Retirement villages are a popular lifestyle choice for older Australians. In fact, a study by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has revealed that retirement villages will house 7.5 percent of people over 65 by 2025. This is expected to increase year-on-year.

Here is our guide to the best retirement villages in Sydney (these are relatively close to the CBD, so there are so many that we had to narrow down our list). Recommendations are from the Aged Care Online website, Australia’s most comprehensive online directory of aged care services. (If you are after retirement villages in Brisbane, you can find out more here.

What is a retirement village?

A retirement village is a residential community designed and built for older individuals. It is popular with singles and couples who want to live in a secure and supportive community while still living independently.
Retirement villages are different from aged care facilities. Nursing homes cater for people who can no longer live independently. Moving into aged care often occurs following a significant health incident or if there is concern for an individual’s health and safety.

What are the benefits of a retirement village?

There are many retirement village living benefits, including in over 55 retirement villages in Sydney. You can enjoy the space and privacy of living in your home without worrying about gardening or property maintenance. Residents in a retirement village also have access to various activities, facilities and social events. This encourages healthy ageing and fosters a sense of community, creating social events and an informal support network. Retirement villages also offer flexible care, meaning you can continue living in your home as you age and your support needs increase.

What are the best retirement villages in Sydney?

Macquarie Lodge Retirement Village, Arncliffe

Located around 20 minutes from the CBD, Macquarie Lodge Retirement Village is in Arncliffe. It offers the very best of contemporary living while honouring the past and providing for the future.

Facilities: Recreation room, billiards, movies, library, craft room
Accommodation: 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments
What’s nearby: Shops, cafes, restaurants, parks, recreational facilities and public transport.

Pitt Wood Retirement Village, Ashfield

Pitt Wood Retirement Village is located in the inner western suburb of Ashfield. The complex has been thoughtfully designed and offers a modern retirement community with accommodation options.

Accommodation: 1 to 3-bedroom apartments and 2x free-standing villas
What’s nearby: Westfield Burwood, Ashfield Mall, Ashfield train station, cafes and restaurants

The Cardinal Freeman, Ashfield

Levande is a Swedish word that means ‘vivid’ and ‘full of life’. Its communities embody the positivity inherent in the name. The Cardinal Freeman facility is on leafy, quiet grounds in the inner western suburb of Ashfield.

Facilities: BBQ facilities, lush gardens, community centres, gym, heated indoor swimming pool, hair salon, resident-run bar.
Accommodation: Luxury apartments, independent living apartments
What’s nearby: Ashfield Mall, Westfield Burwood, Ashfield train station, cafes and restaurants

Dougherty Apartments, Chatswood

Dougherty Apartments is located in Chatswood on the Lower North Shore of Sydney. Retirement living units are spacious and open-plan, featuring a well-appointed full kitchen, bright living and dining areas, a private balcony, neutral colour tones, emergency call systems, and built-in wardrobes. Units are available with one, two, or three bedrooms.

Facilities: Hairdressing salon, beauty therapies, physiotherapy
Accommodation: Unit living
What’s nearby: Westfield Shopping Complex, Chatswood Chase shopping centre, Chatswood bus/rail interchange.

Drummoyne Retirement Village, Drummoyne

Drummoyne Retirement Village is ideally located in Drummoyne in Sydney’s Inner West, just 15 minutes from the CBD. This beautiful boutique retirement village, named “Iona,” comprises eight modern two-bedroom units.

Accommodation: 2-bedroom units
What’s nearby: Restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, speciality stores, 15-20 minute drive or bus trip to the CBD.

Ardency Trebartha, Elizabeth Bay

Ardency Trebartha is an exclusive retirement community in prestigious Elizabeth Bay, a short walk to Rushcutters Bay. Surrounded by stunning parkland, it is a secure, resort-style facility where residents can maintain independence while enjoying the benefits of a warm, inclusive community.

