One of Newcastle's most anticipated retirement living projects has officially moved from vision to reality, with construction now commencing on the luxury over-55s community, The Merewether, at the Merewether Golf Club.
A Decade in the Making: Building Begins
After ten years of planning and overcoming significant challenges, builder Decode Construction has started the first physical works on the site. This follows the demolition of the original clubhouse and extensive ground stabilisation. For Luke Berry, a founder of development company Third.i Group, this milestone brings a profound sense of achievement and relief for his team, as well as excitement for the future residents.
"After all of the challenges we've had to face and overcome, we're just feeling incredibly happy to get to this stage where construction is underway," Mr Berry said. He expressed humility that many of the original buyers have maintained their faith in the project throughout the lengthy process.
Luxury Living with World-Class Amenities
The project will see the creation of 178 luxury apartments within a resort-style community overlooking the prestigious 18-hole golf course. A key early priority is the construction of a new, world-class clubhouse, featuring a restaurant, cafe, and bar with an outdoor deck overlooking the 18th hole. This facility is scheduled to be operational before the first residents move in.
The community is designed to cater to the active modern retiree, offering a health and wellness space, cinema, and pool. More than half of the apartments have already been sold, representing a sales value exceeding $100 million, with current sales averaging one apartment per week.
"Today's new retiree isn't always ready to slow down," Mr Berry explained. "The reality is most retirees now want to be active. They want to be out playing golf, enjoying good food and wine, and they want a home that's going to be suitable for them for the next stage of their life."
A Ready-Made Community Takes Shape
Remarkably, a strong sense of community is already forming among the future residents of The Merewether. Through regular get-togethers and events hosted by Third.i over recent years, buyers have had the opportunity to meet and build friendships with their future neighbours.
"They've gotten to know each other well, and friendships have already been created off the back of the launches and the events," said Mr Berry. "The seeds of a great community are already growing." He attributes the sustained sales momentum, including increased interest from Sydney, to this established community network and the visible progress of construction.
The Merewether is a shared vision between Third.i's retirement living arm, ThirdAge Villages, and the Merewether Golf Club. The architectural design was initially led by Eugene Marchese of Marchese Partners, with award-winning Newcastle firm EJE Architecture now taking the lead to deliver the final vision.
With construction now visible on site, the project is on track for completion over the coming 18 months, setting a new benchmark for coastal retirement living in the Newcastle region.
