A Queensland retirement village which has met high benchmarks for environmental sustainability and accessible apartment design has opened its first stage.
The Verge at Burleigh G.C, was officially opened on June 2 by the Member for Mermaid Beach, Ray Stevens, and RetireAustralia CEO Brett Robinson.
Based on the Gold Coast, The Verge is RetireAustralia’s first staged vertical retirement village.
Following approval of the planned third stage, the community will consist of three six-storey buildings featuring exceptional apartments and penthouses with expansive layouts that capture views of the adjacent Burleigh Golf Club.
Designed by specialist senior living architects, O’Neill Architecture, apartments at The Verge feature high-end fixtures and fittings and open-plan layouts that will adapt to the evolving needs of residents, ensuring they can live independently in their own home for longer.
The extensive community facilities and beautiful landscaped gardens have also been intentionally designed to promote healthy ageing.
Using passive design principles like external shading and smart insulation, glazing, LED lighting, electric vehicle charging stations and efficient air-conditioning, The Verge has achieved higher energy efficiency ratings than that of a standard compliant building.
During development ‘green concrete’, recycled water and timber from sustainable forests were used to reach the Green Star rating.
The project also met the Livable Housing Australia gold standard. These voluntary guidelines are designed to ensure people with mobility restrictions have the safest possible living environment.
Stage one of The Verge, completed in March this year at a cost of $30 million, features 40 one, one plus study, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses positioned along the length of the 10th hole. Once sold-out, stage one will be home to more than 60 residents.
Maurice and Pauline Dean are among the coastal retirement community’s first residents, moving into their two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in April.
Mrs Dean said one of the big selling points of The Verge was that the apartments were designed with ageing in mind to allow residents to maintain their independence in a safe and secure environment, but also had access to care in their home when they needed it.
This is really important to us as my husband has Parkinson’s Disease, but we have all the support and care we need right here,” she said.
“The staff are just wonderful, so helpful and always there when you need them.”
The couple, aged in their 70s, moved up from Victoria in January to be closer to their daughter.
They now live just three minutes away from her and could not be happier.
Mrs Dean said The Verge’s location was perfect and she loved all the amenities and the excellent quality of finishes in their new apartment.
We have everything we could ever want here. We overlook the golf course, there’s a café, no maintenance and activities every day of the week.
"The village community is so friendly too. We’ve made a lot of new friends over the past couple of months.”
She also liked the fact the village was pet friendly as she and Maurice regularly looked after their 10-week-old fur grandson – a miniature chihuahua named Pablo.
“He’s very cute and very popular with everyone when he’s here with us,” Mrs Dean said.
The Verge empowers residents like the Deans to live independently in their new homes for as long as possible, without forgoing freedoms, aesthetics or choice.
Stage one also includes the innovative Wellness Centre.
Much more than a gym, the Wellness Centre includes state-of-the-art exercise equipment, outdoor spaces for yoga or playing with the grandkids, the Tee House Café, multi-purpose rooms, changing facilities and physiotherapy/medical consulting rooms.
I’m really proud of The Verge and how much the new residents already feel a sense of home, community and ownership,” RetireAustralia CEO Brett Robinson said.
“It’s important for me to see our residents receiving the quality care they deserve. Our staff are dedicated, lovely people that always go out of their way to ensure the residents are comfortable, safe and happy.
Construction of stage two of The Verge is planned to start later this year and will include 66 independent living apartments plus ground floor community spaces. It will be home to more than 100 residents once sold-out.
