Auckland Friends of the Jewish Aged Incorporated Society was formed in 1969 “to establish a home for elderly Jewish people in Auckland”. The chairperson of the steering committee was Lionel Albert; other members were Rabbi Astor, LD Nathan and Norman Shieff. At a meeting in August 1976, the committee agreed to purchase a section at 169A St Johns Rd with generous financial support from the Northern Masonic Trust Board.
In July 1978 building of the first four units commenced (design plans I Porsolt, architect J Bukowski) and Mayor Dove-Meyer Robinson officiated at their opening later that year. By the end of 1983, twenty self-contained retirement units had been built. Of these 20 dwellings, 14 “cottages” remain today.
In 1998 with the support from the families of the late Philipp and Lisa Hubner, six rest home rooms and service facilities were constructed in the building currently named Philipp House. In 2002 the extraordinary generosity of the trustees of the estate of the late Sir Woolf Fisher enabled a further eight en-suited rooms to be added in the wing named after him.
In 2011 the old bungalow named Albert house with a long and colourful history was removed from the property to allow the development of a purpose built hospital wing. The 12 bedroom facility with communal lounge and dining, commercial kitchen, laundry and wellbeing room was officially opened by Sir David Levene on 29 April 2012. The building retains the name Albert House in memory of Shalom Court’s founder, the late Lionel Albert.