Facilities: Hair and beauty salon, library, cinema, lounge, private resident’s bar, rooftop views, conservatory with kitchenette and recreational space, 24-hour concierge, alfresco entertainment area, BBQ, cinema viewing room, Shuk Restaurant and Cafe
Accommodation: Apartment living
What’s nearby: Rushcutters Bay, cinemas, dining, shops, beaches, golf clubs, medical services

Anglicare – St. John’s Village, Glebe

Anglicare St John’s Village is located in historic, cosmopolitan Glebe. It is a short walk from bustling Glebe Point Road with its boutiques, bookstores, galleries, cafes and restaurants. A winner of the Sir John Sulman Architectural Design Award, the building is heritage-listed and visually stunning.

Facilities: BBQ areas, community room, library, computer kiosk, laundry
Accommodation: 1-bedroom apartments
What’s nearby: Glebe Point Road Shops, Broadway Shopping Centre, Central Station. Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Australian Unity – The Heritage of Hunters Hill, Hunters Hill

The Heritage of Hunters Hill is an exclusive development for those over 60. Located just 8km from the Sydney CBD on the North Shore, it boasts old-world charm and is set among peaceful landscaped gardens. It is designed to offer an ideal mix of privacy and independence with the opportunity for a community lifestyle and backup support 24 hours a day.

Facilities: Community centre, dining room with kitchen, library with TV, landscaped gardens, billiards table, BBQ area, community bus, 24-hour emergency call system
Accommodation: Apartment living
What’s nearby: Hunters Hill ‘high street’ shops, cafes, health services, Hunters Hill Wharf ferry terminal, direct access to the Sydney metropolitan bus network

Baldwin Living – Lane Cove Gardens, Lane Cove

Baldwin Living Lane Cove Gardens offers retirees a city lifestyle overlooking Lane Cove National Park and the scenic Chatswood Golf Course. Set among spectacular gardens, units are linked by courtyards and walkways that provide easy access to the village centre.

Facilities: Library, craft room, hair salon, billiard room, indoor pool, dining room
Accommodation: 1-bedroom units, 2-bedroom units
What’s nearby: Lane Cove Market Square, The Village Shopping Centre, Chatswood Golf Course, Lane Cove National Park

St. Peter’s Green, Lane Cove North

St Peter’s Green is a beautiful boutique retirement village on Sydney’s leafy lower north shore. The village offers a social and friendly retirement community setting for retirees who like the choice of quiet solitude or sharing beautiful times with family, friends and neighbours.

Facilities: On-site café, hair salon, community room, chapel
Accommodation: Unit living
What’s nearby: shops, library, public transport

Hawkins Place by Uniting, Leichhardt

Hawkins Place by Uniting offers stylish, independent living in the heart of laid-back Leichhardt, known as Little Italy, with its distinct Italian flavour and welcoming European hospitality. Enjoy soaking up the stunning inner-city skyline views from the rooftop terrace or socialising with your neighbours in the clubroom. You can also access the facilities at nearby McRae-McMahon Place by Uniting.

Facilities: Rooftop terrace, clubroom, BBQ area, landscaped gardens, plus facilities at McRae-McMahon Place, including a resort-style indoor pool and rooftop garden
Accommodation: 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 2-bedroom + study, 3-bedroom apartments
What’s nearby: Shops, restaurants, cafés, Palace Norton Street cinema, Pioneers Memorial Park, Leichhardt War Memorial Park, Battalion Park, Uniting Seniors Gym Lilyfield.

McRae-McMahon Place by Uniting, Leichhardt

McRae-McMahon Place by Uniting is a vibrant, welcoming retirement community in the heart of ‘Little Italy’ in Leichhardt. The community offers a range of independent living apartments designed for older adults who value a social and active lifestyle.

Facilities: Landscaped gardens, resort-style indoor pool, plus facilities at Hawkins Place by Uniting, including a rooftop terrace, clubroom, BBQ area, and landscaped gardens
Accommodation: 2-bedroom apartments to deluxe penthouses
What’s nearby: Cafes, shops, restaurants, Palace Norton Street cinema, Leichhardt War Memorial Park, Pioneers Memorial Park, Battalion Park, Uniting Seniors Gym Lilyfield

Australian Unity – St. Brigid’s Green, Maroubra

Regarding Sydney retirement villages, St Brigid’s Green is located in the Eastern Suburbs, just 400m from Maroubra Junctions. It offers architecturally designed independent living apartments that exude elegance and showcase spacious interiors and stylish finishes.

