THE former Kenmore Hospital is now called Kenmore Gardens and is owned by Australia China International Pty Ltd.
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The company took over the hospital site in March last year.
Australia China International is involved in various businesses in Australia in fields as diverse as hotel services, Chinese medicine, Buddhist studies, martial arts, vocational training, nutritional therapy, health farms, worship houses, brands outlets, cultural shows and retirement living.
Chief Executive Eddie Yau said the new owners (Mr Xiao Liang Wen and his children) were planning to use Kenmore for a mixture of any of the above purposes, but most likely for retirement living, housing government services or hosting educational facilities.
“We are thinking that the government might occupy some buildings,” Mr Yau said.
“Or maybe use it for education. It would be good to have some school come in here or a university presence or to hold conventions here and to do the place up again. There is an ageing population in cities, so we can build a lot of retirement villages in regional locations.”
Mr Yau said the company wants to involve the community in Kenmore again and that the new owners were “here for the long term.”
“We have big thoughts for the place but we want to bring the people back in to use the facilities, such as the beautiful, historic cricket ground.
“We are newcomers to Goulburn but we can see that it has good potential because it has a site of this size. Also there is so much history about it. Mr Xiao and his children believe we need the involvement of the community to find a way to revive the place. They are Buddhists. It is not all about making money. They also want to be as transparent as possible.”
Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor welcomed Xiao Sandy and Xiao Ben and Mr Yau to Goulburn.
“Everyone here would love to see Kenmore developed and it is my job is to see what the government can do to support that,” Mr Taylor said.