One resident has described her newly-renovated retirement village as being “like a five-star hotel,” while another feels like she is now living in an “upmarket guesthouse”.
These are some of the accolades given to a series of Melbourne retirement village refurbishments delivered by Aveo, a leading Australian retirement living provider.
The makeovers are providing new and improved facilities, and more spacious and well-appointed apartments, at 12 Victorian villages. They form part of a $200 million improvement program covering 67 Aveo villages across Australia.
The village upgrades are designed to better respond to the lifestyle demands of the Baby Boomer generation, who are currently aged between 61 and 79 and moving into the retirement phase of their lives.
“They (the Baby Boomers) belong to a generation that experienced a higher standard of living than their parents and anticipate maintaining this lifestyle,” said Aveo’s Chief Executive Officer, Tony Randello.
“They have told us they want more access to entertainment, health and wellness amenities. They want it known that they have retired from the office, not from life.”
The village revitalisations have created spacious new areas, which feature light, welcoming paint colours and modern artworks and furniture and fittings.
“We recognise that Aveo communities must evolve to remain relevant to the changing needs and tastes of the market,” Tony said. “Our vision was to create beautiful, experience-driven community hubs that not only serve as the social and lifestyle centres for residents but also attract new people to each community.
And the good news is that apartments in these newly-renovated villages are available for a wide range of price points.
So let’s take a closer look at the renovations at six of the Melbourne villages.
Lisson Manor Retirement Village (Hawthorn)
Lisson Manor is located at Hawthorn in Melbourne’s buzzing inner-east. It’s located just 6km from the Melbourne CBD, and close to local cafés, restaurants and shops.
Lisson Manor has recently received a major community centre refurbishment, delivering a refreshed lounge and dining area and new cinema, gym, salon, and library for residents.
These works have seen Lisson Manor, along with four other Aveo communities, named as finalists in the Best Revitalisation award at the 2025 National Retirement Living Awards, being held in June.
Refreshed lounge and dining area at Lisson Manor
Community Manager Adrian Borg said that thanks to the revitalisation works, Lisson Manor feels like a brand-new community.
“The project team created a vibrant new look, and the living spaces are a lot livelier,” Adrian said. “We have a media room for Saturday afternoon movies, a fantastic activities space, an upgraded salon, plus a new private dining area that residents are booking to spend time with family over a meal from the restaurant.”
Margery Smith moved to a one-bedroom apartment at Lisson Manor in Melbourne two years ago, and she couldn’t be happier.
“I want to live independently for as long as I can, and the services I receive here are helping me achieve this,” Margery said.
“I always say living here is like living in an upmarket guesthouse with support on hand.”
Apartment at Lisson Manor
Lisson Manor’s studio, one and two-bedroom boutique assisted living apartments have a price range of $252,000 to $885,000.
Find out more about Lisson Manor here
Sackville Grange Retirement Village (Kew)
Sackville Grange is located in Kew, also in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
It’s located just minutes from transport, great restaurants, shopping and entertainment in Kew, Balwyn and Camberwell. It’s also just around the corner from the spacious Reservoir Reserve - a great place to take the grandkids.
Sackville Grange’s community centre has also received a revitalisation, which has included a refreshed café, lounge and dining spaces, and salon.
New café at Sackville Grange
Sackville Grange has a range of modern and spacious one, two and three-bedroom homes, where expansive windows invite an abundance of natural light and open plan living spaces.
Apartments are available with a price range of $1,025,000 to $1,195,000.
Find out more about Sackville Grange here
Apartment at Sackville Grange
Fountain Court Retirement Living (Burwood)
Fountain Court is enveloped by tranquil gardens and located in Burwood, just 18km west of Melbourne’s CBD.
It’s close to the Burwood Brickworks shopping centre, the scenic trails and picnic spots of Gardiners Creek Reserve and bus and tram stops.
The village has recently undergone a major $11 million transformation, with the construction of enhanced community facilities featuring a café and residents’ bar, BBQ and alfresco area, media room and private dining room.
New café at Fountain Court
Fountain Court recently hosted a reopening party to celebrate the new community spaces for residents.
Fountain Court resident Rosemary McGinn said she was revelling in the stunning new spaces and facilities.
Fountain Court resident Rosemary McGinn
“I’ve lived at Fountain Court for three years, so I had a front-row seat to the refurbishment. Now it is all complete, it is just divine,’’ she said.
