First residents at The Ninth Middle Ridge are moving in!

Friday, 21 October 2022

The Ninth Middle Ridge retirement living community in Toowoomba is now complete and the first residents are starting to move in.

It is an exciting time for Aura Holdings as The Ninth is our sixth village to open in Queensland’s southeast.

The pet-friendly community was designed by Cox Architecture and constructed by homegrown Toowoomba company, McNab.

The Ninth is in the sought-after suburb of Middle Ridge at 245 Rowbotham Street on the escarpment providing panoramic views across the Great Dividing Range and the Toowoomba Golf Club.

With 74 two, three and four-bedroom apartments, plus spacious penthouses, The Ninth has set a new standard of luxury living for retirees to Toowoomba.

Our residents will enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle in the low-rise development with community facilities, including a gym, billiards area, wine room, library, craft room, lounge, multi-purpose function room, outdoor entertaining and barbecue areas, and a community bus.

“We are very proud of this project that brings the first ‘vertical village’ to Toowoomba. There is nothing else of this standard in the retirement living space on the Darling Downs,’’ Aura director Tim Russell says.

“Other retirement options are small villas scattered over large communities usually on the outskirts of Toowoomba overlooking rooftops. Our residents will be sitting back taking in the views of treetops or the range.

“Our larger apartments and penthouses, some with more than 200sq m of living space, including three bedrooms, media room or study, luxury bathroom suites, cook’s kitchen with butler’s pantry, and high-quality cabinetry and fittings, have been among the first to sell.

“Residents will enjoy being part of a community. Their neighbours will be people of similar backgrounds, people who get them. They have all put in a lifetime of hard work and care for their families, so now it’s their time to just relax and live their best lives.

“Toowoomba is just a big country town but it provides a rich, relaxed lifestyle with the convenience of sophisticated medical and allied health services, a range of retail options and recreational activities, plus an airport linking to the world.’’

The Ninth’s residents will be able to access all the community’s facilities from their apartments via lifts in secured and air-conditioned comfort in all weather conditions.

Village manager Hope Vines says the feedback from the first residents has been overwhelmingly positive.

“One of the most frequent comments has been ‘it has exceeded my expectations’,’’ Hope says. “Now they are actually residents they can appreciate the benefits of a vertical village with easy access to the communal facilities and the added security benefits.’’

The Ninth’s buildings have been named to honour two people who played integral roles in the history of the Toowoomba Golf Club.

Falkiner 1 and 2 were named in memory of Dr Edgar Ashley Falkiner (above), who instigated a meeting in 1896 that led to the formation of the original golf club, and the Young building honours Nancy Young, the first woman to be club president.

Dr Falkiner was also the Toowoomba Golf Club’s honorary secretary/treasurer from 1896 to 1900 and club president from 1900 to 1925. From his home in Margaret Street he operated a large, private medical practice and had a reputation of being a fine doctor and surgeon. He retired around 1926.

Nancy Young became the first woman president of the Toowoomba Golf Club in 2011 and was one of the first women to hold the role in Australia. She is also a life member of the golf club.

"I was unbelievably touched and honoured by Aura Holdings’ gesture to name the building after me,’’ Nancy says. “It also meant so much to know the decision was supported and endorsed by the Toowoomba Golf Club.''

Nancy and her partner David Goss (pictured) were amongst the first deposit-holders to find their dream three-bedroom apartment at The Ninth – and among the first to move in.

Residents will live independently with support from in-home provider and partner Five Good Friends delivered to their apartment if needed. Five Good Friends can provide a range of personalised services to help residents continue living independently as they age in place.

Apartments at The Ninth are selling now from $595,000 to $1.48 million.

Three display apartments have been furnished and are open for inspection by appointment.

To tour The Ninth Middle Ridge and the display apartments, please call 0435 778 117 or email live@theninthmiddleridge.com.au