Carolyn Jackson's Curved Stairlift Installation in O'Halloran Hill, Adelaide

Published: Verified 2025 | Source: Acorn Stairlifts Australia

The Project

Carolyn Jackson, a resident of O'Halloran Hill in Adelaide's southern suburbs, needed a curved stairlift for her home. Curved staircases — those with bends, landings, or mid-stair turns — require a custom rail that is fabricated to match the exact geometry of the stairs. This makes curved stairlift installations more complex, more expensive, and harder to coordinate than straight stairlift jobs.

Carolyn's situation involved what she described as "out of the ordinary circumstances" that complicated the process. The Acorn Stairlifts Sydney sales coordinator handled her case with consistent patience, stepping her through selection, suitability, and purchase of the curved stairlift. His attention to detail and thorough explanations enabled a successful outcome, and he even made a personal home visit to ensure smooth liaison between states.

"I have worked in customer service roles most of my life and would like to congratulate Acorn Stairlifts with this well deserved feedback," Carolyn wrote in her review. "I will not hesitate to highly recommend your company anytime."

The Cost

Curved stairlifts are significantly more expensive than straight models because the rail must be custom-manufactured to the staircase. In Australia, curved stairlift prices typically range from $8,000 to $15,000 installed, depending on the complexity of the staircase (number of bends, landing size, staircase length). For NDIS participants, curved stairlifts can be funded under Home Modifications if an occupational therapist recommends them as reasonable and necessary. The OT report must specify why a straight stairlift is not suitable and why the more expensive curved option is required.

The Company

Acorn Stairlifts Australia's Sydney office was the point of contact for Carolyn's installation, but they coordinated with local Adelaide service providers. Acorn's nationwide network means a customer in South Australia can access the same product quality and service standards as someone in Sydney or Melbourne. The curved stairlift installation in O'Halloran Hill is a good example of how national coordination works: the sales and planning was handled by one state while the physical installation was delivered by local technicians.

Why This Matters

Adelaide has a high proportion of older homes with character staircases — Federation, Victorian, and colonial-era homes with landings and turns. For homeowners in suburbs like O'Halloran Hill, Glenelg, Unley, and Norwood, a curved stairlift is often the only way to stay in a beloved older home without giving up the upstairs bedrooms or study.

Carolyn's story shows that even when a staircase is complex and the circumstances are unusual, a curved stairlift can be designed and installed with the right provider. The key is patience, detailed planning, and a supplier who is willing to make home visits and coordinate across state lines if needed.

Read more about stairlifts, Adelaide home modification support, and NDIS home modifications.

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Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Always consult a licensed builder and occupational therapist for your specific situation, budget, and funding pathway.