Quiet, good, clean respectful places to live - any ideas?

[Bill M]

Hi everyone, my wife and I are retirement age and we are looking for a nice quiet place to live. We live on the Central Coast of NSW right now and our suburb is younger to middle age working class. All in all not too bad except for one thing, there are more and more kids being born into the suburb and they are very noisy. All I hear is skateboards, footballs and kids screaming from the street all day and I think it's time for us to move somewhere quiet.

We lived in apartments in Sydney before and it was much more quiet than living in a house, reason being not many couples with kids lived in them.

We are a child free quiet couple who keeps to themselves. No wild parties or domestic arguments from our house.

Where can we go? What kind of retirement living can anyone recommend? We understand kids will be kids so our desire is to live in a place/location where it is essentially a child free zone.

Requirements:

Happy to go into a retirement place if need be
Happy to live in a quiet apartment block
Prefer somewhere warm (Tasmania would be too cold for us)
Must have shopping not more than 10 minutes walk away
Prefer an area with a train station or regular transport within walking distance
Must have a public hospital within a 30 minute drive
Must have local GP's in the area
An area with low crime rate, little graffiti and have a clean respectful community


Any ideas would be appreciated, even overseas is not ruled out. Quiet is our first and foremost requirement.

 

[Knobby22]

The aversion to children seems quite sad but everyone is different.

I can recommend Japarit in north western Victoria.
Nice (desert) climate and mainly filled with retirees who are seeking a cheaper lifestyle. Not many families as there is not much work there. The hospital is also part retirement home.

Might be a bit far away from the big cities for you however.

https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.1402432,142.0329994,14z

 

[Bill M]

The aversion to children seems quite sad but everyone is different.

I can recommend Japarit in north western Victoria.
Nice (desert) climate and mainly filled with retirees who are seeking a cheaper lifestyle. Not many families as there is not much work there. The hospital is also part retirement home.

Might be a bit far away from the big cities for you however.

https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.1402432,142.0329994,14z

Not funny in the slightest, anyone with any real success stories out there? Where have you retired too?

 

[SirRumpole]

I bought 40 acres of rural pastureland in Central West NSW 20 years ago. The majority of the land is agisted out to neighbours that run sheep, which keeps the weeds under control. The neighbours are quiet, only the occasional dog barking. It's away from a main road so there is little traffic. Not sure if acreage is your cup of tea, but green grass is quieter than suburbia.

Hmm, your requirements for shopping 10mins walk away sort of lets this option out. If you don't drive you will have trouble where I live. Sorry.

 

[Knobby22]

Apologies, I was being serious though. The town has a golf course also.

 

[Bill M]

Apologies, I was being serious though. The town has a golf course also.

No, my apologies, I thought you were winding me up because I clicked on the map and it appeared like it was in the middle of nowhere with nothing. Then I did some research and found that there is a nice little town there with a river and a golf course, cheers.

 

[Bill M]

I bought 40 acres of rural pastureland in Central West NSW 20 years ago. The majority of the land is agisted out to neighbours that run sheep, which keeps the weeds under control. The neighbours are quiet, only the occasional dog barking. It's away from a main road so there is little traffic. Not sure if acreage is your cup of tea, but green grass is quieter than suburbia.

Hmm, your requirements for shopping 10mins walk away sort of lets this option out. If you don't drive you will have trouble where I live. Sorry.

Hi SirRumpole, you are the second person who has suggested acreage to me. I have thought about it but I want to reduce my workload, ie don't like doing fences and other upkeep. Do you find you have a lot of work to do with 40 acres?

I have a problem that my wife can not drive, if I get crook and end up in hospital or can not drive then we will be in a bad position transport wise.

This is why I've asked on the forum as we are so confused as to where to retire, so many things running through my mind.

 

[SirRumpole]

Hi SirRumpole, you are the second person who has suggested acreage to me. I have thought about it but I want to reduce my workload, ie don't like doing fences and other upkeep. Do you find you have a lot of work to do with 40 acres?

I have a problem that my wife can not drive, if I get crook and end up in hospital or can not drive then we will be in a bad position transport wise.

This is why I've asked on the forum as we are so confused as to where to retire, so many things running through my mind.

I guess it depends on how much you want to pay and how you feel about location. A 'gated' community would seem to be good for you, but they are going out of fashion and are probably very expensive. Maybe a retirement village ? I'm sure there are lots around that are quiet and secure.

 

[Calliope]

I live in an "over fifties" retirement village which seems to meet most of your specifications. The only children you see are a few grandchildren visiting during the school holidays. However you wll never find a village of this type within a 10 minute walk to the shopping centre.

