With 95% of homes sold, operator bids to extend land lease community
Serenitas pushes ahead with Mareeba expansion as demand surges
- Expansion move: Plans lodged for 19 new homes in Mareeba
- Sell-out momentum: Community 95% sold, just one resale remaining
- Pipeline building: Cairns project attracting strong buyer interest
- Downsizing driver: Frees up larger homes for families
Serenitas’ Thyme Lifestyle Resort Mareeba, in the Far North Queensland town, has just one “pre-loved” three-bedroom, two-bathroom home for sale priced at $525,000.
The land lease operator has now applied to Mareeba Shire Council to expand the existing community onto the site of the old Mareeba Garden Centre, which closed in April 2o24.
Serenitas’ plan is to demolish the site’s existing house and greenhouses and build 19 new independent living units.
Serenitas’ Head of Acquisition and Development Patrick Noble said Thyme Lifestyle Resort Mareeba had been “highly successful” with 95% of properties sold.
“The housing and home types proposed within the DA are designed to meet market demand at different price points,” Patrick said.
“Thyme Lifestyle Resort communities offer a valuable means of providing suitable housing for Over 50s to downsize and free up larger housing stock for families.”
The design also includes 14 visitor parking spaces.
If approved, the developer will pay infrastructure charges estimated at over $360,000 to connect the new homes to the town’s water and sewer networks.
Serenitas is also currently building the Thyme Lifestyle Resort at Kewarra Beach, on the former Paradise Palms Golf Course, and is reporting strong demand from buyers across Cairns, Southeast Queensland and interstate.
“We’re seeing consistent inquiry levels as the project progresses towards opening our display homes on Thursday 7 May,” Patrick said of the resort at Kewarra Beach.
The site will become Thyme Lifestyle Resort’s 10th community.
In its 3Q26 financial report, Mirvac – which has a 40% stake in Serenitas – said the land lease operator had 428 sales for the year to date, an increase of 42% Year-on-Year (YoY), including 130 sales in the third quarter, an extra 27% YoY.
