Meet the downsizers flocking to Sydney’s surprise retirement hotspot
Sue Eaton moved to Sydney’s Thornton Park retirement living project to meet new friends and to feel a sense of belonging and community.
And Lorraine and Robert Greig became Thornton Park residents after seeing the size and style of the project’s 48 newly-built apartments.
These are just some of the residents who’ve moved into Southern Cross Care’s Thornton Park retirement living project at Penrith, in Sydney’s west.
Sue Eaton has enjoyed the resident interaction since moving into Thornton Park
Thornton Park is a small-scale independent retirement living project, featuring a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments.
The low-rise Thornton Park project is set on a quiet tree-lined street among modern family homes, yet at the same time is on the doorstep of the hustle and bustle of the Penrith CBD.
While Thornton Park’s first residents have moved in, a limited number of apartments remain available for sale.
Meet the neighbours
Sue Eaton watched Thornton Park being built, as her children live near the project.
“I looked at a few places before I moved to Thornton Park, just to check out my options – but everything else was just like big blocks of units,” Ms Eaton said.
“The apartments here are so nice – very spacious. Every time I walk inside I think, ‘I love my home.’
“The main benefit for me has been the interaction.
"When we were in the middle of lockdowns due to the pandemic, I’d catch up with one of my neighbours – who’s become a good friend, and we’d take a couple of the older ladies for a walk, since their families couldn’t visit.
"When I lived on my own I was much more isolated."
Lorraine and Robert Greig had not considered retirement living, before they heard about Thornton Park.
“We thought we’d be in our home until the end,” Ms Greig said.
“That was until a friend of mine was going to Thornton Park to have a look and asked if we'd like to come with her.
“As soon as I walked in and saw the bright, spacious apartments, I said to my husband, ‘I could live here.”
Lounge room of a new apartment at Thornton Park
Ms Greig said she and her husband felt comfortable from the moment they moved in.
“It wasn’t just the building itself, which is lovely – or the style and the size of our unit, which I love - It’s the social aspect as well,” Ms Greig said.
Lorraine and Robert Greig were impressed with the spacious apartments at Thornton Park
“It’s so nice knowing that as part of a community, we’ll always have someone to talk to.
“It wasn’t like that at home, where things were much more quiet - the kids were working and we were often on our own.
"One of the other things that really puts my mind at ease is that if Rob or I got sick, or our circumstances changed, there’s an aged care facility about two seconds away – it’s brand new and lovely."
Penrith a downsizing hotspot
Penrith, the suburb in which Thornton Park is located, is something of a surprise and growing downsizing hotspot.
Penrith was the seventh most searched suburb in NSW on Downsizing.com.au in 2019-20, up from eighth position the year before.
This makes Penrith more popular than other well-known coastal sea change and downsizing locations such as Wollongong, Ballina and Tweed Heads. There are good reasons why this is the case.
Penrith is the gateway to the Blue Mountains, giving local residents easy access to a natural wonderland and a series of quaint mountain villages. Penrith is also home to the Nepean River, a regional aquatic playground.
Penrith's Nepean River
As part of the Great River Walk, almost eight kilometres of walking track have been created along the river, including resting points and lookouts where you can see birds and other wildlife.
Penrith also has a growing arts and cultural scene, with the centrepiece being the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre.
This regional facility has a 660 seat concert hall, 380 seat drama theatre, 100 seat multi-purpose hall and more than 25 purpose-built rooms for music classes.
Penrith also has great shopping, a variety of award-winning cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs and many other places to visit including the Sydney International Regatta Centre and Western Sydney University Observatory. Find out more at Visit Penrith.
About the apartments
Thornton Park includes a range of spacious one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
All apartments have a study nook or full study and include contemporary, open plan living spaces that lead onto generous balconies.
Thornton Park apartment balcony area
The apartments feature beautiful wood, stone and textured floor coverings, complemented by high‑end European fixtures and appliances.
Kitchen, living and dining area in a Thornton Park apartment
Thornton Park’s apartments are also cleverly designed with excellent soundproofing between rooms and apartments.
Residents have access to a cafe serving coffee and light meals, along with a hairdressing and beauty salon, library, media room, multi-purpose community centre and a rooftop barbecue terrace and hobby garden.
Library at Thornton Park
As an added benefit, Thornton Park provides retirement living residents with on-site concierge services and an hour of domestic assistance per fortnight. Optional home care services are also available.
It’s also important to note that Thornton Park’s new independent living retirement village apartments are located alongside a new 100-suite state-of-the-art residential care home.
This is particularly convenient when one partner needs to move into full-time care, while the other can continue to live independently in an adjacent retirement village apartment.
Find out more
Thornton Park is a relaxing retirement oasis that feels a world away, yet is within walking distance of all that a cosmopolitan centre like Penrith has to offer.
This aerial photo was taken from the roof of Thornton Park and shows how it is close to everything Penrith has on offer
Apartment prices start at $495,000, with a deferred management fee applying.
For a limited time, buyers can also take advantage of an early bird offer, made up of a complimentary whitegoods package including a fridge, microwave, washing machine and dryer, valued at $4,300.
This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Thornton Park.