We are Tasmania’s leading aged care provider and one of the State’s largest employers with over 1200 full and part time employees.
In 1972 Southern Cross Care (Tas) Inc., an initiative of the Knights of the Southern Cross, built a cluster of independent living units in Launceston so that seniors could remain self-sufficient and active within their local community.
The Knights advocate respect for the dignity of each person. This remains at the heart of the Mission of Southern Cross Care.
What followed was the growth of a range of residential and retirement living facilities and a Home Care program.
1976 – Guilford Young Grove Senior Citizens village in Sandy Bay opened.
1991 –Yaraandoo at Somerset opened.
1994 – Rosary Gardens in New Town acquired from the State government.
1994 – Home Care (formerly community care) program commenced. Home Care.
1997 – AA Lord Homes acquired from Society of St Vincent de Paul.
1998 – Sandown Apartments and retirement village in Sandy Bay.
2002 – Mount Esk (formerly Nazareth House) at St Leonards acquired from the Sisters of Nazareth.
2004 – Glenara Lakes at Youngtown opened.
2006 – Ainslie House in Launceston and Ainslie Nursing Home and Hostel at Low Head acquired from the Ainslie House Association.
Saint Canice lifestyle village at Sandy Bay.
2015 – Fairway Rise at Lindisfarne opened.
2025: Effective from 1 May 2025, the number of operational residential care beds is:
- Rosary Gardens: 94
- Glenara Lakes: 88
- Ainslie Low Head: 68
- Sandown: 69
- Guilford Young Grove: 44
- Yaraandoo: 81
- Mount Esk: 74
- Fairway Rise: 92
- Rivulet: 119
Mary’s Grange History
An aged care facility at Taroona was opened in 1957 by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in The Grange homestead. A new purpose built aged care facility was completed in 1970. The Sisters handed the facility to the Archdiocese of Hobart in 1986 and the Little Company of Mary assumed responsibility for the operation of the service. Southern Cross Care assumed governance and management responsibility for Mary’s Grange in 2016 until October 26, 2020, Southern Cross Care (Tas) Inc. announced that Mary’s Grange had come to the end of its life as an aged care home and would be closed.
We are pleased to announce that all our valued Mary’s Grange residents handpicked their new homes and settled in well to their new surroundings. We thank all our residents, their families and loved ones who have been on this journey with us. We would also like to thank all our Mary’s Grange team members, who also settled in at their new Southern Cross Care homes.