 

[lindsayf]

Wangaratta NE Vic

My mother has lived in Docker st there for a number of years. Very close to train station ( maybe too close depending on which end of street?), public and private hospitals, GP clinic(s) and 15 min walk to supermarket. Nice quiet area. It is an in demand area of town and think it attracts mature folk wanting to be near facilities. Certainly has been good for my mother. May not be a warm enough clime for you for a few months of the year?

 

[Julia]

Hello Bill, I understand your point about children. I have no aversion to children but simply don't want to live where they are yelling, banging skateboards, tossing balls into my garden etc on a regular basis.

Over the last few years I've done a lot of research into the viability of moving at some stage in the future to a retirement village. I've come to the conclusion that the ones which are best in terms of provision of facilities, support services etc, almost all charge the most extraordinary deferred fees. e.g. the Living Choice establishments on the Qld Sunshine Coast have attractive villas, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, bowls, golf putting, restaurant, bar etc etc, plus emergency call facility for when you get doddery, but the deferred fees are about 7% p.a. on purchase price (and you're only buying a 99 year lease, do not own the land) for max of five years. Average entrance price $700,000. So you can do the maths on that. Some plans have the occupant receiving some of the capital gain, if applicable, but mostly not.

So if you were to buy in and dislike it, you'd be up for a substantial loss on your entry price even in the first year.

Then there are the over 50's gated communities which mostly are just like gated communities everywhere. You can still experience grandchildren jumping all over you in the pool.
No organised support systems, but most seem not to have the awful deferred fees of the retirement villages above.

At the bottom end there are the 'relocatable' villages, where prices for pretty awful flimsy looking dwellings apparently qualify for government rent assistance. These can be had for as low as $95,000 up to about $250,000. Most of them, oddly, have excellent community facilities with indoor and outdoor pools and all the other assets that the top level villages have.

Having looked at all the above possibilities for the future, I've concluded best to stay where I am and buy in any assistance I might need if that time comes.

I'm in Hervey Bay, coastal regional Queensland, about three hours north of Brisbane. Population around 55,000, high proportion of which are retirees. It's mainly tourist oriented. Fairly conservative base, Nationals have been in power here pretty much for ever. Surrounding farming district growing fruit and vegetables.

One needs to reside outside the tourist area to avoid the noise and hordes of backpackers.
I live in a very quiet cul de sac at northern end, five minutes walk from usually deserted beach with safe swimming, 7 minutes drive to main shopping area. Hospital 15 minutes maximum. New private hospital completed later this year which will improve specialist access.

What I miss, after living in a city for most of my life before coming here, is the availability of cultural facilities and general intellectual stimulation. But that's about the only downside. Property is very affordable so someone coming from NSW would be able to afford a superior property here in a good area.
Weather is just wonderful. Summers never have the extremes of other places, most days being around 32, and in winter max daily average is about 23.

 

[sydboy007]

I live in a little lane way in Erskineville Sydney. I get only a few cars driving by my house, fortunately have mostly good neighbours except for the odd shouting match from a public housing couple, but they seem to be toning things down so probably have been told to buck up or they'll be shipped out. When friends come to visit they always comment on how quiet it is. Lots of trees around, plenty of native birds too which also find a joy to watch.

There's a decent Woolworths about 10 mins walk away - has pretty much everything you'd want to buy on a weekly basis but the variety of brands is limited. Nice wide isles which is something I wish more supermarkets would replicate. If you want more vairiety of shopping you can catch the 355 bus and be at marrickville metro in 15-20 mins which gives you Woolwroths and Aldi along with quite a few speciality stores. Worth heading over once a month to stock up aty Aldi on non perishibles, and the coles there

Erskineville "Village" is pretty good these days too. Plenty of places to eat out if you like, and quite cheap. Also a pharmacy, doctor and dentist.

Certainly more kids around now compared to when I moved here in 97, but to be honest I never hear them except if I'm walking through the park a few mins away from my house. I feel quite lucky to live just a few KMs out of the Sydney CBD, but it feels like I'm living back at my parents on the South Coast.

Only prob is the high land value of erskineville, so to buy in the area is ridiculous, but rents are ridiculously cheap for the value of the property. There's some quite nice apartments around to, even above the Woolworths I mentioned. Pick the right area in an inner ring (<10KM from CBD) suburb of Brisbane or Sydney and you might get what you want. Certanly more entertainment options, easier access to medical assistance.

Another advantage of being in a more urban setting is that most parents wont allow their kids to play outside / on the road, so most of their fun will be at a park, so as long as you're a street or 2 away from the nearest park you probably wont really notice any of the children living around you.

