Grace+McKeller+Centre

In 1924, what is now the Geelong hospital, wanted to focus more on the medical help, instead of being partly an aged care facility. This meant people who were in part of the aged care facility of the hospital were forced to move out. In no time a lot of Geelong thought we needed a new aged care facility. This led to a group called the Old Folks Home Committee forming in 1944 their goal being to raise money for a new aged care facility. By February 1945 they had raised $110,000, when two sisters Catherine and Ernstine McKeller donated their Bell Park property to the cause. The property was located on Ballarat Road and contained a large mansion and a 41 acre Parkland. Shortly after the group received the property it was turned into the Grace McKeller Center for aged care. Today it is part of Barwon Health being used a rehabilitation and aged care facility. __**Bibliography:**__ "Grace McKeller appeal is a resounding success", (1990), Geelong Advertiser, 1990, Souvenir no. 5, p.10