Situated within the suburb of Highton, just a 15-minute drive from the centre of Geelong, is the charming Charles Brownlow Retirement Village.
Set between a convenient shopping village and gorgeous parklands, this lovely suburb is defined by the beauty of the Barwon River and surrounding hills. If you are familiar with the area, you’re no doubt already aware that it is an idyllic setting to live out your golden years.
As a Ryman village, Charles Brownlow offers a range of living choices to suit all needs, thus providing you with the freedom to enjoy your life the way you want to. Residents can choose from villas or independent apartments, while those who require a bit more support can opt for a serviced apartment with assisted living support.
Additionally, a cutting-edge, aged-care centre is located within the same village community, which offers specialist dementia and residential low and high-aged care.
Overall, the village embodies what it means for residents to live their lives to the fullest in their retirement. Seniors will develop a lifestyle and become part of a community they can thrive in. For those who are already local to the community, it presents a terrific opportunity to enjoy their village within your local suburb.
Inspiration for Village Name
Each of the villages in the Ryman portfolio is named after an Aussie or Kiwi trailblazer, including Evelyn Page, Lady Diana Isaac and Anthony Wilding, who broke barriers and set the bar higher for others to aspire towards.
By creating communities which are designed to challenge the societal norms of ageing, Ryman is trying to follow suit by setting the bar higher within the retirement industry.
Essentially, they are trying to demonstrate that one’s golden years, full of new connections, experiences, and fulfilment, are things everyone should aspire to.
For this village, the name Charles Brownlow was chosen. Known affectionately as ‘Chas’, the Geelong-born and bred Victorian was one of the most influential figures in Australian sport. He lived between 1861 and 1924 and was renowned for being a founding father of Aussie Rules Football. He began his playing career back in 1880 and became captain of the Geelong Football Club just three years later, leading them to a premiership in his inaugural year as skipper.
However, after retiring in 1884, Chas made a greater impact on the sport as an administrator, helping to determine the rules and regulations of the popular sport of AFL. Such was his contribution that the VFL created an award in his name – the prestigious Brownlow Medal, which is awarded to the best and fairest player in the AFL.
Independent Living and Assisted Living Options
This village offers living choices to meet the needs of all seniors, enabling everyone to blaze their own trails and live the way they want.
Their apartments and villas are spacious, bright and well-designed to maximise your level of comfort. They come with patio or balcony options and have heating and air-conditioning to make sure you experience pleasant temperatures all year round.
Moreover, should you require more support, they present apartments that are assisted living, along with a full range of aged-care residential options. That flexibility and freedom provide residents with the peace of mind of knowing they can be called upon whenever they need them – a point of difference that sets Ryman apart from other providers.
In addition, their resident-friendly terms have been curated to protect residents and their families. Their weekly base fee is set for the whole time you stay in your apartment or your villa, while their deferred management fee remains capped at 20% – making it among the lowest within the entire retirement sector in Australia.
Independent Living Apartments
The apartments and villas at Ryman are designed specifically for those over the age of 65 years old.
They come with either two or three bedrooms and are bright, airy, comfortable and very safe. They also have air conditioning and have been designed in a neutral colour palette that enables you to put your own stamp on its interior.
Whether you plan to invite family and friends over for dinner, read a good book in bed or just relax watching TV, these properties will provide you with a carefree sense of space, privacy and sophistication.
Surrounding the properties are beautifully manicured gardens that provide a gorgeous backdrop to the homes. Best appreciated from your terrace or garden, they make lovely areas to stroll around when you have some spare time. Moreover, the finishes, materials and landscaping for their villas and apartments have been chosen to reflect this picturesque aesthetic.
Ultimately, the properties are elegant, easy to upkeep and stylish, providing residents with everything they require. Perhaps best of all, the weekly base fee incorporates window cleaning, rates, exterior maintenance and gardening, which provides you with more energy and time to focus on living a fulfilling retirement.
Assisted Living Apartments
For those requiring assisted-living apartments, Ryman provides support such as daily meals prepared by a chef and housekeeping to make things easier. This provides residents with the peace of mind that they are being looked after.
Their apartments are situated within the centre of the village, therefore providing easy access to all the facilities and amenities the village has to offer. They also have balconies, which are nice spots to grow herbs or cultivate pot plants or sit with a cup of tea and a good book in the evening.
The properties have been designed to provide residents with stylish, light-filled and airy floor space that allows for a seamless flow from one room to another. Seniors have a fridge-freezer, microwave and kitchenette for their cooking and eating needs, while their separate bedroom comes with its own ensuite.
Like the independent living apartments, these accommodations have been designed in a neutral colour palette, which you can furnish to your own complementary colour scheme. They also have a call bell, which enables you to call for help from the onsite staff at any time of the night and day.
Amenities
The Charles Brownlow Village offers an excellent range of amenities to its residents to make their retirement years as stress-free as possible. This includes a bar, dining room, café, beauty and hair salon and shop.
To complement these amenities, the community also has a library, billiards room and craft room for seniors to enjoy, as well as a bowling green, swimming and spa pool and gym.
Aged-Care
This Ryman Village prides itself on the fact that aged care is not an ‘add on’. Instead, it is constructed into the heart of the community, as they realise how much comfort family and friends get from being close to each other, even if they have different health requirements.
Incorporating specialist dementia and both high and low-level residential aged care, their villages cover most basis. They also provide delicious meals which are made onsite by the village’s team of chefs.
Furthermore, the provider is always looking to enhance their offering and embrace new technologies, such as their myRyman care app, which residents can use to make their stay more comfortable and convenient.
Care Centre Amenities
Residents at the care centre can enjoy a wide range of amenities, including sweet treats at the onsite shop and a bit of pampering at the beauty and hair salon.
There are also plenty of outdoor spaces where they can relax and socialise with family and friends or enjoy tasty meals prepared freshly onsite at the dining and lounge areas.
Beyond the Village
The village is situated not far from the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre. It is also in close proximity to local amenities like Epworth Hospital and the Leisurelink Aquatic and Recreation Centre, while natural attractions like Buckley Park Falls and St Augustine’s Water Hole are not that far away.
For those wanting to get to the Geelong CBD, it is about a 15-minute car ride from the Charles Brownlow Village. It is also only a 10-minute drive to the Ring Road freeway, which enables you to easily reach Melbourne and further afield.
Address and Contact Details
The Charles Brownlow Retirement Village is located at 1 Vintner Court in the suburb of Highton in Victoria (3216).
Its reception is manned every day from 8.30 am to 7 pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 10 am to 7 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
If you want to speak to staff on the telephone, their contact number is (03) 5260 8000.
