Country Charm and Town Convenience for Over-50s Living in Gatton

The proposed development is located on a 16.74-ha site at Golf Links Drive in Gatton, adjacent to two proposed residential land subdivisions and acreage properties. It is an easy 10-minute walk (800 metres) from the 18-hole Gatton Jubilee Golf Club and a four-minute drive to Gatton’s town centre.

Designed by award-winning BDA Architecture, the proposed masterplan intends to deliver a secure, gated over-50s lifestyle community comprising 267 single-storey two-bedroom and two-bedroom plus study homes, extensive green spaces, and abundant lifestyle amenities.

Premium shared facilities include:

• Resort-style heated pool and spa
• Yoga and Pilates studio
• Fully equipped gym and sauna
• 33-seat cinema
• Bar, library, lounge, and games room
• Pickleball courts, lawn bowls, croquet, and hobby workshop
• Function centre and outdoor event lawn.

The masterplan delivers a pedestrian-friendly layout with lush landscaping, internal roads and 39 dedicated RV storage spaces. Eleven per cent of the site has been dedicated to communal amenities and over 27 per cent to open green spaces and landscaping.

The application is being made under the Superseded Gatton Shire Planning Scheme Urban Residential Zone, which defines the land lease community development as a caravan park. The land use is listed as impact assessable use deemed consistent with the outcomes sought for an Urban Residential Zone.

We will be engaging with the local community to share information about our proposed development, and how it will form part of a new community along Golf Links Drive.

Bocina Group is a Queensland developer specialising in prestige homes, boutique subdivisions and residential masterplans. At our proposed Gatton development, Solara Estate, we intend to deliver architecturally designed homes designed for the over-50s downsizer market, anchored by one of the most comprehensive wellness and lifestyle precincts in regional Queensland.

We have assembled an expert team of urban planners and architects to design a community that reflects the regional character of Gatton and delivers high quality new housing supply.

No new retirement or over-50s communities have been delivered in the region in the past two decades.

Gatton is a growing region and it’s important that the community can cater to downsizers, as well as the first and second home buyers looking to establish themselves in the area.

The Gatton catchment has a high proportion of residents aged 50+, at 37.4 per cent, demonstrating a need for quality, age-appropriate housing. The area currently faces a shortage of more than 600 suitable homes for over-50s, and this figure is expected to double within 10 years.

The proposed Solara Estate will support long-time residents to downsize from family homes or rural properties and age locally by creating a highly desirable and liveable environment that enhances social connections. We aim to be a valuable member of the wider community. New residents will contribute to the town’s economic vibrancy, delivering a financial boost to local businesses, healthcare providers and community services while fostering a connected environment for all residents.

Under State legislation, the site is not mapped as koala habitat, and under the Gatton Shire Planning Scheme it does not have local environmental significance.

Vegetation proposed to be impacted is disturbed regrowth which has established following use of the land for agricultural activities. The proposal seeks to rehabilitate the most ecologically significant section of the site, which includes two riparian corridors.

The proposed Solara Estate is a long-term commitment to Gatton and the Lockyer Valley and will be delivered in stages.

Council approved the Development Application in April 2026. Construction is planned to start in 2029, with the first residents anticipated to move in during 2030.

The multi-stage construction of the 267 homes and extensive recreation spaces will create significant opportunities for trades and suppliers across the Lockyer Valley region.

The development will be fully serviced with reticulated water and sewer connections, ensuring all homes have access to reliable town water supply and wastewater infrastructure.

Beyond providing new homes, the proposed estate will deliver important infrastructure upgrades that benefit the wider Gatton community. The development will connect to fully reticulated water and sewer services, contributing to upgrades of local networks to support future growth. It will also include road and safety improvements along Golf Links Drive, designed in consultation with Lockyer Valley Regional Council.

In addition, new landscaped open spaces and rehabilitated riparian corridors will help protect important local environment connections along existing waterways. The site boundaries are also proposed for landscaping to provide a higher level of amenity than would be expected from a residential subdivision on the site. Our goal is to ensure the project leaves a lasting positive legacy for Gatton – socially, environmentally, and economically.

MHE communities provide affordable, community-focused housing for over-50s with a range of lifestyle, wellness and social facilities for residents.

No, the proposed development will not offer traditional rental homes. Like other over-50s lifestyle communities, residents will own their home and pay a weekly site fee to lease the land it sits on. This model keeps costs lower than typical retirement villages and preserves capital gains when residents choose to sell. Some residents may also be eligible for Commonwealth Rent Assistance to help offset the weekly site fees.

As part of the Development Application process there will be a 15 business day public notification period. This period will commence after the Applicant has responded to any information request from Council and State Government. To have your say, you can make a written submission to Council during this notification period.

You can also contact us directly at any time via at contact@bocina.com.au and a member of our project team will be in touch.

We are committed to communicating and engaging openly, transparently and often and will ensure updates are posted on our project website and shared with our neighbours.