Community
26 February, 2025
Alabaster House hoping for state government takeover
Alabaster House is a low-cost accommodation provider for North West and Gulf patients.
The operators of Townsville-based health accommodation provider Alabaster House hope an eleventh-hour deal can be struck with the state government that will enable the crucial service to continue being offered to Gulf residents.
The push has the support of Robbie Katter, who met with several government ministers at parliament house last week in an effort to forge a path forward.
Alabaster House remains one of the only affordable options to its mostly Gulf resident client base, who seek accommodation under the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme for long hospital stays.
The majority of the clients across the 53-bed facility are Indigenous, with some dialysis patients remaining at the housing for months at a time.
The accommodation sits consistently at about 90 per cent capacity and has clients booking rooms months before requiring the service.
Founded 15 years ago as a Christian ministry by owners Robyn and Graham Girdler, the couple do not draw any salary for their efforts and have regularly used their own savings to make up for any financial shortfalls.
As previously reported, the aging owners have confronted a number of personal health setbacks in recent years, which has forced them to seek an organisation willing to take over the Alabaster House operations.
Ms Girdler said there have been a number of interested parties, but each has claimed they cannot afford the $4.5 million asking price for the six buildings owned by Alabaster House.
She said the couple still have a significant mortgage owing to the banks, meaning the buildings have to be sold in order to allow the Girdlers to retire.
For Sale signs were put up late last week and Ms Girdler told North West Weekly the real estate agent already has interest from a group associated with NDIS and Aged Care services.
However, Ms Girdler said the couple preferred to sell the properties to an organisation that would continue the original service intentions of Alabaster House.
But she said this looked less likely unless the state government was willing to act as an intermediary and purchase the buildings on behalf of any interested party.
“Our concern is for our clients – we are not concerned about selling the properties, the market in Townsville is very strong at the moment,” she said.
“But our hope is that the accommodation service for those travelling from rural and remote areas can continue – that has always been our intention.
“Our clients do not have other affordable accommodation options, and our service has become ingrained in the Townsville health community.”
Mr Girdler said Gulf residents would struggle to find affordable accommodation if Alabaster House services were discontinued.
“The only reason we exist is because the government over many years has decreased the health services available to remote communities, which has forced people to travel to Townsville,” he said.
“We are providing a vital service.”
Mr Katter said he was in discussions with senior officials from Queensland Health and the state government to determine what funding could be available to purchase the facilities.
“The Girdlers have been very selfless in their service and care for others over many years and we need the government to step in and help them out now,” he told North West Weekly.