S.Antonio da Padova Village

A Brief History of our Association

In 1969 a group of families migrated from the small Sicilian town of Poggioreale to settle in Sydney. They decided to form an Association which would help to preserve the traditions of their hometown.

In January 1972 the Association imported from Italy a statue of St. Anthony, who is the patron saint and protector of the people of Poggioreale.

On April 26, 1972 the company S. Antonio da Padova Protettore di Poggioreale, Trapani (Sydney) Limited was incorporated in the State of New South Wales for the purpose of managing the affairs of the Association and realising its aims which now focussed on looking after the elderly and infirmed regardless of origin, faith or circumstances.

In 1978 the Association purchased a 25 acre property at Kemps Creek, west of Sydney, with the aspiration of developing an aged care facility. The land was later sold, in April 1987, to purchase an existing, viable and profitable 26-bed nursing home located in Elizabeth Street, Ashfield NSW.

The Association successfully operated that facility until selling it to purchase a larger nursing home in Ryde in June 1990. This facility, operated through a new associated company called S. Antonio da Padova Protettore di Poggioreale Sydney Nursing Home Limited, had accommodation for 40 residents and the potential to help realise the Association’s long term plans.

From 1992 four additional properties adjoining the original home were purchased and plans for constructing a new and bigger Aged Care Facility on the new land were accepted by Ryde Council. A generous Residential Care (Capital) Grant in the amount of $300,000 and the licence for 10 extra Low Care Dementia Specific beds, approved by the Federal Government in 2003, has assisted in the realisation of our project. The new Nursing Home, now known as “S. Antonio Village”, meets all the stringent legislative building requirements which are now in place. The new building was officially opened in October 2005 by John Watkins MP and then with full occupancy taking place in January 2006, which has enabled a high standard of professional care to 50 residents. The onsite Community Centre and Chapel is also home to our Patron Saint St Antonio with a seating capacity of up to 150 persons to provide also for the spiritual well-being of our residents.