Cinemas, renovated mansions, wine cellars, ten-pin bowling alleys, and stunning vistas are among the attractions available in Australia’s new breed of luxury retirement villages in Melbourne.
These communities defy clichés about retirement living and reflect the increasingly varied and aspiration interests of today’s retirees.
We’ve compiled a list of present and proposed retirement villages that have spacious and modern apartments, many with views, as well as communal facilities that would be at home on a first-class cruise ship or resort.
Victoria
The Grace is a 79-apartment, 18-story retirement community in South Melbourne that was finished in July 2019 by Australian Unity.
The Grace has one, two, and three-bedroom apartments offered in April 2021, ranging in price from $660,000 to $4,950,000. (for the penthouse). The building’s flats all offer views of the CBD skyline or Albert Park Lake.
A piano lounge, bar, private dining room, indoor pool, sauna and steam, cinema, and gym are all available at The Grace. A themed clubroom is also available on every second level.
The Grace also boasts a wonderful rooftop patio with spectacular views of the city and Albert Park Lake, as well as a fantastic clubhouse in the basement with games like table tennis and foosball for visiting grandkids.
The Grace, according to Beverly Smith, general manager of residential communities for Australian Unity, is “noted as a showcase of retirement living due to its cutting-edge innovation and design.”
Drummond Place
Drummond Place, situated in Carlton, is another Australian Unity community that debuted in May 2017. It is a nine-story structure with 90 flats.
Drummond Place has a few units left as of April 2021, with prices ranging from $780,000 to $835,000. All of the apartments are two bedrooms, with either two bathrooms or one bathroom and a powder room.
Drummond Place features a spacious dining and lounge area, a private dining room, a library, an activity room, a gym, a movie theatre, and a magnificent rooftop terrace.
Drummond Place was created by famous architecture company Fender Katsalidis, according to Australian Unity general manager of residential communities Beverly Smith.
Ardency Kennedy Place
Lendlease is building Ardency Kennedy Place, a luxurious nine-level retirement community on the site of the former Nine Network studios in Bendigo St, Richmond.
One, two, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as three-bedroom penthouses, will be available. The penthouses will have 2.9-meter-high floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of Melbourne.
The project will have a rooftop terrace and community garden, a communal lounge with a fireplace, billiards table, and baby grand piano, a 30-seat private cinema, and a wellness center with an indoor heated swimming pool, gym, and yoga and pilates studio when it is completed in late 2022.
Europa on Alma
Europa on Alma, directed by Bolton Clarke, will premiere at St Kilda in Spring 2021. It will be a five-story boutique property with only 81 units.
An entry foyer, dining room, gymnasium, Skyroom atrium and deck with city and district views, arts and crafts studio, cinema, consulting rooms library, and central courtyard gardens will be among the communal spaces. A concierge will be available to help with the day-to-day needs.
Timber flooring, Miele equipment, a kitchen island bench with polished stone, and video intercom security are included in the units, which start at $480,000.
