A milestone event at Pavilions Blackburn Lake

We were honoured to join Pavilions residents, community members, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in celebrating a proud milestone: the official opening of both Haskell Hall and the third stage of Pavilions Blackburn Lake.

The opening ceremony drew more than 200 guests, including senior representatives of the Adventist Church, AdventCare, the project team, and local dignitaries such as the Deputy Mayor of Whitehorse Council. The event was also a special way to mark the 140th anniversary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia.

Christopher Rooke, OFS Managing Partner, with Galen Gan, infrastructure co-ordinator for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Victoria and driving force behind the development.

Haskell Hall: A modern space with historic significance

At the heart of the celebration was the unveiling of Haskell Hall, a striking, modern and flexible community hub with seating for up to 800 people. The facility, in the grounds of Pavilions, also features an arts and crafts studio, community kitchen, and function rooms, designed to foster connection, creativity, and wellbeing among residents and the wider community.

The multipurpose auditorium is named after Elder Stephen Nelson Haskell, a pioneering leader in the early Seventh-day Adventist Church. Haskell played a key role in shaping the denomination and in 1885, led the first group of missionaries to our shores. The naming of the hall pays tribute to Haskell’s contribution, with the beautifully appointed facility set to play a role in the community for many decades to come.

Rob Macpherson, OFS National Sales Director, with Galen Gan.

Stage Three: A community growing strong

The third stage of Pavilions Blackburn Lake added 20 premium apartments, averaging 150sqm of internal space and finished to perfection. All apartments sold within just six months of release. This outstanding result was made possible through consistent engagement with an established database from the first two stages, with little reliance on mainstream advertising.

Designed by VIA Architects, the development continues to set benchmarks in retirement living. It is already recognised nationally, in 2023 being named the Best Retirement Village Development and Best Luxury Retirement Village Development at the Property Council of Australia National Retirement Living Awards.

Read more about our work with AdventCare to bring Pavilions Blackburn Lake to life, in this case study