Work has officially begun on the Richmond Veterans’ and Families’ Hub, which will transform the historic Richmond Court House into a support centre for current and former Australian Defence Force members and their families.
.NSW Minister for Veterans David Harris and Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman turned the first sod on the Richmond component of a two-site project supported by a Commonwealth grant of about $5.5 million. The funding supports interconnected hubs at Richmond and Bardia Barracks in Ingleburn.
The project is being delivered by RSL LifeCare through a Commonwealth Government grant, with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, in partnership with the Commonwealth Department of Veterans’ Affairs, providing the heritage-listed Richmond Court House for the new facility.
The adaptive reuse project will preserve significant heritage features of the building while creating an accessible and welcoming space where veterans and families can access support, services and community connections close to home.
Richmond was selected because of the Hawkesbury’s long military connection and significant veteran population.
The region is home to more than 7,700 serving personnel and over 11,000 veterans and family members, many of whom are currently supported by the temporary veterans’ hub operating from Windsor.
The Richmond facility will also work alongside a new Veterans’ and Families’ Hub being constructed at the historic Bardia Barracks site in Ingleburn.
Together, the two facilities are expected to provide wellbeing services for more than 19,000 veterans and family members across Sydney’s north and southwest.
One-stop support
The RSL LifeCare Veteran and Family Hub model operates as a one-stop shop providing veteran-focused and community-based programs.
Services can include wellbeing support, advocacy, community programs and connections to other services.
The hubs also help veterans and families navigate NSW Government support involving areas such as:
- housing
- education
- employment
- health
- social services.
The recently launched Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency will also work alongside the hubs to help people connect with suitable local services.
The Hawkesbury facility will become the latest addition to seven existing RSL LifeCare hubs operating at Wyong, Maitland, Tweed Heads, Dee Why, Queanbeyan, Wagga Wagga and Nowra.
The Richmond and Bardia facilities will work together to support veterans and families from the Hawkesbury through to southwestern Sydney.
‘Support they need close to home’
Federal Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said the Commonwealth was investing more than $50 million to expand the national network of Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs.
“We’re investing more than $50 million to expand our national network of Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs because we want the veteran community to be able to get the support they need close to home,” Mr Keogh said.
He said the Hawkesbury was an important location because of its substantial veteran population.
“The delivery of Hubs in places like the Hawkesbury, where there’s a significant veteran population, is all about making it easier and more convenient for veterans to get help, as well as forge strong connections with their local community.”
Mr Keogh said the new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency would complement the work of the hubs and provide another pathway for veterans and families seeking support.
Richmond’s military history recognised
NSW Minister for Veterans David Harris said the beginning of construction was an important milestone for the Hawkesbury.
“Today represents an important step forward in delivering a dedicated place in the Hawkesbury where veterans and their families can access support, build connections and engage with services closer to home,” Mr Harris said.
He said Richmond’s defence history made it a natural location for the project.
“Richmond has a proud military heritage stretching back more than a century. Since the establishment of the military flying school in 1916 and the creation of RAAF Base Richmond in 1925, generations of service personnel have lived, worked and served in this community.”
Mr Harris said the Court House redevelopment would also preserve an important local landmark.
“By giving the historic Richmond Court House this new purpose, we are preserving an important piece of local heritage while creating a lasting community asset that will support veterans and their families for years to come.”
Templeman welcomes construction
Federal Member for the Hawkesbury Susan Templeman said the new hub followed a funding commitment secured at the 2022 federal election.
“At the 2022 election I was proud to secure Federal funding to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub for our region,” Ms Templeman said.
She said services had already begun operating from the temporary location at Windsor RSL, but the Richmond redevelopment would provide a permanent home.
“While the work of the Hub in supporting veterans, defence personnel and their families has already begun, with services being delivered at the temporary location at Windsor RSL, the renovations of the old Richmond Court House will transform the service and bring it into the heart of the community.”
Ms Templeman said she was looking forward to seeing the facility open.
RSL LifeCare to deliver project
RSL LifeCare CEO Drew Pearce said the project demonstrated what could be achieved through collaboration between governments and veteran organisations.
“The Hawkesbury Veterans’ and Families’ Hub is a strong example of what can be achieved when governments and veteran organisations work together with a shared commitment to supporting veterans and their families,” Mr Pearce said.
He said the new hub would provide advocacy, wellbeing services, community programs and referral pathways closer to home.
RSL NSW President Vince Williams said the facility would provide a single, welcoming place for veterans and families.
“No single organisation can meet every need of our defence and veteran community on its own,” Mr Williams said.
“That’s why collaboration between governments, RSL LifeCare, RSL NSW, and the wider ex-service sector is so important.”
A new life for a historic building
The redevelopment will give the historic Richmond Court House a new community role while retaining its heritage significance.
Once complete, the building will become a dedicated place where current and former Defence personnel and their families can seek practical assistance, social connection and wellbeing support.
More information is available through the NSW Veterans website at:
https://www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/support/richmond-court-house-revitalisation
Information about the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency is available at:
