Welcome to the official Bondi Beach Astra blog, detailing events and activities that have been happening this year at the Astra. Read about our day trips, festive occasions and open days...you heard it here first!
Who doesn’t like a good sandwich??! And good sandwiches were what we had at afternoon tea this month. Thanks to resident Darryl for organising this fabulous food – what a star! Lovely to catch up with friends over a cuppa, and we make the most of every opportunity to do so at the Astra! What a place to be 😊
We had a wonderfully wild afternoon at the Astra with company Get Wild bringing in some local animals and giving us a fascinating wildlife presentation. We met Bubblegum the Blue Tongued Lizard, Freddo the Green Tree Frog, Angelica the Spotted Python, Lillian the Saltwater Crocodile, Squawk the Red Tailed Black Cockatoo and so many more that I can’t remember all their names! Our keeper for the afternoon introduced us to each of them and told us about their species… then she brought them round for us to touch or say hello to. The lizards ranged from smooth, to scaly, to fringed, with different defense mechanisms. The snakes were silky smooth and docile. Despite Angelica’s size she was happy just lying on the carpet, and her skin gave off an iridescent glow in the sunlight. Freddo had beautiful golden eyes and bright green skin. We were all very excited to meet the lovely soft Ring Tailed Possum who, although nocturnal, was happy to have a midnight snack of corn and be stroked by us all. Our penultimate animal was Lillian, a 7 year old saltwater croc, who watched us all with beautiful big eyes and made a funny noise in her throat. We finished with an introduction to Squawk, who had been living up to his name and making his presence known the whole time! He had an amazing wingspan and fabulous black feathers with a brilliant flash of red on the underside. We happily fed him some seeds, which he ate with gusto. All in all we had a very enjoyable afternoon getting to know the animals and asking questions of our knowledgeable keeper. Thanks so much to Get Wild and to our wonderful residents who made it all worthwhile!
Welcome to Ron, our newest resident! We have been blessed with three new residents moving in over the past couple of months (Deborah, Sonya and Ron), and we are so happy that they are all here. Ron moved to the Astra from Woolwich, and he loves his new environment. He and several of his family members have told us how delighted they are with his move here. They are impressed with his apartment, its spaciousness and location, its accessibility to services and transport, and with the communal environment in the building. Ron already loves to join in with all the social events that we put on, and it is an absolute pleasure to have him in our community. What a fabulous village we have, and what wonderful residents 😊
It was a hot and steamy day when we gathered in the lounge for a pancake afternoon tea. Particularly in the kitchen, where Anna was cooking for an hour or two!! But what a lovely time we had, despite the humidity. Pancakes were enjoyed with all manner of toppings – lemon and sugar for the purists, jam or fruit for the more adventurous, and Nutella for those with a really sweet tooth. Anna over-catered a bit, so there were pancakes to take away for dinner and breakfast the next day! It was a great chance for residents to catch up over a snack, and many people stayed for a really good chat after. Gloria even brought a bottle of sparkling for those inclined to enjoy. Eva won the lucky door prize (a nice bottle of white wine), and everyone went away having had a lovely time. Our thanks go to everyone who helped to make this event a success.
About twenty of us gathered under the courtyard greenery, dispelling the Covid gloom with smiles and cheerful camaraderie. Anna had draped the lounge with Australiana for the occasion. Presiding over the barbeque, Kirsty breached the boundaries of the division of labour, confirming yet again women’s prowess at multi-skilling. Alison, sommelier extraordinaire, kept the spirits bubbling. And with Ron joining in the celebrations we even boasted gender diversity! Ron’s sisters, who had been staying with him, were impressed with the convivial, communal environment and have vowed to visit him frequently. Our thanks to Anna and the Residents Committee who organised the shopping and catering, and to BBARV for their generous contribution of the food. Our thanks also to residents who added their own contributions to the smorgasbord. All in all, a great night!
Written by our wonderful resident Cleo 😊🥳🥂
Our first special afternoon tea of the year went really well, especially given the situation with escalating case numbers since the new year. We had a low-key afternoon of tea/coffee and biscuits/pastries, and a good old fashioned chin wag. It was nice to catch up with friends and neighbours again after the busyness of Christmas and New Year celebrations. We welcomed Ron, joining us for the first time since he officially moved in early in the month, and it was lovely to have him with us. Thanks so much to everyone who came along to start the new year well at Bondi Beach Astra.
The Astra building has a long and rich history in Bondi. The original hotel built on the site was the very first building overlooking the southern end of Bondi Beach. In the mid-1920s this first hotel was demolished and rebuilt, and the new hotel built in its place is the magnificent building that we still see today, almost 100 years later. After a brief spell as the Hotel International, it was renamed the Astra.
Between 1937 to 1967 the Astra flourished with fine dining, live orchestral music and one of the largest bars in Sydney! It was famous for its Christmas dinners and meat pies. During World War II it was taken over by the government for the air force and later by the British wrens. Parts of the movie Summer of the Seventeenth Doll with Ernest Borgnine, John Mills, Angela Lansbury and Anne Baxter were filmed at the Astra in 1959.
In the late 60s and 70s the Astra gained a reputation as being a hard-partying rock n roll venue, and many of Australia’s best bands played here.
In response to a large number of local complaints about the noise, drugs and violence at the Astra, in 1984 the building was converted into a retirement village. These days, Bondi Beach Astra Retirement Village hosts a thriving community of over-55 year olds who love to take advantage of its fabulous location and vibrant history.
We get lots of comments from Bondi locals on our Facebook page about their memories of the Astra. Here are some of the things this beautiful building means to them:
John Newton - “Aaah the Astra, great pies after surfing. And there was a very good Italian restaurant there… Did a terrific fish soup.”
Ellie Engelen - “Lived next door to the Astra, 1940s, played near there. Wedding night at Astra! 1950s! Good to see this grand building still in use today.”
Judy Curtis - “My first job in Sydney was barmaid at the Bikini Bar at the Astra!”
Tracey Scheitel - “My father was head waiter on the top floor when the Astra was a fancy restaurant/hotel back in the 60s.”
Sondra Williams - “Omg. My family ran the Astra as a hotel.”
Helen Sindicich - “We had our wedding reception there in 1980 when it was the Astra hotel. Amazing view from there.”
Christian P Caruana - “I’m turning 57 this year, 43 years ago I saw the Angels play at the Astra.”
Ann Espinoza - “Can’t believe the last time I was at the Astra in Bondi was to see Eric Burdon and the Animals, best night, house of the rising sun!”
Brett Martin - “And those just coming of retirement age will remember the Astra as a rocking live venue that once hosted AC/DC, Midnight Oil, Hunters and Collectors, Flowers and The Radiators. Apparently it was a bloodbath, but Aussie rock personified.”
Joe Bondin - “Wow this place used to rock with some of the biggest bands in Australia playing here! How poetic! Now a retirement home for old rockers.”
If you are interested in finding out more about the Astra in its latest incarnation as a retirement village, please give us a call, email or visit our FAQs. We’d love to hear from you.
Our final afternoon tea of the year went wonderfully well, with many residents and friends attending and the sun shining in from the courtyard to give us all a lift. We caught up with friends over a glass of bubbly, and a sweet treat. There were mince pies and handmade cupcakes and gingerbread men for everyone to enjoy. We also had a special Secret Santa, with those that came bringing down a gift and going away with an equally exciting one! As always, it was so lovely to see everyone having a good time, and we look forward to many more events (without the disruptions of this year we hope) in the new year… 🎄🎁💖
It was a warm early summer day at Bondi Beach when we got dressed up for our annual Christmas party and gathered in the lounge for a celebratory drink. And boy did we need it, after all that's happened this year!
There was a definite festive spirit in the air as we went out to the Bondi Tratt (wonderfully located at the bottom of the building, just out the front door and turn right…) for our dinner of turkey and ham and all the trimmings. Alasdair, Joe and the whole fabulous team did a great job as always – the food was delicious, the atmosphere convivial, the wine flowing – and the whole experience was a credit to the persistence and patience of their team during this year’s lockdowns. Thanks guys 👏🍷
Suitably full, we returned to the lounge to the dulcet tones of John Campbell and Lorraine Delaney, our beautiful singers/musicians for the night. We had a full range of musical accompaniment, from Christmas tunes to country classics, to rock n' roll greats. After a brief interlude for speeches and the drawing of the lucky door prizes, some of us took to the dance floor, while others stayed chatting and having drinks and desserts. It was a truly joyful occasion after so much frustration this year - such a lovely time to spend with friends, neighbours and colleagues.
