Karinya, Glen Innes, is a home-grown housing model which has housed 144 people in its 50 years
of operation. This anniversary was celebrated by residents and the community recently in the
garden at Karinya. “The thing that I would like to get across about Karinya” says John Lee,
President of the Glen Innes Karinya Association Inc., “is that it is run entirely by volunteers, it is
owned by the Glen Innes community and we are so grateful for the continuing community support
over the past 50 years.”
Karinya provides individual self-care homes for people aged 65 or over who are eligible for the
pension. Importantly, there is no entry fee and Karinya pays all maintenance costs. In addition to
the units, there is a recreation room which is used for bigger get-togethers, such as birthday
parties, Christmas events, meetings and card days.
This housing model is a success story which highlights the power of a community to initiate change
and appropriate solutions for themselves. It has received donations from countless individuals,
community organisations and businesses including donations of land, all because people believed
in this project.
The story of what was to become Karinya began in 1961 when members of Glen Innes Quota Club
met at a member’s home and decided “that the project for building single units for aged people be
discussed at the next meeting” which it was, when it was agreed “that the raising of money for the
building of single units for aged people be Quota’s project for the coming years”. Over the years
that followed Quota members sought support and threw themselves into fundraising such as
“…running street stalls, card nights, frolics and a cake and sandwich stall at the Apex Club’s
aquatic carnival in the McEwen’s dam at “Malabogie”, Dundee”. It was in 1962 that the Opportunity
Shop made the first of many crucial donations that have continued ever since.
[To read the detailed account of donors, press clippings, and summaries of meetings held over many years to launch Karinya, see the second edition of Karinya – Homes for the Aged, prepared by John Lee
and launched in November 2025.]
Despite growing support not only for the homes for the aged idea, but for financially supporting the project, at the end of 9 years of effort and advocacy, only £1000 had been raised, so it was decided to donate the money to another charity for a project that was already in operation.
However the housing for the aged project did not go away. Fortunately there was renewed interest and energy in the project and under the leadership and business acumen of President George Priest, who was also the Mayor, the first five units were opened in 1979.
When the first 5 units were built, the Government matched money $2 for $1. This reduced to $1 for
$1 when the second group of five units was built in 1984. That was the last time Karinya received any government funding. Since then another 14 units have been built. The Committee, and the Glen Innes community, takes great pride in the fact that Karinya is owned by the people of Glen Innes, not the Council or any Government body.
Karinya is an Aboriginal word meaning peaceful home or happy home and according to Anne Brewer, who has lived there for 25 years, it is “a wonderful place to live.’” Maisie Latham, who recently moved out to Roseneath, was equally positive about her 33 years at Karinya (a record) as was its newest resident Robbie Sim, who moved in a few weeks ago. Anne, Maisie and Robbie were among the crowd at the recent party to celebrate Karinya’s 50th anniversary. In addition to John Lee and past and present committee members, some of whom had been involved for nearly 50 years, the celebration was attended by local member Brendan Moylan MP for Northern Tablelands and Mayor Margot Davis.
The achievements of the Karinya Association have been simply amazing. It started with a meeting
and zero capital and 50 years later the Karinya complex consists of 8 land titles, 24 units, 2
cottages and 5 new units under construction. The new units will be the same design as the existing
units but will be one metre wider in each direction to make them more wheelchair friendly and, in
response to changing community needs, allowing for space for a table for computers.
Happy Anniversary Karinya – may your story inspire others to find their own community driven
affordable housing solutions.
