Seachange to treechange



When Jacqui and Ian Timms heard about The Laurels Retirement Village at Mount Barker through their local bowling club, they did not expect to find such an elegant setting surrounded by beautiful gardens.
“There was an open house event at The Laurels, so two of our bowling friends came with us to find out more about the village.
“There were so many positives and all four of us just loved the village environment – we bought a unit and so did our friends!” says Ian.
“For the next five years we really enjoyed living at The Laurels. We had a lot of interests and friends living outside the village so we had a busy social calendar.
Then Jacqui decided she needed a project so we started looking for a ‘reno’ in a beachside location and sold our unit at The Laurels.
Jaccqi and Ian spent more than two years renovating as the new house in Carrickalinga on the Fleurieu Peninsula was large with extensive gardens.
Although they lived in a beautiful location, Ian said they felt isolated, as they had to spend a lot of time commuting back to Adelaide for appointments with doctors and visiting friends.
“We decided to downsize and sell our ‘project’. A few weeks later, we were out driving and decided to drive past The Laurels. By chance there was an open house event with about 100 people attending – and only one unit for sale,” says Ian.
For old time’s sake, Jacqui and Ian went for a stroll through the village to view the display unit.
“We took one look at the three bedroom unit and bought it that afternoon! The village gardens were even more beautiful than before.”
Jacqui says they have not regretted their decision to move back to The Laurels – “not for one second”. In three months they’ve built a verandah, added plantation shutters and changed out most of their furniture.

“If you leave it too long it becomes a challenge to downsize, pack up and move – and your kids don’t want your old furniture!
“The community has welcomed us back. We also have a fabulous library and bar and the food in our restaurant is amazing. We love it here. There’s no garden or maintenance to worry about and you can walk away and go on holidays. There’s no better place!” Jacqui adds.

Our villages

With 29 unique locations across three states, RetireAustralia's communities cater to a range of needs and preferences.