Thanks to everyone who came to take part in the event, and to those who had a hand in organising it. Special thanks go to John and Lorraine for staying with us to the end and providing a wonderfully celebratory atmosphere 🎸🎤 And to Sam and the folks at our local chemist for providing the great selection of lucky door prizes. All in all, a fantastic send off into the hectic whirlwind of the season, and one that will be remembered by everyone who came. Cheers! 🥳🥂🍾😊
It was fabulous to be able to welcome Goran from Regional Wines of the World to Bondi Beach Astra for a wine and cheese tasting afternoon last week. As with many other things this year, we had planned to hold this event a few months ago and had to postpone because of the lockdown. But it was worth waiting for! A select and cheerful group of us gathered in the lounge to enjoy Goran’s whites, reds, rosés and liqueurs, and our cheese and biscuits to compliment. We were taken on a journey from Germany and Italy to Argentina and South Africa, discovering new grape varieties and old favourites on the way. It was a lovely selection, and big thanks go to Goran for his time, knowledge, and friendly and engaging delivery. We all enjoyed ourselves very much and relished the opportunity to have a natter and a laugh along with the excellent wine and cheese. More of this to come in the new year; next up…Christmas!
We had a beautiful day for the races and, given everything that has happened this year, we were so grateful to be able to gather together and celebrate the Melbourne Cup in person. Paul and Anna cooked a delicious BBQ lunch, with various meats, veggies, salads, fresh bread, fruit and ice creams. We had festive drinks to round it off – bubbly, wine, a big jug of PIMMS and lemonade, and a selection of non-alcoholic offerings.
The lounge was festooned with bright colours and horse racing themed decorations, and the beautiful dresses, hats and fascinators that the guests arrived with added to the atmosphere. After lunch Paul organised the sweeps, and we began to move into the games room to watch the TV coverage. The race itself was typically exciting, and this year the winner seemed to come from nowhere at the last minute! What a great finish! Jo was the big winner in the sweeps, by chance having two of the top three horses over two different sweeps.
Congratulations to everyone else who had a winning horse, and thanks to all those that came to keep a fun Astra tradition alive – celebrating the Melbourne Cup in style at Bondi Beach 😊🍹
There are many benefits to downsizing, but also plenty of things to consider when deciding if it is the right move for you. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but we hope that it will give you a firm foundation for starting on your downsizing journey...
Pros and cons of downsizing:
More upfront capital from selling your larger home. The Retirement Village model of 99 year leases even removes stamp duty from the equation. When buying into a Retirement Village lease, you do not pay stamp duty on entry, but you do pay a departure fee (also known as a Deferred Management Fee) on leaving the property. Although having more money may affect your Aged Pension (please check with your financial advisor if this could be an issue for you), having upfront capital allows you to control how you live your life now and allows for better planning for the future.
Fewer ongoing costs and improved cash flow. Utility bills, insurance payments, council rates and other ongoing costs are often lower in smaller properties. This could free up money to invest, spend on goods and services, or save for a rainy day. Importantly, many retirees want more financial security for the future, knowing they may have less money coming in then.
Differences in space and flexibility. Living in a smaller home may mean you have fewer rooms and less space for entertaining than you are used to. However, smaller homes are generally much easier to maintain and clean, and downsizing might mean you have fewer areas in your new home that are unused or under-used. You also might not lose as much stuff!
Fewer material things - many downsizers will use their move as an opportunity to declutter and throw away, or sell, their unwanted things. And since there is plenty of evidence that decluttering is good for your health as well as your wallet, this could be beneficial on several fronts.
Emotional connections and memories. Often, when people are considering downsizing from their family home, they fear losing all the memories and emotional ties that go along with that home. It can be daunting to make the break, but don’t worry the memories come with you and you will make a connection to your new place or neighbourhood quicker than you think. The saying “a change is as good as a holiday” exists for a reason, and there’s nothing like making memories in a new place when it’s the right fit for your next phase in life.
More convenient. You can choose a layout and fittings that better meet your needs, or a location closer to family, transport and services.
Financial considerations:
Selling your existing property (marketing costs, agent’s fees, conveyancer, other legal fees)
Financial advisor consultation
Moving costs - furniture removal etc...
Cost of living in your new area
Reduced repairs and maintenance costs
Do your research and decide on what’s most important for you:
What are your financial goals?
What are your future plans, or what would you like them to be?
What are you hoping to gain from downsizing?
Are you currently spending your limited time doing things you WANT to be doing?
What are the available amenities in the new place, and will you feel safe and connected?
