GemLife’s juggernaut continues: first SA land lease community lodged
“It’s going to bring a lot of retirees to the town – a bit of independent wealth, rather than just another housing development,” said Whittam Livestock owner Chris Whittam.
The ASX-listed business has lodged a development application to build 266 single-storey homes on 11.5 hectares in Strathalbyn, a town 60km from Adelaide.
The site, presently used by livestock transportation company Whittam Transport will, if approved, be GemLife’s first in South Australia. GemLife also plans to build a two-storey clubroom for residents, catering to hobbies such as golf and bowling.
GemLife, which listed on the ASX in July last year, has 32 land lease communities active, under development and in the pipeline according to its 1H FY25 financial results.
On 19 December, The Weekly SOURCE reported that GemLife had paid $21 million for a 32.5 hectare site in Maidment Group’s Sanctum estate in Mount Low, 16km west of Townsville’s CBD.
The Whittam family owns the majority of the land marked for the development, which also includes small sections of crown land and council reserves.
Whittam Livestock owner Chris Whittam told The Advertiser the Whittam Transport business, owned by his brother Ashley would continue and the site’s truck depot would be relocated, with a contract in place for GemLife to acquire the land in November 2028.
“We’re pretty happy that GemLife is (developing) the type of thing that’s going to be good for the community,” he said. “It’s going to bring a lot of retirees to the town – a bit of independent wealth, rather than just another housing development.”
In addition to presently being used as a truck depot, the site includes a house where former Whittam Transport owner Lorene Whittam, The Truckie Queen, lives.
The plans said Lorene would continue to live at the house because GemLife “has entered into a commercial lifetime arrangement … allowing her to occupy the dwelling … for the duration of her natural life, or until such time as she chooses to vacate”.
Lorene started Whittam Transport with her late husband Mac Whittam.
The planning application, which requires approval from the Fleurieu Regional Assessment Panel, is open for public feedback until 21 January 2026.
