Construction will start on the first of two new over-50s communities in Toowoomba, in southern Queensland's Darling Downs region, in the second half of 2025, after they received development approval from Toowoomba Regional Council last week.
Both are located in the suburb of Cotswold Hills. The first – the $179 million Aliria Cotswold Hills – is anticipated to begin construction by September and will have 205 homes across a 14.54ha site.
The second – the $183 million Aliria Cotswold Rise – will follow at a later date, and feature 211 homes across a 10.69ha site. Each will include low maintenance homes with two bedrooms plus a multi-purpose room, alongside $15 million of resident facilities, including a multi-million-dollar Country Club.
The developments replace previous plans by Victoria company retirement resort specialist Country Club Living revealed in 2022.
Aliria owner Adrian Puljich (pictured below) said demand for new housing in the region was extremely high, with Census data showing more than 37% of Toowoomba’s population, equating to about 65,000 residents, is over 50.
“We have an ageing population, with more people looking ahead and wanting to move to a home that will suit them well into the future,” he said. “As over 50s choose to downsize, they’re freeing up larger family homes for younger generations, so these communities have a positive impact on both ends of the market.
“Cotswold Hills is such a desirable place to live. It has a peaceful semi-rural feel, the backdrop of the Bunya Mountains and is just a stone’s throw from Toowoomba’s urban amenities and services. We’re extremely confident in the location and are planning to start construction on the first community as soon as possible, to cater to the high demand we’re anticipating for the homes.”
His first individual project Aliria on Dean in Rockhampton is already under construction. Adrian also heads GemLife and Living Gems' 10,000-strong portfolio of land lease homes across Australia, including two resorts in Toowoomba – the 422-home GemLife Highfields Heights, launched last year, and the 316-home GemLife Highfields, released in 2017.
ADRIAN PULJICH AT THE 2025 LEADERS SUMMIT
LESSONS IN LAND LEASE COMMUNITIES
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