What are your needs for personal space, visitors, storage?
What do you like about your home?
What could you do without?
How many rooms do you need?
Do you want to move somewhere calm and quiet, or busy and populated?
Do you enjoy walks by the beach, shopping in city centres, or spending time in national parks?
Are there any particular amenities that you want or need close by?
Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to research and do everything you need to do before you have to move. If it seems like downsizing might be a good move for you, hopefully you will see it as writing an exciting new chapter in your life story. So before you start you should make a draft, a blueprint you can use to ensure your move will go as smoothly as possible.
Who to consult about making a move:
Family and friends
Legal advisors
Financial advisors
NSW Fair Trading (they have a handy guide to your rights and responsibilities).
Please make sure to speak to a financial advisor and/or a solicitor before undertaking any big financial decisions. If you have any further questions about Retirement Village living in general, or Bondi Beach Astra specifically, please ring or email, or visit our FAQs.
With over 106 days in lockdown, and even more days since our last event, we were thrilled to be able to once again meet in person to catch up with friends and neighbours. Our heartfelt thanks go to every person who came along for our first afternoon tea back - looking forward to being able to gather again was what kept us going through the frustration of lockdown. We caught up on all the news, gossip and future plans over a glass or two of bubbly and some tasty snacks. It was a relief to be able to remove the mask for some food and drink, and to have a proper face to face conversation, albeit in a socially-distanced and cautious way. The novelty of being "out" prolonged the revelries until early evening, and we had lots of fun. It's wonderful to be back 😄
What are the advantages of living at the Bondi Beach Astra Retirement Village? We are obviously a bit biased, but we think there are many amazing reasons to think about moving here. After reading our list we hope you agree…
We are located right across the road from Bondi Beach, with easy access to Bondi Junction and Sydney city centre. The view of the beach from the Astra building is hard to beat. Being a beach suburb means many of our residents walk along the coast daily, and a fair number will swim or surf throughout the year. We are situated just across the road from Bondi Icebergs at the south end of the beach, and are a pleasant walk to the ocean pools at the north end. With this scenery on their doorstep, our residents are thrilled to spend time outdoors, keeping active and connected to their environment, and with family and friends.
Our communal lounge is a comfortable, sunny area that is used by residents all year round. There are always a few jigsaws on the go on the tables closest to the kitchen (good for getting a cuppa and a biscuit too), and groups of residents get together to play games regularly throughout the week. In addition to the games, our lounge has a library, a table tennis table and a snooker room with a snooker table, flat screen TV and computer nook. Outside the lounge is a lovely private courtyard with tables and chairs and a BBQ for everyone to enjoy. The village also has a dedicated gym area and heated pool for those wanting to stay active. For those who like to drive we have a private basement car park with spaces for lease, plus two visitor spots for short-term use by family and friends.
Our Village Manager is onsite weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm, and on hand to help wherever needed. All our staff are friendly and approachable, and are always willing to provide concierge services to residents and visitors. We help with resident wellbeing, handyman tasks, technology issues, administration, scheduled maintenance and welcoming visitors, plus many other ad hoc things to keep life in the village running smoothly. It is important for our community to have access to practical services; equally important is the role that our staff play in providing a smiling friendly presence as people walk in and out of the building, an ear to listen, or some time for someone who has stopped by for a chat.
We have a full social calendar (out of COVID lockdown) of events and activities. These events, including lunches and teas, varied activities, and days out, are some of the highlights for many people living at Bondi Beach Astra. We try to put on a range of activities and events that cater for different tastes, and have regular gatherings throughout the year. For more information on what we have done, are doing, or will do, check out our What’s On and Blog pages.
With so many fabulous coffee shops at Bondi Beach, it’s no wonder that we regularly see residents popping in and out for that caffeine hit throughout the day. And since Bondi is a multicultural suburb, we have restaurants of all different flavours in the area. There are so many great places to choose from, but a favourite of our residents is the Bondi Tratt which, conveniently, happens to be located just next to the main entrance of the Astra building!
There are plenty of pharmacies, GPs and other medical centres in the area. In the village each apartment comes with a 24/7 medical alarm system. Even if you don’t need to access those services now, it is still a comfort to know that if you do there will be lots of options for you around. Our residents fully appreciate being this close to so many world-class medical facilities.
With grocery stores and boutique shops at the beach, and larger shops and shopping centres along Bondi Road and at Bondi Junction, there are so many places our residents can go to shop. Bondi really has a small town community feel, while remaining connected to city amenities.