“I really find it difficult to decide what is now my favourite part of Fountain Court, but perhaps it is the superb new café. I love how tastefully it has been done, and I can sit outside in the sun on a nice day.”
Mrs McGinn said the community centre’s expanded spaces were spacious, modern and tastefully finished. “It’s a beautiful place to live, I feel very lucky to be here.’’
17 independent living apartments have been created by amalgamating previously smaller serviced apartments to create boutique, oversized and open-plan two- and two-bedroom plus study retirement apartments.
Apartment at Fountain Court
The apartments are fully refurbished and feature new modern kitchens and bathrooms, new appliances, and are just steps away from the new community facilities.
Apartments are available with a price range of $610,000 to $1,250,000.
Find out more about Fountain Court here
The George Retirement Living (Sandringham)
The George is located in Sandringham, in Melbourne’s sought-after bayside south-east.
The village is surrounded by green parklands and golf courses, and located close to the Sandringham Bowls Club, Sandringham Hospital, Royal Melbourne Golf Club and Southland Train Station.
In March 2025, the village held a grand community centre reopening party and now boasts a range of revamped community facilities, including a restaurant, café, dining room, lounge area with a cosy fireplace, theatrette, gym, library, and salon.
Revamped library at The George
Resident Mary Keogh, who recently moved to The George to be near her family in Sandringham, shared her excitement about the new facilities.
“I was fortunate enough to see the before and after,” Mary said.
“The new facilities are so beautiful and have exceeded all my expectations.
“It feels like a five-star hotel with light-filled and tastefully decorated areas.”
The George’s one and two-bedroom apartments have a price range of $299,000 to $960,000.
Find out more about The George here
Spacious apartment at The George
Concierge Bayside Retirement Living (Hampton)
Concierge Bayside is located in the beachside suburb of Hampton East, near The George, in Melbourne’s south-east.
It’s just six minutes from Hampton and world-renowned Brighton Beach, with Holmesglen Private Hospital, Westfield Southland, Sandringham Yacht Club and Hampton Bowls Club all located nearby.
Community centre upgrade works have been completed at Concierge Bayside, including new lounge and dining spaces.
New lounge area at Concierge Bayside
Concierge Bayside has been named, along with Lisson Manor mentioned above, as a finalist in the Best Revitalisation award at the 2025 National Retirement Living Awards. It has a range of one and two-bedroom homes.
Price range from $395,000 to $830,000.
Find out more about Concierge Bayside here
Cherry Tree Grove Retirement Living (Croydon)
Cherry Tree Grove is located in Croydon, in Melbourne’s outer east.
It’s 30 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, with Maroondah Hospital, Maroondah Golf Park, George Wood Performing Arts Centre and Croydon Bowling Club all located nearby.
Community centre revitalisation works are currently underway, with an upgraded dining room, lounge, cinema, and café area to be completed in 2025.
Artist’s impression of cinema at Cherry Tree Grove
Cherry Tree Grove resident Sue shared her feelings about the community, saying “I love this village, I just love it. You come off the highway to drive in and it’s just peaceful.”
Like at Fountain Court mentioned above, some smaller serviced apartments are currently being combined into eight one and two-bedroom, boutique terrace style homes.
Featuring new kitchens and bathrooms with modern appliances, open plan living and private courtyards.
Prices range from $675,000 to $1,085,000.
Find out more about Cherry Tree Grove here
Artist’s impression of future apartment at Cherry Tree Grove
The Melbourne village makeovers were informed by Aveo’s Ageing Australia Study, which was released in March 2024 and provided insights from 1,000 members of Australia’s Baby Boomer generation.
The study found that eight in 10 of Australia’s Baby Boomers valued independence and freedom in their retirement, while 76 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that this time of their lives was about “doing what you want when you want to”. The majority also want to focus on a healthy diet and exercise.
“We are positioning our portfolio to fulfil the high expectations of Baby Boomers while playing a vital role in supporting the growing demand for housing across Australia,” said Aveo’s CEO, Tony Randello.
“At Aveo, we are creating environments tailored for retirees to downsize, enjoy a superior quality of life, flourish in lively social communities and feel a genuine sense of belonging as they pursue their passions and interests in retirement.”
For more information about Aveo, visit www.aveo.com.au or please call 13 28 36.
