Swap the Macedon Ranges for the Sunshine State’s best-kept secret

The shift towards regional living is showing no signs of slowing down, but it’s not only city dwellers who find the idea of a tree change so appealing. According to the latest Regional Movers Index , inter-regional migration has increased by 20 per cent, with Toowoomba in Queensland ranked among the most popular destinations.

For over-50s in Victoria, this inland city provides a similar lifestyle to the one found in the Macedon Ranges. Both offer four distinct seasons, crisp mountain air, stunning scenery and a better quality of life, but Toowoomba’s affordable housing market and more temperate climate make it the ideal choice for downsizers ready to live well without compromise.

“Toowoomba has the healthcare, shopping and cultural attractions people value, but it also offers space, beautiful natural surrounds and a genuine sense of community,” says Andrew Coulter, chief operating officer at GemLife. “For many Victorians, it’s the kind of place where they can enjoy a slower pace while staying in touch with everything that matters.”

In response to Toowoomba’s growing appeal, GemLife, one of Australia’s leading over-50s lifestyle resort operators, recently broke ground on two more communities in the region: the newly launched GemLife Cotswold Hills and GemLife Highfields Heights, which will soon open its first lifestyle facilities.

Perched on the crest of the Great Dividing Range, Toowoomba echoes the mountain lifestyle of the Macedon Ranges while reducing cost-of-living concerns and making travel more accessible. Brisbane is just 90 minutes away by car, and holiday hotspots like the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast are close enough for weekend getaways.

At GemLife Highfields Heights, residents can enjoy easy access to these attractions alongside beautifully designed homes, under-construction Country Club facilities (including a tennis court, cinema, sauna and grand ballroom) and 3.5 hectares of open green space.

“The resort sits among rolling countryside with creek frontage, bushland and views towards the Bunya and Gowrie mountains, so there’s a real sense of space and connection to nature from the moment you arrive,” Coulter says.

Inspired by its rural heritage, the community offers luxe resort facilities with a contemporary Queenslander and farmhouse aesthetic and is within easy reach of the city’s coffee, shopping and arts scene.

“It really delivers the best of both worlds – a peaceful country retreat that’s still incredibly convenient,” Coulter adds.

GemLife Cotswold Hills offers a new take on rural living.