Venturing further away from home, libraries, RSLs and community centres offer a chance to make friends with people from all around the area. And with easy access to the city, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens, and the many cultural and artistic venues that Sydney has to offer are just a bus ride away.
If you would like to learn more about the Bondi Beach Astra lifestyle, please contact us or visit our FAQs. We, and our friendly residents, can’t wait to hear from you.
It’s never too early to start planning for your future, and it’s never too late to achieve your dreams. That is why so many retirees are embracing the bucket list trend. We’ve put together some fun bucket list items for retirees and how Bondi Beach Astra could help you to fulfil them. The key things to remember with any kind of bucket list are to plan early and set yourself a realistic timeframe with realistic goals. And, most importantly, have fun!
(Please bear in mind that some of these suggestions cannot be undertaken in a lockdown pandemic, but why not plan for them now and have something to look forward to?)
Live by the beach. This is on people’s bucket lists the world over! What a privilege to be able to wake up every day and walk along the sand, go for a swim or just breathe the fresh sea air. Residents of Bondi Beach Astra love the beach and the lifestyle that comes with being in such a beautiful part of the world.
Travel. Another item that is on many people’s bucket lists, and although it’s hard to do in the current COVID-19 climate, it can’t hurt to dream. Many of our residents are prolific travelers (one has even published a book about travelling in her retirement years), and appreciate that their home is connected to so many different transport hubs. Whether travel is by bus, train, plane or boat, our residents love to take the opportunity to visit friends and family and make new friends visiting new places. While they are away, they can feel relaxed in the knowledge that they have a concierge to collect their mail, a secure and safe building to protect their belongings, and a raft of neighbours willing to water their plants!
Find a hobby/learn something new. There are so many things to do and learn out there that the world really is your oyster. Write a list of things you have always wanted to do, or do more of, and then see if there is a way that you can do them in your area or online. Bondi Beach is a diverse and vibrant community, and has so many in-person and virtual groups to join. Bondi Beach Astra itself has resident snooker and ping pong experts, as well as music maestros, who would be happy to play with you. And if you want to learn a new language? Chances are that you will find someone here who speaks it and who would be willing to chat with you to practice!
Learn a new watersport. What better way to spend your retirement than at the beach swimming, surfing, snorkeling or enjoying any number of other watersports? Bondi is known for good surfing, as well as beautiful ocean pools. And if the closest you want to get to the sea is walking along the promenade, then Bondi is great for that too! Our residents love to swim, surf, walk and just generally enjoy the beach atmosphere. It is truly a highlight of retirement living at Bondi Beach Astra.
Exercise more. There are so many things that you can do with exercise, it’s hard to know where to start! Whether it’s setting goals for increasing your exercise, just living somewhere that has nice places to walk outside, or finding classes to attend, exercise is hugely important for physical and mental wellbeing. There are plenty of local exercise classes, gyms and swim/surf schools at Bondi Beach. Our residents love to have an active lifestyle, and one of our residents even runs an in-house Qi Gong class each week for residents and friends. Our heated pool and gym area provide extra motivation to exercise without even having to leave the building.
Read more or start a book club. In addition to the bookshelves that we have in our common lounge area for resident use, there are many libraries in the area for you to choose from (Waverley Library, Woollahra Library, Watsons Bay Library and more…) Waverley Library also holds author talks, history lectures, screens movies, and many other cultural events throughout the year. A book club is a lovely way to connect with people and can also be run remotely while in lockdown. At Bondi Beach Astra we run a monthly book club, and it has been a great success not only for broadening our reading material but also for bringing neighbours together to learn more about one another.
Try food you’ve never eaten before, or eat lots of different foods from different countries. Food is often on people’s bucket lists too, and given Bondi’s multicultural population there are so many varieties of food for you to choose from here. Many restaurants and cafes are within walking distance of Bondi Beach Astra, and still more are accessible by take away and food delivery apps.
Spend more time with your grandkids. This is something that is really important to a lot of retirees. If you live closer to your family, you are more likely to be able to spend time with them, and with lots of fun things to do in Bondi there are plenty of options for activities for all ages throughout the year. Many of our residents chose to live in this area to be around family and many of them enjoy spending regular time with their grandkids. What a delight to be able to do that once you are no longer worrying about full time work.
Get a tattoo! For some people this is something that they’ve always wanted to do! Well, who says retirement isn’t the time for that? And Bondi Beach has got you covered!
