Top spots in Queensland to retire include Fraser Coast, Toowoomba, Bundaberg

Data reveals the great retirement migration to Queensland’s regions is showing no signs of slowing down. Discover the perfect fit for your post-working life.

Jake & Celia Hoode at Thyme Lifestyle Resort Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast. Picture: Supplied

Queensland remains, from a national perspective, the retirement Mecca, says demographer Simon Kuestenmacher.

“Once you retire, you quit your job and all of a sudden you’re not shackled, you’re not bound (and) limited by the CBD anymore … you can let go,” he said.

And while some retirees may choose to stay put, others are up for a new adventure, or determined to chase the “Australian lifestyle dream” of living by the beach.

Australian Bureau of Statistics and Census population and housing data has revealed people aged 65 years or older make up the biggest proportion of new residents to the Fraser Coast, Bundaberg and Toowoomba.

Other regions that experienced a large migration of the 65-plus age group included the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay.

Mr Kuestenmacher, who is the co-founder of the Demographics Group, said people were drawn to retire in the small towns and coastal paradises of the Sunshine State.

A “nice warm lifestyle” and cheaper cost of living compared to Sydney and Melbourne were some of the selling points.

But that influx, coupled with post-Covid working trends, was placing pressure on regional communities.

The Urangan Pier in Hervey Bay, Fraser Coast.

“These top retirement destinations have become even more popular during the lockdowns because, all of a sudden, you have non-retirees, families or just working-aged people moving there because they can work remotely,” he said.

The working-from-home phenomenon had redrawn the map for where the working population lived, with many people not needing to commute as often to city centres.

This has lead to retirement hot spots becoming even more expensive places to live, he said.

“It drives up house prices and rental prices.”

With limited housing stock available some working Queenslanders were facing down the prospect of homelessness.

“These retiree towns in Queensland are now bleeding out essential workers because they have nowhere to live,” he said.

Mr Kuestenmacher said this trend could pose a problem for retirees, as there were certain expectations that workers, particularly health care workers, would be available to fill vital roles in these communities.

Aerial photo of the Surfers Paradise skyline and Surfers Paradise beach, looking north, on the Gold Coast. Photo: Brendan Radke.

Mr Kuestenmacher highlighted another attraction of our regional cities which was improved connectivity via air travel. He said people generally did not feel as isolated in small towns as they once did.

Speaking about Toowoomba and Bundaberg in particular, Mr Kuestenmacher noted both towns had regional airports, and the Rum City would soon have low-cost airline Bonza offering interstate flights.

He also highlighted Noosa as another traditional retirement haven.

According to ABS and census of population and housing data, the Fraser Coast had 6332 people aged 65 and older move to the region in 2021 while only 2790 people in the same age range left.

Toowoomba had 3577 people aged 65-plus migrate to the town with about 2100 leaving.

Bundaberg experienced an influx of more than 3500 people of the same age group arrive and just over half the amount (1840) leave.

The Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay had 13,078, 11,029 and 11,938 people aged 65 and over move to each city, respectfully.

An aerial view of a housing estate in Toowoomba. Photo: Toowoomba Regional Council.

In Hervey Bay, the Anchorage Lifestyle Resort is one of several luxury retirement villages to be built in the seaside city since 2015.

The multimillion-dollar retirement resort recently expanded by opening a clubhouse that overlooks the resort’s lake and nature reserve.

The Demographics Group Co-Founder Simon Kuestenmacher speaking to the Council of Mayors SEQ.

Serenitas CEO Rob Nichols, who runs the resort, said the popularity of their over 50s lifestyle communities across Australia continued to increase as homeowners embraced the social and active lifestyle on offer.

“Our focus is on offering people over 50 across Australia the opportunity to purchase a low maintenance home featuring modern open plan living and luxurious finishes at an affordable price within a community that is welcoming, lively and active,” he said.