Residents of a small community are furious over decision to allow over 100 Syrian refugees to move into empty rooms of an aged-care facility.

It's not known when refugees will arrive to the Melbourne suburb of Eltham, but the proposal to move them into the St Vincent's Health Australia (SVHA) facility has already caused a massive rift in the town.

Groups against the idea argue the facilities should be prioritised for local residents, while those in support have put together a book of welcome messages from the community.

Groups have protested against the idea, arguing the facilities should be prioritised for local residents

Sandy Pike's 87-year-old mother lives at the facility in the centre of the debate, she told 7 News that she's worried about Syrian refugees moving in.

'No one seems to care about the residents and that's what it's all about,' Ms Pike said.

She spoke at a protest rally in Eltham, where many other residents voiced their concerns over the move.

'Our elderly care system is for our elderly, not for Muslims,' one protester said.

A few suburbs away at the same time, a gathering more welcoming to the arrival of the Syrian refugees was meeting.

'We had about 110 people here,' Gillian Essex from the Welcome to Eltham group told 7 News.

The group says they've received a lot of positive reaction in regards to the arrival of the Syrian refugees.

'We put together a book of welcome messages from the community, fellow Welcome to Eltham member Nina Kelbora said.

'We've had close to 700 messages sent in in 6 weeks.'

The Welcome to Eltham group had 110 people at their gathering where they made a giant welcome signs out of attendees

Sandy Pike says she was worried about Syrian refugees moving in and believes no one cares about the residents already living there

SVHA is working with CatholicCare on the project where 60 units at the the St Vincent's Health Australia facility (pictured) would be made available for up to three years

Vulnerable women and children will be prioritised when the refugees come to to Eltham, but their arrival date is unknown.

'We don't (have a time frame) because it's really dependent on the arrival of the refugees in Australia and the other is the finalisation of the planning permit,' SVHA mission group leader Jack de Groot told the Herald Sun.

SVHA is working with CatholicCare on the project where 60 units could be made available to over 100 refugees for up to three years.