Other options could be somewhere on the NSW South Coast. Kiama has a relatively large seniors population, and if you live in the central area then you can easily walk to the small shopping centre that has a full sized woolworths. Shellharbour is another option, though lots more young families there, but if you pick the older areas you'll probably find they're more filled with empty nesters than the newer estates.

 

[basilio]

Have you considered Echuca on the Murray River in Victoria?

Very attractive town, good climate and (in my view) a good quality population. It's big enough to have all the shopping, hospital and transport facilities you need. I understand it is becoming an attractive option for Melbourne retirees.

Cheers

 

[sptrawler]

There are heaps of lovely towns around Australia, rent or buy a motorhome and go exploring.
It is approx 14,000klm around the Australian coast, I'm sure you will find somewhere that fits.

 

[Bill M]

Thank you to all contributors. There is certainly a lot of ideas and places and plenty of other things to think about. I don't really want to be in the middle of nowhere so I guess it comes down to a secure, quiet community somewhere in a city or another well supported area. I can honestly tell you I had more quiet times living in an apartment block in Sydney than living in a house in a regional suburb, maybe that's what we need to do again. We are just so tired of moving so would ideally like to make it our last move. Thanks again.

 

[SirRumpole]

Thank you to all contributors. There is certainly a lot of ideas and places and plenty of other things to think about. I don't really want to be in the middle of nowhere so I guess it comes down to a secure, quiet community somewhere in a city or another well supported area. I can honestly tell you I had more quiet times living in an apartment block in Sydney than living in a house in a regional suburb, maybe that's what we need to do again. We are just so tired of moving so would ideally like to make it our last move. Thanks again.

How about an apartment in Eureka tower Melbourne ?

Facilities all around, great views, no need to drive anywhere, help close at hand if you need it, high above the noise etc. It's not in a residential area so the number of families with kids would be minimal.

 

[Macquack]

My tip Bill M is PM.

Not that cryptic, but I think it ticks all you boxes.

I am sure you have considered PM, but don't let the cat out of the bag.

 

[Knobby22]

Thank you to all contributors. There is certainly a lot of ideas and places and plenty of other things to think about. I don't really want to be in the middle of nowhere so I guess it comes down to a secure, quiet community somewhere in a city or another well supported area. I can honestly tell you I had more quiet times living in an apartment block in Sydney than living in a house in a regional suburb, maybe that's what we need to do again. We are just so tired of moving so would ideally like to make it our last move. Thanks again.

Hi Bill.
What did you do? I want to retire within next 5 years. I will turn 60 in a couple of years.

 

[Bill M]

Hi Bill.
What did you do? I want to retire within next 5 years. I will turn 60 in a couple of years.

That was 9 years ago I wrote that. I won't say the suburb but we ended up on The Central Coast of NSW in an apartment. My main thought was, do we have to live in the city? 100% NO. We have everything here. We have learnt a few things in these last 9 years:

1. Living in a house is not always quieter than an apartment. In an apartment you don't get many kids, barking dogs and neighbours that want to chat over fence for hours.

2. We live walking distance to everything, including supermarkets, post office, Doctors and a Railway station. The railway station is very important as we do lots of traveling. Having the train to be able to go to the airport or the cruise terminal is great. We are in the city in 90 minutes and at the airport in less than 2 hours door to door. (you can't get that quick a service using a shuttle bus that could cost you $100's)

3. Location is everything. No point living up here if you need to use your car for everything all the time. Where we are I can live without the car, everything walking distance. Don't buy up on steep hill, when you are old you just can't walk it so it's back to cars or taxis, no thanks.

4. Go somewhere where you can go walking in nice surroundings. (I walk for exercise ) Streets are fine too but wouldn't water views be better? Parks are also good, there are plenty water views and parks on the Central Coast.

5. Anyone moving from Sydney to retire up here can cash in big time. I don't need to tell you all but it's simple as this, sell up Sydney for big money and buy cheaper up here and save the difference. Try not to do yourself out of a Government pension though, you need to work through that.

My Sydney friends have asked don't you miss Sydney? Even though I lived on the Northern Beaches for 30 years the answer is no. I miss nothing from Sydney except the airport out of here. We still visit Sydney sometimes and it can be fun but I haven't been back to Manly for 12 years. So all in all we are happy here. Good luck @Knobby22 !!

 

[basilio]

One certainly wants to think twice about staying in the big smoke. I moved to rural Victoria after retiring. Has worked out exceptionally well. Can still go to Melbourne if I want/need but a far more manageable mouse race here rather than the rat run of Melbourne.

Better value in housing of course.