A Blue Mountains couple has joined a growing number of older Australians downsizing to the NSW Northern Rivers, choosing Yamba for its idyllic lifestyle and co-located services that support ageing in place.
Healthy North Coast’s latest Health Needs Assessment 2025-2028 found NSW’s North Coast population was expected to increase by five per cent over the four-year period, with the Over 65s age group alone projected to increase 18 per cent across the region, as more retirees seek a relaxed, coastal lifestyle.
Gareth and Karyn Burchell-Thomas moved into a three-bedroom apartment at Uniting Yamba last November, when the upkeep on their large home and garden became too onerous for the couple in their 70s.
Karyn said Yamba was an obvious choice for the pair, who spent their working years travelling the country and fell in love with the region’s relaxed coastal lifestyle.
“We wanted something low maintenance to give us more time for our hobbies,” Karyn said.
“We’ve gone from living in the mountains to having the beach on our doorstep. We love the connection to the water, and we are so happy living in Yamba.
“Our apartment has quality inclusions, good-sized rooms and plenty of storage, and the community is thoughtfully designed, beautifully landscaped and well-maintained, with great facilities for social connection.
“We love the dedicated barbecue areas and the Deck House, with a big TV screen and huge open plan kitchen, which are perfect for entertaining.
“Beyond our home, Yamba itself is a fantastic destination with cafes, pubs, local markets, golf, fitness centres and community groups to join, so it’s great to feel like we’re on holiday every day.”
Uniting Yamba comprises 50 new waterfront apartments located opposite Yamba Marina, with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom waterfront apartments and two-bedroom villas, co-located with onsite aged care.
Gareth said the boutique retirement precinct, which provides independent retirement living apartments and access to neighbouring aged care services, offered the couple peace of mind as their needs changed, without the care burden falling on their family.
“That three-tier level of care, including independent living, at-home support and on-site residential aged care, made us feel so safe and secure about the future,” he said.
“We’re quite active, but if anything happens to either of us, I’m confident we will be well-looked after and the family won’t have to worry about us.”
Uniting NSW.ACT Head of Property Development Adrian Ciano said with the NSW North Coast’s booming over 65s population, precincts like Uniting Yamba met the shift to ‘right-sizing’ for security without compromising on lifestyle.
“Finding brand new apartments with co-located aged care services is rare, let alone in such a beautiful coastal location, where people can age in place and embrace a more relaxed way of life,” Adrian said. “As a faith-based organisation, we are a welcoming community where everyone can belong, with people of various faiths and backgrounds already part of our thriving community.
“Yamba is a regular finalist in the Top Tourism Town awards and has emerged as a popular destination for sea changers, with over-70s making up almost 29 per cent of the local population – more than double the national average of 12.1 per cent.
“With our final waterfront apartments now selling and ready to move into, we’re proud to be creating a purpose-built environment where residents in NSW’s north coast can downsize and start their next chapter.”