VerSo Place

Senior's Living

Client
Keyton

Collaborators
Hayball
Oculus
Bryce Raworth
Arup
OneMileGrid
Tree Logic

Disciplines
Town Planning

Location
Vermont South, VIC

Date
2026

Imagery
Hayball

Set within a significant landholding in Vermont South, VerSo Place is a landmark retirement living community for Keyton, bringing together Hayball (Architecture), Oculus (Landscape Architecture) and Tract (Town Planning) in a carefully considered response to place, heritage and landscape.

Tract provided Town Planning services across both the rezoning of the former Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) site through Amendment C230whse and the subsequent development application and permit approval for approximately 200 independent living apartments, helping unlock a new chapter for this prominent site.

The proposal has been designed as a cohesive retirement living community that balances new development with the adaptive reuse of the former ARRB Administration Building as a vibrant shared hub for residents – including a library, private dining space, outdoor terrace, sports bar and cinema. Across the site, the design retains and celebrates the landscape qualities that make the place so distinctive, including mature existing trees that contribute strongly to its identity and sense of setting.

Verso place eastern courtyard - hayball architecture

Well located near established activity centres, VerSo Place is positioned to enhance connectivity and contribute positively to the surrounding neighbourhood. The development has been planned to support community, wellbeing and ageing in place through high-quality built form, integrated landscape and a diverse range of resident amenities, creating an environment that is both functional and deeply connected to its context.

The approved scheme comprises eight distinct buildings ranging from three to eight storeys and delivering more than 200 purpose-designed Independent Living Apartments (ILAs). Together, these buildings provide a diverse mix of apartment layouts, sizes and orientations, with accessible design principles, efficient planning and private open space supporting comfort, independence and everyday liveability.

Verso place elevated view - hayball architecture
Verso place piazza - hayball architecture

Centrally located communal and club spaces are designed to foster social connection, recreation and resident wellbeing. This layered approach, combining heritage, contemporary living and a strong landscape framework, helps create a retirement community with a distinct identity and enduring sense of place.

A strong commitment to sustainability underpins the project, targeting a 5-Star Green Star Buildings certification and a 7.5-Star NatHERS rating. These ambitions reflect a broader focus on delivering a high-quality, future-ready community that responds to environmental performance, resident wellbeing and the long-term value of thoughtful planning and design.