The Salvation Army has been active in the Sutherland Shire for more than 50 years, after purchasing 23 Kiora Road, Miranda in 1956.

Since then, The Salvation Army has acquired 2-6 Willock Avenue, the investment ensuring that the Shire Salvos Miranda continues to provide community services from the 2x detached houses, comprising 390sqm, located opposite the Miranda Police Station and close to Westfield Miranda.

IThe Shire Salvos Miranda continues to provide services from the original houses on the site, which have had some minor changes and upgrades over the years.

The ageing facilities are no longer fit for purpose – the residential houses were never designed for delivering community support, but Shire Salvos Miranda staff and volunteers have been able to work within those confines to continue providing much-needed services.

In addition, the rapidly rising cost of living has had major impacts on everyday people just trying to make ends meet – the demand for the Shire Salvos Miranda’s support has grown and is continuing to grow.

The redeveloped site will allow for a larger, specially designed 1,500sqm ground floor holistic community centre that will better serve the Sutherland Shire community for generations to come.

This type of community centre is the first of its kind for The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army plays a vital role in supporting communities by addressing immediate needs, whilst also providing resources for long-term stability and success.

The Salvation Army has been active in the Sutherland Shire for more than 50 years and continues to have a strong presence serving the most vulnerable in this community.

The organisation’s operations in Miranda and the broader Sutherland Shire provide a range of services, several faith and connection groups for people of all ages, and social support services including crisis assistance, financial counselling, transitional housing and rehabilitation services.

Shire Salvos Miranda services include:

• Emergency relief

• Drop in centre

• Food hampers

• Hot meals (Soul Food)

• Community Co-Op Sutherland Shire (run collectively by One Meal, Hopefield, Orana and Shire Salvos Miranda)

• Alcohol and Other Drugs Services (including Pathways, Foundations, case management

• Financial assistance (including MoneyCare financial counselling, and You’re the Boss financial education for 16-25 year olds)

• Positive Lifestyle Program course

• Transitional housing (managed by Platform 9)

• Reconnect Youth Counselling (for 12-18 year olds who are at risk of early home leaving or who are homeless)

• Christmas hampers

• Back to basics cooking class

• Crisis Assistance

• Doorways community support

Counselling facilities supporting:

• Domestic violence

• Drug and alcohol case workers

• Crisis housing and emergency relief services

• Other critical social and support programmes

• Financial relief and counselling, employment assistance (Employment Plus)

• Youth services including education, training and employment assistance.

It’s envisaged that the current Salvation Army site at Miranda will be transformed into a vibrant mixed-use community and residential development that caters to the evolving needs of the local community.

At its heart, the proposal involves constructing a brand new, purpose-built holistic community centre that provides essential services that continue to support the vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals throughout the region.

The new holistic community centre will be a purpose-built facility allowing the Shire Salvos Miranda team to connect to a wider range of community groups and provide greater support for more people, with an aim to reduce the duration of crises experienced by those vulnerable individuals and families by providing them with the critical support they require in a timely manner.

While the redevelopment is in the formative stages, The Salvation Army and Formus Property are considering a multipurpose room, counselling and community rooms, and facilities, as well as a social enterprise café providing opportunities for social connection and job skills. A mix of apartments, which will include key worker and affordable housing to assist with the growing need for housing diversity in the Sutherland Shire, is also under consideration.

This major piece of community infrastructure will be owned by The Salvation Army and will be funded by the profit generated from the sale of the residential apartments above.

The scale of the project will facilitate Formus Property’s ability to deliver this community centre and provide TSA with additional proceeds to invest into apartments and future critical support programs in the region.

Existing services will continue until on-site construction works commence, which are not expected until early to mid 2026.

The Salvation Army will work closely with all community groups and families that use the site to ensure clear communication around timing of construction and location of alternate services are provided.

It is expected that construction will take approximately two years to complete, but this may be revised depending on delays or other issues.

Existing services will continue until on-site construction works commence, which are not expected until late-2025.

The Salvation Army and Formus will work closely with all community groups and families to ensure clear communication around timing of construction and location of alternate services are provided.

After an exhaustive 12-month Expression of Interest process to find a development partner that aligned with its principles, mission and vision for the site, The Salvation Army appointed Formus Property as development partner to seek Development Approval for and delivery of a new multi-purpose facility.

The Directors of Formus Property, Ben Fairfax and Adam Lucas, are both local to Sutherland Shire and have a great track record in working with organisations like The Salvation Army to help guide property decisions that enable their work to continue for future generations.

The Salvation Army and Formus Property are working in collaboration to optimise the development potential from the land to expand on the existing community facilities in the region whilst providing much-needed diverse housing in line with market demand. 

Formus Property has a track-record of helping partners create tailored property solutions ranging from large-scale master-planned communities to smaller integrated neighbourhoods.

All Formus Property projects are community-centric developments that have reimagined underutilised land holdings to provide landowners with not only new facilities but often a new business model to help provide financial sustainability for the long term. Maintaining a positive impact on the community is one of Formus Property’s key principles.

Engaging with community members is vital, and your input will be considered during the design process and is also encouraged during the exhibition period in due course. 

If you do have any questions, please call 1800 317 560 or email us at info@mirandarenewal.com.au