LOCAL LIFE
Historic Lober House in Castle Hill marks 100 years
A historic landmark in Sydney’ s northwest and the birthplace of Australia’ s first retirement living model is celebrating a remarkable milestone.
Lober House, now the social heart of Anglicare’ s Castle Hill villages, has turned 100.
Originally built in the 1920s as a private residence by Robert and Eva Dixson, the home was first known as Elwatan. It was later purchased by the Anglican Church in 1958 and opened the following year, paving the way for a new approach to retirement living.
That vision was driven by two influential women Dorothy Mowll and Dame Pattie Menzies who championed a model of aged care that allowed retirees to live independently while staying connected to community.
Today, Lober House continues to play a central role, bringing residents together as a vibrant community hub for clubs, events and social groups.
“ We love it when one of our residents
turns 100, but this is the first time one of our residences has reached the 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 proud to see how their vision has come to life.”
Architecturally, the home is equally significant. It is one of the largest designs by renowned architect B. J. Waterhouse, with surrounding cottages, staff quarters and a distinctive tower house later added by J. F. Munnings— reflecting the style of early Canberra.
Resident historian Robin Wood, who has researched the property since moving into the village, said its story continues to resonate.
“ There is so much rich and fascinating history tied to this property,” she said.
“ From the way Eva Dixson brought the land parcels together, to the craftsmanship you can still see today, this house has witnessed so much and still has so much to tell.”
The estate was purchased by the Anglican Church for £ 75,000, supported by a significant donation from car industry pioneers Mr and Mrs W. H. Lober. A
L-R: Russell Clarke( CHV Resident), James Iliffe( CHV GM), Hugh Darling( CHV Resident), Patricia Hunt( CHV Resident), Simon Miller( Anglicare CEO), Mark Hodges( Member for Castle Hill), James Poulos( Acting Group Executive, Seniors Communities), Evelyn Horton( Anglicare Board)
condition of the sale required the original name Elwatan not be retained, with the property renamed Lober House in their honour. Did you know?
• Elwatan is derived from Arabic, meaning“ home” or“ homeland”
• When the house first connected to the telephone network in the 1920s, there were only 12 other subscribers in the area
• In the 1960s and 70s, 25 acres of the estate were leased to Arthur Yates & Co for plant trials and research
• The house underwent a major restoration and repurposing in 2015
• Independent living villages were progressively added throughout the 1960s and 70s
Lober House remains at the centre of the Castle Hill villages as the site enters an exciting new chapter.
A new development is now underway, with the first stage set to deliver more than 50 independent living residences across low-rise buildings within the existing Anglicare site.
The broader two-stage project will ultimately welcome up to 100 new residents, ensuring this historic community continues to grow— while honouring the legacy that began a century ago.
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10 ISSUE 130 // APRIL 2026 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT