Our beautiful resort, Sargood on Collaroy provides guests who are living with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), their partner, friends and family with much-needed respite, refreshment, and relaxation. It is also a place of learning, where guests gain confidence, skills, and the empowerment to live full and rewarding lives and to participate in their local community in an active way.
Since opening in 2017, Sargood on Collaroy, which is run by an outstanding team from Royal Rehab, has hosted over 800 guests from across the world. 97% of these guests would recommend Sargood on Collaroy to others and 78% have already come back for a return visit. Almost 40 per cent of our guests had never had the opportunity to travel since their Spinal Cord Injury and staying at Sargood was their first “proper” holiday, sometimes after a period of 10 or 20 years. Sargood on Collaroy is also a place of learning, where guests gain confidence, skills, and the empowerment to live full and rewarding lives and to actively participate in their local communities.
We know that what we are doing works…. Research shows that almost 80 per cent of those with a low sense of overall self-confidence prior to their first stay at Sargood on Collaroy subsequently experienced an improvement. Some reported extraordinary improvements, benefiting many areas of their life.
“I just can’t believe how nice everything is – with such care shown in the design and attention to detail – it’s truly so easy to be here. Sargood is genuinely accessible, but more than that, I wasn’t expecting such a beautiful place.” Yvonne
The Sargood Story
Sargood on Collaroy is a world-first resort, purpose-built for people living with spinal cord injury, their families and carers. Open to all ages, the resort welcomes people with permanent damage to their spinal cord that is not progressive or palliative. We provide holidays and NDIS short term accommodation with a maximum stay of up to 28 days.
Our beautiful facility overlooking Collaroy Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches, provides refreshment and relaxation. It is also a place of learning, where guests can gain the confidence and skills that empower them to live full and rewarding lives.
The Sargood Story
“A long history of Community Support”
1916
Businessman Frederick Sargood purchases a magnificent block of waterfront land at Collaroy and builds a sandstone beach house.
1918
Mr Sargood donates his beach house and all furniture to The War Chest as a place of recuperation for returning servicemen. He stipulates that when it is no longer needed for this purpose, it should be transferred to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children.
1920 – 1922
The remainder of the current site is gifted to the Hospital.
1923 – 1959
With the help and support of volunteers from the community, thousands of children suffering from Tuberculosis (TB) and polio are nursed back to health. Donations enable the Collaroy Children’s Convalescent Home Annexe to be expanded.
1960 – 1998
After a vaccination for Polio and TB is successfully introduced, the site is declared ‘surplus to requirements’ by the Hospital. NSW Disability Services use the site to run a day centre for people with intellectual disabilities. Successive governments attempt to rezone the land for sale as a high-rise development.
1999 – 2010
The Collaroy Community Group (now the Sargood Foundation) is formed. Its vision is to continue the land’s original purpose as a place of healing. The Foundation organises in excess of $20 million funding for the design and construction of the facility.
2011
The land is transferred to the NSW Lifetime Care and Support Authority (now iCare) for the sole use of Sargood on Collaroy, to be governed via a unique partnership between iCare (50%), and Private Benefactor (25%) and the Sargood Foundation (25%).
2014
Construction begins and Royal Rehab is appointed as the operator of the facility, with mutually agreed objectives for achieving world first outcomes.
2016 – 2017
On March, 1 2017 the first guests arrive at Sargood on Collaroy. The Foundation continues to raise funds to finance guest stays, upgrade equipment and create education programs encouraging the pathway to independence.
2017 – 2019
Initiated and supported by the Sargood Foundation, Sargood on Collaroy brings to life the vision of the Collaroy Community Group to provide a place of healing. Sargood on Collaroy has evolved through partnerships with donors to become a one-of-a-kind hub for people living with spinal cord injury.