Become CPR certified. It’s never too late! With so many SLSCs in the area there are many and various courses to take. You never know when something like this might come in handy…
Get environmental. When you live in an area with so much natural beauty you want to try to help keep it that way, and make sure that it is still around for your grandkids to enjoy in years to come. Why not attend, or organise, a beach clean up, or go plastic free for a month? With farmers markets in the area and Waverley Council’s commitment to environmental causes, there is something in Bondi to suit every green-conscious person.
Write a novel, or just start to write more. Many people have ideas that they wish they had written down, so when thinking of things to do in retirement why not this? Several of our residents have written books, both novels and non-fiction books, and there are local writing groups for support. If you think you have it in you to write more, what better inspiration than a beautiful beach view and having a cuppa and a chat with a fellow writing resident!
Organise a wine tasting at home. Let’s face it, we’ve all wanted to run or attend a tasting event of some sort at some point, be it wine, whisky, coffee, chocolate, cheese, or anything else that takes our fancy. Well, at Bondi Beach Astra we have put on wine and cheese tastings, a coffee tasting, and even a gin tasting. Not to mention the many cake, chocolate, biscuit, bread and other food events that have involved our residents (and staff) trying different things out. Imagine if you could have this in your home all the time!
Hold a neighbourhood BBQ. There aren’t many more Aussie things than a BBQ, catching up with your community in the fresh air with some good food and a few drinks. Bondi Beach Astra has a communal BBQ for residents and their friends and families to use, and we run social events throughout the year. It’s a must have for those warm and breezy summer days.
Practise meditation. Many people love to meditate for their mental and physical wellbeing. No matter where you are you can meditate, but it helps to have a weekly Qi Gong class that incorporates elements of meditation, and other local residents who are experienced meditators to give you tips and encouragement!
Volunteer or work with a charity. Retirees often want to stay active, and volunteering is a great way to do that. Several of our residents volunteer regularly with different groups in the area, from churches to libraries to schools. It is such an encouraging and rewarding activity to engage in, as those residents will surely testify to.
And this is just the start…
At Bondi Beach Astra, we are located in one of the most beautiful and engaging places in the world, have so many great facilities available to residents, and have an active and welcoming social community. To find out how you can share in this lifestyle, call or email us, or take a look at our FAQs.
We are often told by residents that moving to the Astra was the best decision, and that they love it here. In this article we give you some reasons why, in their own words:
“We have loved being part of the lively community at the Astra over the last 17 years and enjoy the many benefits of being part of an independent living Retirement Village. Security is important to us, as is knowing we can call for assistance any time. While we still live busy lives, we love to participate in the wonderful social events throughout the year with lots of music, dancing and feasting. Of course a great attraction for us buying here was the beach location with its magical views and access to public transport. We are looking forward to many more years here.” Rob and Penny
“One of the big pluses is ‘location, location, location’ with the tremendous pleasure to be got from being near Bondi Beach and the happy vibe of people enjoying the beautiful seashore. Also, the friendliness of the residents and staff at the Astra.” Gillian
“22 years ago, I was looking to buy a unit in Bondi Beach. I was so fortunate to find exactly what I wanted at a price I could afford. I have never regretted my decision. For someone who lived their whole life on the land, it was a total sea change.” Noni
“After living in Bondi for decades, nine years ago, increasing crowds, noise and pollution forced a decision to move. Lucky for me I found the Bondi Astra Retirement Village and literally moved round the corner. It was a short distance but a world of difference. I was able to stay in Bondi, keep my independence and enjoy secure, peaceful living with the option of support, friendship and lots of fun. Best decision ever!” Ann
“I love living at the Astra because of its wonderful location, across the road from beautiful Bondi Beach, lovely parks close by and with transport almost on our doorstep. The Astra is a close, caring, and friendly community.” Darryl
“My father came to live in the Astra 14 years before I did, and it was because he was so happy here that I decided to move here too. Dad was so happy to be back in the area of his childhood and to be able to enjoy the beach once again. He became involved in all the activities at The Astra and even instigated some. He was very popular and I was lucky to be included in the evening socials. The Social Club helped me organise both his 80th and 90th birthday parties and we invited all residents, friends and family. So, when I moved in after his death, I already knew everyone. Like Dad had done before me, I regularly meet friends in the City for lunch, movies, ballet, concerts and theatre, and travel to family celebrations for birthdays and other celebrations. All of which is possible because of the close access to excellent public transport. When Dad gave up the surf he became a regular in the Astra pool and I use it regularly too as well as the Gym. When this lockdown is over I look forward to resuming the excellent barbecues, lunches and socials we all enjoyed prior to Covid. Also, I will start meeting family and friends once again. The Astra is a wonderful place to live, because of its excellent management, beautiful location, proximity to many shops and cafes and frequent public transport, plus very friendly and pleasant residents.” Maureen
