Published: 07/03/2025

New Retirement Villages in Australia 2025

Discover how new retirement villages across Australia are redefining senior living in 2025 with modern amenities, eco-friendly designs, and flexible pricing. Find the perfect community that matches your lifestyle, needs, and budget—offering comfort, independence, and long-term well-being in one place.

Overview of New Retirement Village Developments in 2025

Multiple retirement living projects are progressing across Australia in 2025, including apartment-style complexes and land lease villages mainly targeting active over-50s. These developments emphasize creating communities with resort-style facilities and sustainability, reflecting changing senior lifestyle preferences.

Key projects include:

Bella Vista Haven (Greater Sydney Hills Shire) – A master-planned community by Aveo featuring plans for 437 apartments, including the imminent "Corymbia" building with 83 apartments and penthouses.
Aliria on Dean (Rockhampton, QLD) – A $32 million boutique land lease community comprising 57 three-bedroom architect-designed duplex homes.
GemLife Moreton Bay (Queensland) – A land lease village known as Australia’s first 5-star Green Star certified community, focusing on sustainability.
Vantage Bloomdale (Diggers Rest, Victoria) – A land lease village featuring a $20 million clubhouse and resort-style amenities.
Lincoln Place Northern Rivers Lifestyle Estate (Near Yamba, NSW) – An over-50s lifestyle estate offering homes starting at about $545,000 with social and lifestyle facilities.

These developments highlight a trend toward sustainable, community-focused retirement living that balances convenience, lifestyle, and affordability.

Pricing Information for New Retirement Villages in 2025

Prices for retirement villages vary depending on location, housing type, and the range of amenities provided.

Regional Land Lease Communities: Offering Spacious Homes

Aliria on Dean, Rockhampton
- Prices begin from approximately $565,000 for three-bedroom duplex homes.
- Designed to support active lifestyles, featuring amenities such as a clubhouse, pool, gym, pickleball court, and RV parking.
- It is among the first land lease communities established in Rockhampton in over ten years, providing an option for those seeking regional living.
Lincoln Place Northern Rivers Lifestyle Estate
- Homes start at around $545,000 in a community offering open-air living, social sports like bowls and pickleball, and proximity to coastal attractions.

These pricing levels give a general sense of entry prices for spacious homes in regional land lease villages.

Metropolitan Apartments with Higher Price Brackets

Bella Vista Haven, Sydney
- The forthcoming "Corymbia" phase will comprise 83 apartments and penthouses; exact prices are not publicly available as of 2025.
- The development features amenities such as indoor pools, a library, cinema, and waterfront dining facilities.
- The entire village will contain 437 apartments distributed across nine buildings plus a 135-bed aged care facility.
GemLife Moreton Bay
- This village includes sustainability-focused designs such as all-electric homes and renewable energy integration.
- Pricing details are not publicly disclosed but reflect the community’s features and location within Queensland’s market.
Vantage Bloomdale (Victoria)
- Consists of land lease homes with a resort-style clubhouse and other amenities; pricing information is currently unavailable.

Established Villages with Recent Upgrades

Aveo’s Minkara Resort (Sydney Northern Beaches) completed a $1.5 million refurbishment in 2024–25, enhancing community features. Pricing has not been made public.
Park Meadows by Uniting at Westmead (NSW) is developing 153 new independent living apartments expected to be ready by mid-2027; pricing has yet to be announced.

Amenities and Lifestyle Features in New Retirement Communities

New retirement villages strive to promote active, social, and wellness-oriented lifestyles with a broad range of amenities.

Typical features include:

Resort-style Clubhouses with bars, dining areas, cinemas, lounges, and libraries acting as community hubs.
- For instance, Vantage Bloomdale’s clubhouse will feature a games room, bar, theatre, private dining, and wellness spaces.
Sports & Fitness Facilities such as indoor and outdoor pools, gyms, yoga lawns, pickleball and tennis courts, and walking groups.
- Aliria on Dean offers pickleball courts and gym amenities.
- Seasons Mango Hill (Queensland) provides activities including aqua Zumba and Tai Chi classes.
Sustainability Features in environmentally mindful villages like GemLife Moreton Bay integrate renewable energy, native landscaping to support wildlife habitats, and electric homes designed to reduce utility costs.
Social and Recreational Activities include musical groups, aqua aerobics, arts and crafts, wine tasting, and community events intended to encourage social interaction and wellbeing.

Eligibility and Purchase Process for New Retirement Villages

Common Eligibility Criteria

Typically intended for people aged 50 and above, aligned with active over-50 demographics.
Some communities allow younger partners or spouses according to their specific regulations.
Applicants generally must be mentally and financially capable of entering lease or purchase agreements.
Health assessments may be conducted to ensure appropriate community support.

Purchase Methods and Agreements

Land Lease Communities: Residents purchase their homes but lease the land, often lowering upfront purchase costs; ongoing site fees may apply.
Unit or Apartment Ownership: Metropolitan villages often provide outright purchase of apartments or villas, with associated strata or body corporate fees covering maintenance and amenities.
Entry Contributions and Exit Fees: Retirement village contracts usually include entry contributions (purchase price), ongoing community fees, and exit fees upon departure; these details are covered in disclosure documents and regulated for transparency.

Important Considerations Before Commitment

Thoroughly review the Disclosure Statement, which outlines all fees, services, maintenance duties, and resident rights.
Understand which optional services (e.g., cleaning, meals, personal care) are included or may be available at extra cost.
Examine the maintenance fee structure and details about the village’s Capital Works Fund, which supports long-term upkeep.

Regulatory Updates Relevant to Retirement Living in 2025

In 2025, regulatory reforms are being introduced in multiple states, including New South Wales, to enhance transparency and consumer protections in retirement villages.

Key changes include:

Retirement Villages Regulation 2025: Updated regulations improve clarity on fees, optional services, and contract conditions.
Consumer Protections: Better disclosure of fees, clearer terms for optional services, and improved dispute resolution processes.
Financial and Asset Management: Promotion of best-practice asset management guidelines (e.g., ISO 55001/IIMM) to support sustainable village maintenance.
Voting and Resident Governance: Discussions focus on modernizing voting procedures, including electronic voting options and clearer resident communication.

Summary for Those Exploring Retirement Living Options in 2025

New villages have pricing that ranges from about mid $500,000 for regional land lease three-bedroom homes to higher costs for metropolitan apartments.
Communities provide a broad variety of amenities that support active and social lifestyles tailored for over-50s residents.
Some villages prioritize environmental sustainability through renewable energy and green building standards.
Regulatory reforms offer enhanced consumer information and protections regarding contracts and fees.
For the latest and most accurate details about pricing and availability, prospective residents should contact developers or official village representatives directly, especially where pricing is yet unpublished.

The variety of new retirement villages available across Australia in 2025 offers choices suited to different tastes, budgets, and locations. Whether interested in metropolitan apartments or regional land lease homes, these communities aim to provide lifestyle options backed by updated regulations and shifting market demands. Prospective buyers should carefully examine all relevant information and disclosures to make well-informed decisions about their retirement living arrangements.

Sources

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Published: 07/03/2025