$100 million retirement community planned in Murray Bridge
Through Living Choice, Bridgeport Hotel owners Ian Tregoning and Graham Hobbs plan to build hundreds of new homes and a country club at the Newbridge estate.
A luxurious country club and hundreds of new homes will feature in a $100 million “over-50s lifestyle resort” being planned in Murray Bridge.
The development at the city’s old racecourse site, announced last week, will position Murray Bridge as one of South Australia’s premium retirement destinations.
It will feature a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes, secure motorhome storage for residents, plus a community centre likely to include a cinema, indoor pool and gymnasium.
Construction is expected to start in early 2024, pending development approval.
The landmark development will be driven by a company called Living Choice, which operates 12 retirement villages in three states.
Its owners are Ian Tregoning and Graham Hobbs – the pair behind the $45 million redevelopment of Murray Bridge’s Bridgeport Hotel.
“There has been huge growth in affordable communities (such as Murray Bridge) over the past five years,” Mr Tregoning said.
“As our name – Living Choice – implies, we want to ensure people have a wide choice of homes, prices and financial models to choose from.
“Murray Bridge is a fast-growing town and we expect to attract over-50s looking for a low-maintenance lifestyle change.”
The development will complement Newbridge, the housing estate built on the other half of Murray Bridge’s former racecourse.
More than 90 residential allotments have already been sold there, and about 30 homes built.
Developers Burke Urban are in the process of releasing 29 more vacant blocks, including nine located alongside what will become a new fairway for Murray Bridge Golf Club.
The estate’s final lots will be released in 2024.
Managing director Kym Burke said Burke Urban planned to continue landscaping and other works over the next 12 to 18 months “to help facilitate a proud and connected community”.
A retirement village or tourist accommodation was envisioned as part of the plan for Newbridge at its launch in 2020.
However, it was originally expected to take up a smaller area on Melville Terrace, close to Murray Bridge Golf Club.
Prevailing conditions in the housing market prompted the developers to expand their vision.
A childcare centre is also planned at Newbridge, which should help meet an urgent community need.
Meanwhile, Burke Urban remains the proponent of the Murray Bridge Training Village, another large residential development with a focus on attracting horse trainers and racing industry workers, beside the new racecourse at Gifford Hill.
The company was instrumental to Murray Bridge Racing Club’s move there in 2019.
Clarification: The retirement development will be undertaken solely by Living Choice; Burke Urban have agreed to sell that company the land it needs.
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