“How lucky I am to live in an elegant, Art Deco icon, overlooking the Sands of the beach, sitting above the trendy Trattoria Restaurant, spending my Retirement years in an Amazing, vibrant environment, at the ASTRA.” Cleo
“I love the location of the Astra, fabulous view from my open-space unit, and within minutes I can be walking along Bondi Beach and swimming. Help from Paul and Anna in the office is a big bonus. They are always willing to assist, whether it’s a technology issue, maintenance problem, receiving postal deliveries etc… The Astra community is friendly and sociable and I enjoy catching up with them at village events from time to time.” Alison
“I lived in Bondi for some years before retirement, at which time I decided to relocate to the Astra, where I bought a unit. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Where else could I walk literally across the road to a wonderful iconic beach, or to a bus taking 7 minutes to get to Bondi Junction or a bit longer into the City? How many other Retirement Villages enjoy the solitude of such establishments while being slap bang in the middle of a busily energetic shopping area with a vibrant cafe/restaurant culture? The best of both worlds! Added to this, importantly, are the caring, competent management of the village who do their best to make for a convivial comfortable atmosphere. I'm very glad I live at the Astra.” Andrew
If you are interested in finding out more about living in this historic, beautiful place please contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions you have. When we are able to safely conduct tours around the village, and hold events again, we would also love to introduce you to some of our friendly residents so they can tell you in person why Bondi Beach Astra is such a great place to live.
At Bondi Beach Astra we love to get social. And until June we were making the most of our relatively COVID-free environment, holding events and activities each month for residents to attend. With a range of different people from different backgrounds, we try to cater to a range of different tastes. Here are our highlights from the first half of the year:
Jazz lunch - we were absolutely thrilled to welcome local jazz band Sax Appeal to our lounge for a live music event, with a Ploughman’s lunch. We had such fun and it was a wonderful atmosphere. Good food and wine, great music, and dancing to cap it all off, this was mentioned in our recent resident surveys as being one of the best events we’ve had.
Gin tasting - also a winner on the resident satisfaction scale was our gin tasting afternoon. We had to postpone this in 2020 as lockdowns and restrictions hit, but it was worth waiting for. We had four gins to taste, along with varied and numerous mixers and garnishes, and a cocktail menu. For those drinking and not drinking alike we had a lovely selection of snacks, cold meats, flat breads and sweets. Even non gin drinkers were delighted by the interesting flavours of the different gins we had on offer - and a big shout out to the Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin, which won the most votes for best gin!
Special afternoon teas - this year we partnered with the Residents Committee to put on one big afternoon tea a month, with a special theme. At one we raised over $600 for the Cancer Council; at another we had a posh high tea with sandwiches, petits fours and bubbly. Fabulous!
Speaker talks - throughout the year we’ve had speaker talks from both residents and people in the local community. Helene Gonski’s visit was a particular highlight, with residents and visitors enjoying an insight into this special lady’s wonderful life.
Astra Book Club (ABC) - once a month we run a book club, encouraging us to read more widely and to share our thoughts about, and experiences with, each text. We have read authors from Australia, the UK, the US, Europe and Africa, with themes as widespread as colonisation, the LGBTI+ community, feminism, historical fiction, murder mystery, the Gold Rush and the dictionary! The lovely thing about a book club is you don’t read in isolation, and even if you don’t agree with the opinions of your fellow readers, it is still interesting to hear what they have to say. Members of ABC love it, and we all get a lot out of our monthly meet ups.
Foodie fun - from the resident-run Australia Day BBQ, to pancakes, strawberries and cream, and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, our community loves to get together over some good food. It’s the perfect opportunity to chat, have fun and get to know your neighbours better. It’s always a highlight when tasty food is on the menu.
You too could be a part of this vibrant, fun-loving community! Our full social calendar is truly one of the best parts of living at Bondi Beach Astra, according to many of our residents. To see what you’re missing out on visit our Blog and What’s On pages, and if you have any further questions about life in a Retirement Village, please contact us.
