Breaking Ground at Keira Place: A New Chapter for SDA Housing in Wollongong
The view of Keira Place from the sky!
On Monday 11 May 2026, we joined developer Urban Property Group, NSW Minister for Planning Paul Scully MP, Wollongong Mayor Cr Tania Brown and a gathering of project partners, consultants and community representatives to officially break ground on Keira Place, a new mixed-use precinct at 120–122 Smith Street in the heart of Wollongong's CBD. This will be home to 18 NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) apartments.
The morning opened with an Acknowledgement of Country before Urban Co-CEO Patrick Elias spoke about what the project means for Urban's introduction to the Illawarra and their long-term commitment to the region. Minister Scully spoke to the importance of well-located, mixed-use housing in delivering inclusive outcomes for Wollongong, and Mayor Brown welcomed a development that brings new housing, investment and community benefit to the city centre. Our Managing Director Karen Abdallah then took to the floor, and her words captured everything Keira Place stands for.
Karen spoke about what we believe at MyLife Housing: that access to well-designed, well-located housing changes lives. For people with disability, proximity to transport, services and community isn't a bonus feature of a good home. It's what makes independence possible. She spoke about how Keira Place, with NDIS housing woven into the fabric of the building rather than separated from it, is the kind of project the sector needs more of, and thanked Urban and the NSW Government for their commitment to making that happen in Wollongong.
A project built around inclusion from day one
Keira Place isn't a typical development. Stage 1 delivers 150 new homes, including numerous affordable homes that MyLife Community Housing will manage, alongside NDIS SDA dwellings designed to High Physical Support (HPS) standard, with state-of-the-art assistive technology, smart home automation, open-plan interiors, high-end finishes and private balconies that make the most of Wollongong's coastal light
Urban brings strong credentials to the project including a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and 10-year Latent Defects Insurance, reflecting their commitment to quality and accountability right through to delivery. As both developer and builder, they take responsibility for the project from start to finish, and their decision to make Keira Place their first development in the Illawarra is a genuine vote of confidence in Wollongong as a place worth investing in for the long term.
What it means for people with disability in the Illawarra
Wollongong has long needed more SDA housing. For NDIS participants in the Illawarra, options have historically been limited, often meaning long waitlists, unsuitable properties or moves away from family and community. Keira Place addresses that directly, offering HPS apartments in a location that puts residents right at the centre of everything: the CBD, the train station, Wollongong Hospital and the coastline, all within easy reach.
But it's not just about location. It's about what it feels like to come home. With sweeping views to Mount Keira, ground floor retail, communal open spaces and a building designed around the people who will live in it, Keira Place offers the kind of connection to community that makes a real difference to everyday independence. For people with disability in the Illawarra, this is the kind of home that hasn't existed here before.
What’s Next
With Stage 1 now underway and Stage 2 planning progressing, Keira Place is a project to watch. Expressions of interest for the SDA apartments are open now. If you or someone you support is looking for a home exceeding HPS standards in Wollongong, we'd love to hear from you.
MyLife Housing provides NDIS-approved SDA apartments across NSW, with a focus on High Physical Support housing that prioritises design quality, independence and community connection. To learn more about our Wollongong properties, visit our Wollongong listings page. If you have any questions about SDA or want to explore your options, reach out to our team - we’re here to help! Contact us at 1300 969 562 or info@mylifehousing.com.au