Leading financial technology Firm, Citro, just released a guide on Australia’s top 30 places to retire. The report analysed factors including price, location, and healthcare infrastructure, as well as community-focus and recreational opportunities for older Australians, in order to identify retirement friendly locations.
Regional Australia dominated the list, with Armidale in NSW taking out the top spot as the optimum retirement location.
At Oak Tree, we are proud to have two boutique retirement village locations in Armidale, both offering vibrant resident communities, low maintenance living, great facilities, and thoughtfully designed villas that are built to suit our residents now, and well into the future.
We are incredibly excited to be expanding our Oak Tree retirement village on Taylor Street and welcoming more retirees into our vibrant community in the near future.
“The timeframes are for construction to commence within the next month and for completion over the next 12 to 18 months,” says Cameron Goffage, Oak Tree’s General Manager of Operations and Sales. The next stage will feature 32 villas, the majority being three-bedroom designs.
Each open plan, modern villa will be thoughtfully designed for ease and comfort, featuring step-free living, spacious bathrooms, walk in showers, stone benchtops, and high-quality electrical appliances. Residents will also enjoy ducted air conditioning for year-round comfort, a private, covered outdoor area perfect for entertaining, and the convenience and security of a lock up garage.
Given there is clear demand for additional regional retirement living, Oak Tree are also expanding our Dubbo village, featuring 38 villas with majority two-bedroom designs, and our Mudgee village, featuring 64 villas and a mixture of two- and three-bedroom designs.
Having a regional focus when it comes to our village locations has been important to us from the very beginning at Oak Tree, as we’re passionate about helping older Australians to retire locally instead of being forced to move away from the area they know and love.
When choosing retirement village locations, we always consider elements like healthcare amenities, proximity to daily needs, and available lifestyle opportunities for our residents.
Armidale is a multicultural university town boasting the perfect blend of urban sophistication, charming country life and natural beauty. It’s a bustling administrative centre with easy access to national parks, gorges, cool-climate vineyards, waterfalls and wildlife habitats, providing ample opportunities for adventure, socialisation, and entertainment for retirees.
Armidale has all the infrastructure and amenities needed for a comfortable, vibrant retirement lifestyle, including the Armidale Hospital to the Armidale Golf Club, a twin cinema, music conservatorium, and the Armidale Ex Services Memorial Club.
For retirees looking to get involved in the local community, there are abundant volunteering opportunities with the Armidale Volunteer Referral Service, and Garden Volunteers, a not-for-profit group that improves the historical gardens of Saumarez Homestead.
It’s also home to the New England Regional Art Museum, the best regional gallery in New South Wales boasting major collections valued at over $40 million, as well as regular events, workshops, and art classes.
Armidale provides all this for retirees at a fraction of the cost of living in Brisbane or Sydney. With a population of 29,630, it offers a simplistic, carefree way of life for retirees looking to relax and make the most of their newfound freedom.
Citro’s Managing Director, Ash Frenken, stated that older Australians today are prioritising community, comfort, and convenience when it comes to their search for a home. At Oak Tree, these factors are all hallmarks of our lifestyle offering and individual homes.
“The guide is proof you don’t need to stay in the bigger cities to take advantage of this,” Mr Fenken said.
With a peaceful, laid-back lifestyle, beautiful surroundings, and more affordable living, it’s no wonder so many older Australians are looking to spend their next chapter in regional areas!
To learn more about our two retirement villages in Armidale, call 1300 367 155 today.
