Providence Lifestyle founder and director John Wood says the WA operator is accelerating growth to meet rising demand for over-50s land lease living, with six resorts slated over the next three years in Busselton, three in the City of Wanneroo, and two in the City of Swan.
“The challenge is that very few land lease communities have been developed in the past decade to meet Western Australia’s growing demand,” John said. “We’re expanding Providence projects, though finding the right locations and navigating complex planning, environmental and infrastructure requirements takes time.”
Last week, The Weekly SOURCE reported two development applications lodged by Providence Lifestyle totalling 504 over-50s homes.
John added a 24-hectare Wanneroo parcel is about three months from DA lodgement and is likely to include a diversified product mix, with around one-third dedicated to an RV-friendly offering – a format popular in Hervey Bay and Bundaberg that he says Western Australia has yet to see at scale.
John – who recently turned 60 – founded National Lifestyle Villages (NLV) in 1999, pioneering WA’s land lease model and growing it into the state’s largest operator before selling eight communities (and two in development) to GIC/Serenitas in 2018.
He has since returned with Providence Lifestyle, stress-testing design through regular resident lunches and on-site feedback.
What today’s buyers want
John sees a significant shift in the land lease buyer compared to 20 years ago.
- More decisive purchasers: “People seem to be making more of their own decision these days… cancellation rates were higher 20 years ago.”
- Details matter: Demand is strongest for everyday, high-quality spaces – varied home ranges, consistent landscaping and streetscapes, and thoughtfully designed small places.
- Consistency is king: “Getting that consistent theme throughout the resort seems to resonate,” an approach John credits to lessons from James Kelly (co-founder and former MD/CEO of Lifestyle Communities), with future sites to carry the same day-to-day livability focus as the pipeline moves through planning.
