Racecourse retirement village redefines luxury living for a new generation of retirees

A major new trend is taking shape in Australian retirement living with Keyton’s newly completed Poinciana House at Bernborough Ascot in Brisbane emerging as an example of how the sector is evolving to meet the expectations of modern retirees.

Located beside Doomben racecourse in Ascot, just 8km from the Brisbane CBD, Poinciana House is part of Bernborough Ascot, Australia’s first vertical retirement community built within a racecourse precinct.

The project is helping redefine what retirement living can look like in premium inner-city locations, combining independent apartment living with high-end lifestyle, wellness and world-class community amenities.

Keyton chief executive Nathan Cockerill said the strong response to Poinciana House reflected a clear shift in what older Australians now want from retirement living.

“We’re seeing a clear shift in what people want from retirement living,” he said.

“Many retirees want to live closer to the action and are choosing to stay close to the city, to services and to family, while also looking for homes that are secure, low maintenance and designed for the long term.”

The recently sold-out Poinciana House delivers 53 independent living apartments, adding to the completed and also sold-out Fig Tree House and marking the second stage of the Bernborough Ascot community.

Residents have access to a range of wellness and lifestyle amenities, including an indoor heated magnesium pool, gym, fitness studio, sauna, cafe and dining spaces, rooftop terrace with city and trackside views, bowling green, art studio, private theatre and resident lounges.

Mr Cockerill said vertical design was central to delivering this type of amenity in locations where traditional retirement village formats were no longer practical.

Poinciana House at Bernborough Ascot in Brisbane has 53 independent living apartments.

“Vertical living allows us to bring lifestyle, wellness and community together under one roof, in locations where traditional sprawling low-rise retirement villages simply aren’t possible,” he said.

“It’s not about density for its own sake – it’s about creating places where people can live well, stay active and remain connected as they age.”

According to Mr Cockerill, the particularly strong sales success of Poinciana House underlined the growing appetite for premium, well-located retirement living in Brisbane’s inner suburbs.

Moreover, with Opal Healthcare developing a co-located aged care facility next door, Bernborough Ascot was designed to ensure residents could not only live in a premium environment but also know they could comfortably age in a place.

“Close to transport, health services and numerous local lifestyle attractions, this is the direction retirement living is heading,” Mr Cockerill said.

Facilities at Keyton’s newly completed Poinciana House at Bernborough Ascot in Brisbane include an indoor heated pool.

“Close to the action, well-designed vertical communities such as Bernborough Ascot
reflect how many retirees want to live today.”

Keyton is an owner and operator of independent retirement living communities in Australia with more than 65 villages nationally and 15,000 residents across the country. Keyton has more than 30 years’ experience in the market and an ongoing commitment to creating communities and care for residents.