Facilities: Dining room, landscaped village green, BBQ, cafe, hairdresser/beauty salon, theatrette, library with fireplace, workshop, fitness centre
Accommodation: Apartment living
What’s nearby: Maroubra Junction shops, Freshpoint markets, health services, bus transport

Baldwin Living – Maroubra Gardens, Maroubra

Baldwin Living Maroubra Gardens is a retirement village in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. It is set in lush, leafy surroundings and is just minutes from Maroubra Beach. If, in the future, your health needs change, you don’t need to move to a Serviced Apartment, as the services come to you regardless of the unit you reside in.

Facilities: Social events, pet-friendly, lounge areas, indoor swimming pool, library, craft room, hair salon, billiard room, dining room
Accommodation: 1-bedroom units, 2-bedroom units
What’s nearby: Maroubra Beach, Western Escarpment walking track, Maroubra Junction, Peninsula Village shopping centre.

Kildare Court Retirement Village, Maroubra

Kildare Court Retirement Village is in one of the most popular residential districts, Maroubra, in Southeastern Sydney. It is an ideal next move if you want to live independently with easy access to nearby services, shops, and buses. With a social and friendly community, you can enjoy a quality lifestyle.

Facilities: Community room
Accommodation: 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units
What’s nearby: Maroubra shops, bus services directly outside the village

Uniting The Garrison, Mosman

Uniting The Garrison is located in the popular neighbourhood of Mosman, close to Military Road. This area has a vibrant atmosphere and handy amenities.

Facilities: Indoor/outdoor pool, BBQ area, clubroom, library, recreation room, communal gardens
Accommodation: Studios and one and 2-bedroom apartments
What’s nearby: Boutique shops, restaurants, hairdressers, banks, pharmacies, delis, cafes, bus stops

Uniting Killarney, Mosman

Uniting Killarney offers a quiet cul-de-sac living experience close to the heart of Mosman. This sought-after village is in a quiet but central location, close to nearby Military Road, with all the modern amenities you’ll need.

Facilities: BBQ area, greenhouse, clubroom, pet-friendly, recreation room, communal gardens
Accommodation: Studios and one and 2-bedroom apartments
What’s nearby: Restaurants, boutiques, pharmacies, banks, florists, hairdressers, delis and bus transport.

Neutral Bay at Bougainvillea, Neutral Bay

Located in the Harbourside suburb on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, Neutral Bay at Bougainvillea is approximately five kilometres north of the CBD. It has been proudly managed by the same family since 1988. There’s something here for everyone, with facilities catering to all tastes and interests.

Facilities: Lounge, dining room, card room, snooker room, craft room, gym, BBQ terrace area, pool, spa, library
Accommodation: Apartment living
What’s nearby: Shops, restaurants, cafes, public transport

The Terraces, Paddington

The Terraces, Paddington, is located in the highly sought-after suburb of Paddington in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs. These modern apartments are minutes from all that picturesque Paddington offers, including shops, art galleries, restaurants and beautiful parks.

Facilities: Theatrette, lounge area, cafe, gym, swimming pool, hairdresser, beauty therapist
Accommodation: Apartment living
What’s nearby: Fiveways shops and cafes, Edgecliff Shopping Centre, Paddington Markets, Double Bay Wharf, Edgecliff Station, St. Vincent’s Hospital

Anglicare – Goodwin Village, Woollahra

Anglicare Goodwin Village is located in the leafy and historic suburb of Woollahra. High-rise and low-rise apartments offer a choice between lively streets, garden vistas, and city skyline views. The area is also full of cultural pursuits, including social activities, art, and cuisine.

Facilities: BBQ areas, community room, social activities, church services, hairdresser, gym, laundry, retail shops
Accommodation: Studios, 1-bedroom apartments, 2-bedroom apartments
What’s nearby: Double Bay Ferry Wharf, Queen Street Shopping Village, Bondi Junction Shopping Centre, St. Vincent’s Hospital

References

Aged Care Online (2024), Retirement Villages and Living in Sydney New South Wales, Aged Care Online article, accessed 2 September 2024.
Retire Australia (7 December 2023), The Most Googled Questions About Retirement Villages, Retire Australia article, accessed 9 September 2024.