From Coast To Coast, It's Luxury Without Spending The Inheritance

2001

May [1]

From Coast To Coast, It's Luxury Without Spending The Inheritance

Sun Herald

Sunday March 18, 2007

Michelle Singer and Heather Quinlan

THE decision to retire isn't an easy one. Pride and independence as well as attachment to the family home and neighbourhood can make a decision to downsize difficult.

Across Australia, developments for over-55s range remarkably in services, features and prices.

Seniors Housing Online director Catherine Graham said making a decision on where to retire was strongly influenced by price and age.

"There is a clear generation gap among retired people with older retirees - those well into their 70s and 80s and beyond - looking for support services, low maintenance costs and proximity to family," she said.

"Younger retirees, the baby boomers, are not prepared to make lifestyle sacrifices when they retire."

Here are some of Australia's most popular retirement places:? NSW

The older population base of Sydney's northern beaches and North Shore has triggered an abundance of developments for over-55s. There has been recent movement on the Central Coast and Mid North Coast. Ms Graham said these areas offered high quality holiday lifestyles that were cheaper than Sydney.

Lake Munmorah Residential Resort. Saliena Avenue, Lake Munmorah - 110 kilometres north of Sydney.

Established: First 75 homes built.

Accommodation: Choice of 129 two- and three-bedroom homes. Stage two, yet to be released, will have 100 homes.

Features: Waterfront resort has resident manager, clubhouse, TV theatre, gym, residents' bus, heated swimming pool, indoor and outdoor bowls, tennis court.

Prices: from $205,000.

Broadwater Gardens. Park Street, Port Macquarie (41/2 hours from Sydney).

Established: 2004, with stages due to be built over the next year.

Accommodation: 40 freestanding villas, a duplex and four luxury apartments overlooking the Hastings River. Each home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, double garage, alarm system, air-conditioning and is set within a 2.2-hectare landscaped precinct.

Features: The clubhouse, due to be built next month, will have a hairdresser, games room, medical room, library, office, kitchen, indoor bowls and theatre room. The Settlement City Shopping Centre is one kilometre away.

Prices: Freestanding homes from $500,000-$550,000.

? QUEENSLAND

South-east Queensland is enormously popular with retirees and many new retirement options have been built in the past few years. The Sunshine Coast, 80 kilometres north of Brisbane, is a major area of growth and is serviced by its own airport and new shopping centres, golf courses, canals, rivers and beachfronts.

Aveo Clayfield. 469 Sandgate Road, Albion (six kilometres north of Brisbane CBD).

Established: Existing building, new facilities being built.

Accommodation: On the former St Columban's College site, there are one-and two-bedroom apartments, with large lounge and dining areas, private outdoor entertainment terraces and air-conditioning.

Features: Crafts and games room, 24-hour call system, indoor bowls, concert hall, indoor heated swimming pool, library and restaurant.

Prices: One-bedroom units priced from $295,000 and two-bedroom units priced from $480,000.

Living Choice Twin Waters. 21 Baywater Drive, Twin Waters. Established: 2003. Stages one and two complete, more to come.

Accommodation: On completion there will be 151 villas and 21 waterfront apartments with two, three and four bedrooms, air-conditioning, balconies and views.

Features: Bowling green, clubhouse, craft room, outdoor pool and barbecue area. The leisure centre has an indoor pool, movie theatre, billiards room, computer centre, woodwork shop, beauty salon, lounge, bar and auditorium.

Prices: Villas from $540,000 to $930,000.

* SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Towns on the Fleurieu and Yorke peninsulas are the most popular for retirees because of their proximity to the city, airport and major hospitals.

The Links Lady Bay. Normanville, Fleurieu Peninsula (80 kilometres south of Adelaide).

Established: 1996.

Accommodation: 900 blocks of land, with 400 sold and 18 left in the current stage five release. Stage six to be released this year.

Features: Links-style golf course, hotel/clubhouse with bistro, bar, restaurant, function centre, pro-shop. A health spa, swimming pool, tennis courts and 42 studio apartments attached to hotel complex due for completion in May 2007.

Prices: $135,000 to $195,000 for blocks from 300 to 800 square metres.

* WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Mandurah and Busselton rank among Australia's top 10 fastest-growing regional centres and over-55s are leading the charge, moving to the beachside communities south of Perth. Busselton and Dunsborough are a short drive from the Margaret River wine region, but have far cheaper housing prices.

St Ives Mandurah. 22 Carnegie Place, Greenfields (70 kilometres south of Perth).

Established: 2002.

Accommodation: 120 villa units, 13 under construction.

Features: On the banks of Serpentine River; security gated; purpose-built foreshore walkways; five minutes from shops; clubhouse, dining and games rooms, hairdresser, computer room and library, bar, arts centre and workshop; heated pool and spa, gym, bocce court and bowling green. There are also plans for a private jetty.

Prices: Two-bedroom duplex - $230,000, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with double garage - $480,000.

* VICTORIA

The Mornington Peninsula is considered exclusive, however demographer Bernard Salt says the most popular place is Rosebud, because it's accessible to Melbourne and is "the retirement you're having when you don't want to leave the city".

Rylands of Hawthorn. 349-367 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn. Established: Completion early 2008. Accommodation: 82 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Features: 24-hour emergency call system, restaurant, business centre, library, games room, workshop, beauty salon, swimming pool, gym and parking.

Prices: One-bedroom apartments with study from $435,000, penthouses $1.6 million.