community rather than having to move away from the area as needs change.
For Hyecorp, Heart of Willoughby represents a major step into integrated retirement living and aged care, demonstrating how legacy club land can be transformed into community infrastructure that supports housing, care, social connection and long-term club sustainability.
“This was designed to respond to one of the most pressing challenges facing Australian communities: how to help people age with dignity, connection and choice,” said Mr Abolakian.
For local residents, the project creates the opportunity to downsize locally, remain close to family and friends, and access a continuum of care in the same community rather than having to move away from the area as needs change.
A defining feature of the precinct is its integrated care model. Hyegrove residents have access to HyeCare Home Care, with registered nurses on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergency responses and ongoing support, while the co-location of Hyegrove and HyeCare allows one partner to remain in an independent living apartment and the other to move into a HyeCare suite so they can continue to see each other every day.
Setting A New Standard In Retirement Living
Across Hyegrove and HyeCare, residents have access to extensive lifestyle and wellness amenities including concierge service seven days a week, indoor heated pool and spa, sauna, steam room, cinema, gym, arts and crafts studio, hair and nail salon, private dining room, library, members lounge, games room, yoga and pilates studio, café and bar, a Tinker Room workshop, rooftop entertaining areas, landscaped gardens and walkways, and 24/7 security.
HyeCare has been designed as a boutique private aged care service with 47 luxury suites across three levels, including lounge rooms with fireplaces and TVs, domestic kitchens on each level, outdoor spaces for dining and walking, smart nurse call technology, and access to allied health and medical services within the precinct.
At completion, 97 of the 111 Hyegrove apartments had sold at an average price of $2.8 million, with prices ranging from $1.17 million to $4.75 million
Today’s official Heart of Willoughby opening follows the reopening of the new Club Willoughby and the use of the memorial park for ANZAC Day commemorations, reinforcing the precinct’s role as both a local community asset and a new model for integrated ageing and community infrastructure.
Source: Willoughby Living