Wallara’s story began in 1959, when local families gathered in a suburban living room.
What started as a small, determined group of people has grown into one of Victoria’s most trusted and respected disability support organisations – a place where people with different abilities learn, work, contribute and belong.
Our history is shaped by courage, community, and a clear vision.
Maurie Jarvis, Mayor of Dandenong, hosts a meeting in his home to support local families.
A small group begins gathering at the Dandenong Scout Hall – the foundation of the organisation that would become Wallara.
First Ladies Auxiliary meeting held, with more than 60 women
Land purchased at Potter Street, Dandenong to build a junior school and workshop
Cussen House and Jarvis Lodge opens, offering accommodation and care for young people
Jarvis Lodge is built at Potter Street, welcoming residents into supported accommodation
The Wallara Day Centre opens at Potter Street and The Sheltered Workshop is established at Tower Court, Keysborough, expanding learning and community support
Travel training and independent living programs begin, helping people build confidence and skills in their community
Wallara begins supporting adults with different abilities, creating new pathways for learning, connection and personal growth
New Dandenong Industries opens at 34 Sinclair Road. Wallara’s first employment-focused site
Wallara Industries opens at Tower Court, Keysborough. The 1,600m² site employes 60 supported employees and lays the groundwork for future growth.
Wallara partners with Winteringham to redevelop the Potter Street site, creating a multi-purpose campus for day services and accommodation with Winteringham’s innovative aged care services – the first of it’s kind in Australia.
Wallara Logistics moves from Tower Court to the superior Building 4 warehouse in Keypoint Industrial Estate, Keysborough. During the next decade, it takes over Building 7 and 9, with 9,000m² combined floorspace.
Wallara’s day programs expand to community hubs, reflecting a modern, inclusive approach that supports clients to connect, learn and participate within their local communities.
The redeveloped Potter Street campus is officially opened by Australian of the Year, Simon McKeon AO.
With support from a generous donor, Wallara launches a new suite of innovative micro-enterprises, WallaraTV, Grassbusters, the Wallara Shop and Potter Coffee.
Wallara initally leases, and later purchases, the 33-acre Sages Cottage Farm from Menzies Inc, expanding programs, bringing in local school leavers and building a community farm and café that grows quickly, and needs new facilities.
Wallara explands to Frankston, extending services and opportunities across Melbourne’s southeast.
Wallara Logistics relocates from Keypoint Industrial Estate into a purpose-built Head Quarters at 160 Bridge Road, Keysborough – 8,900m² of Third Party Logistics (3PL), production and hospitality operations, employing more than 110 Supported Employees.
Back office teams move in, creating Wallara’s new head office and Café W@Keysborough begins trading, giving clients another Hospitality work choice.
Sages Cottage Farm opens the ‘Ops Shed’ providing a much needed multi-purpose, all weather training space for Wallara’s programs.
Land management Services is launched as the employment extensions of the successful Grassbusters program.
Wallara programs (including Café W) are launched at the Healthy Futures Hub in Seaford, which includes teams from Monash University, the St Kilda Football Club and a dozen health services.
Brunswick Industries joins the Wallara, providing a well-established workforce and staff team in Melbourne’s north. Wallara commits to increasing it’s presence across Melbourne’s northern corridor.
Wallara achieves Social Traders certification for 5 social enterprises, reinforcing it as an Australian leader in purpose-driven business:
Wallara expands its hospitality enterprise with the opening of its fourth Café W at Monash University’s Clayton campus, providing new training and employment pathways for people with disability in a vibrant university setting.
The $2.5M Hub@Sages is launched. The facility allows Wallara to offer additional training places with purpose-built program and event spaces, plus staff offices. All funding was sourced from major donors.
The immersive Sensory Garden, commercial Flower Farm and Farmgate shop open at Sages Cottage Farm, giving clients more job choices.
Wallara purchases and opens The Beach House, a new 4-bedroom Short-Term respite accommodation in Aspendale. Just 250 metres from the beach, the home helps clients to build independent living skills.
Whether you’re a future client, family member, individual supporter, volunteer, or partner, we’d love you to be part of our community.
