Work begins on over-50s lifestyle resort

Work has officially started on a multi-million-dollar, luxury over-50s lifestyle development in Rothwell, marking the first step towards building a community in a sought-after location.

The Serenitas project will offer a new era in resort-style living, under the Thyme Lifestyle Resort brand.

Dignitaries including Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth, State Member for Bancroft Chris Whiting, Moreton Bay City Council Mayor Peter Flannery and Serenitas CEO Von Slater turned the first sod for civil works at the site today.

Thyme Lifestyle Resort Rothwell will be built in stages at the corner of Anzac Ave and Stubbins St, Rothwell, with the first homes expected to be finished towards the end of 2025.

Von Slater says the first residents should move in before Christmas this year, with the community to grow by five or six homes every month until the project is completed.

“We are proud to bring our flagship Thyme Lifestyle Resort brand to Rothwell, offering a welcoming and relaxed lifestyle for people over 50, just moments from the beautiful (Moreton) bay,” Von says.

“Once complete, the boutique-sized resort will feature a planned 193 homes, all close to essential amenities such as public transport, shopping and healthcare.

“This makes it an attractive location for those looking to downsize while enjoying a socially active and, importantly, affordable lifestyle.”

Von says the homes range in size from single-bedroom + study, up to a three-bedroom + study.

“What they all have in common is they are built for downsizing – lock up and leave (for holidays) – and low maintenance, which is important to our customers and over 50s,” she says.

External and internal finishes are low maintenance and design features consider residents’ desire to ‘age-in-place’.

“You won’t necessarily see it when you walk into the home, it will look like traditional housing,” Von says.

Homes are built with extra space in kitchens and main bedrooms, so mobility aids can be used with ease, and bathrooms are designed to accommodate in-home care.

Lifestyle-focused facilities at the resort will include a clubhouse, walking tracks for residents and/or dogs, swimming pool, lawn bowls, pickleball, cinema, games room, library, wellness room which can be used for dancing, craft, yoga and meditation, gym/fitness studio and barbecue areas.

The pet-friendly, gated community will be well-connected with the surrounding urban environment including great health facilities and transport options.

Creating a community

Von says Serenitas is building more than a development, it aims to help residents create a community.

“The clubhouse is a great asset in that it becomes the heart of the community. As an operator, the community is very important to us, but we don’t tell people how they should live and behave and what community means,” she explains.

“Different communities have different personalities. What we try to do, particularly when a community is forming, is help seed fund money to form committees … it might be that they really want to do aqua aerobics or chess or craft group.

“That’s one part, really enabling the community and bringing them together and starting to really understand what they’re plans and interests are.”

She says the other aspect is embracing the broader community, connecting with local organisations and sporting clubs, while accessing services and facilities in surrounding areas.

Interest in the development has been strong with the location, plans for the site and no entry/exit fees appealing to customers.

“We’re developers, and we’re here today turning soil, but the reality is development is just a means to build a community,” Von adds.

“It actually has such a huge impact on people’s lives … if you go to community, when people have lived there for a while, you hear about new hobbies they’d never had, new best friends they never thought they’d have.

“I just think the wellness factor and what it does for their longevity and health is pretty amazing. It’s pretty powerful.

“This is the first step and we’re very excited to get started.”

The Thyme Lifestyle Resort Rothwell sales and information centre is now open at the corner of Anzac Ave and Stubbins St, Rothwell.

Visitors to the sales centre can register to be part of the Thyme VIP Club. The club provides members with pre-release access to early bird news, exclusive offers, new stage releases and special event invitations.

The first VIP event is planned for May 15. During the event, Serenitas will unveil its range of first stage home designs and planned resort-style facilities ahead of the public launch on June 12.

For more information visit the website, phone 1300 719 843 or visit the sales centre at the corner of Anzac Ave and Stubbins St, Rothwell.