We speak to many people about retirement living, and over the years we have noticed some trends in common hesitations to taking that final step. We also know that many people we speak to who live in a Retirement Village tell us it was the best move they ever made. So here is a list of common hesitations that regularly come up in our conversations with people considering downsizing to Bondi Beach Astra, and our reasons why we think you should still think seriously about making the move:
I’m not retired yet. You do not need to be fully retired to move into a village, just over 55 years old. At Bondi Beach Astra we have a number of residents who are still partially working and of those that aren’t, many volunteer on a regular basis. Still more play a vital role in actively helping with their grandkids.
I’m not ready yet. This may well be the case, and we would never presume to know your circumstances as well as you do. However, we do believe that it is never too early to start thinking about what you will do in the event that you need to downsize, move to be closer to family, or require more help around the home. It certainly can’t hurt to have the conversations now to prepare yourself for when you do feel ready. Retirement Villages are not aged care facilities, they are vibrant, active communities of like-minded individuals. They provide greater security and opportunities for social connection than non-retirement housing alternatives. It is worth considering Retirement Villages for many very good reasons, but please don’t count them out because of a perception that they are full of inactive and unsociable seniors. The majority of Retirement Village residents are lively and active members of the community, making the most of their retirement years.
I want two or three bedrooms. If this is what you need, then of course many of our one and two bedroom apartments won’t be suitable. However, most of our residents have friends and family who they meet up with regularly, and many will have people to stay in their apartments. Our apartments are a variety of sizes and shapes, to fit different needs for different people. Before you reject the idea of a one bedroom property outright, consider whether it is actually necessary to have the extra bedroom. For example, will the hassle of cleaning a room you don’t use to its potential for much of the year be more or less than the hassle of having a flexible living space that could accommodate visitors? Remember that downsizing has its advantages – smaller apartments are easier to clean and upkeep, having fewer things could make you feel less stressed and more able to focus on the important things in life, and of course downsizing usually comes with a lower price tag.
It’s too expensive. Again, we can’t speak to each individual’s circumstances, but generally Retirement Villages are cheaper than non-retirement living options. Equivalent Bondi Beach non-retirement properties are on average 42% more expensive. To reduce costs by more than 3% further, if you buy a long-term lease (which most Retirement Villages offer) rather than a strata title, you won’t have to pay stamp duty on your purchase. Moreover, the Deferred Management Fee is set up to ensure that you have more capital upfront on purchase, then pay a percentage on re-sale to cover ongoing costs associated with the time that you have lived in a village. For many people this is a model that is well-suited to them at this stage of their lives.
Bondi Beach is too busy, and the crowds are too young. It is true that Bondi Beach is one of Australia’s most visited areas. However, many of our residents love the vibrant culture and opportunities that come with living in a small community that has international renown. They don’t want to live in a sleepy quiet town where nothing ever happens! Bondi, for them, has just the right blend of amenities, environment, activity and community, and they like to be around people of all ages. This may not be for everyone, but if you are considering this area you should definitely come for a visit and see for yourself what they love about Bondi Beach.
Where are the men? This is a question that gets posed a lot on Facebook, and sometimes in person too. Well, just under 30% of Bondi Beach Astra’s residents are men. We do have men who are active in the community and also on the Executive Committee, but on average more of women attend social events than men which accounts for the difference in photos on our blog and social media pages. We encourage residents to bring friends and relatives with them to events when they can, and anyone is welcome to visit the village. Retirement communities in general tend to have more women than men, and we are no exception, but actually living here you might find that there are more men around than you had previously thought!
We always love to chat with people about their options, so please do contact us for more information. We are on the phone, email, and online. We look forward to hearing from you.
Many people think that Retirement Villages and Aged Care are the same thing. I work in a Retirement Village and still my friends and family ask me on a regular basis “how are things going in the care home?”
But there are some key differences. You must be able to live independently to live in a Retirement Village. That doesn’t mean you can’t be reliant on people for help or care, but it does mean that generally you need to be able to look after yourself and move around independently.
Essentially, a Retirement Village is a community of homes and facilities designed for over 55 year olds. There is not even a requirement that you must be fully retired to move into a village. Anyone who is over 55 and able to live independently can live in a Retirement Village.
There are a number of benefits to moving into a Retirement Village. Most villages offer shared facilities – Bondi Beach Astra has many facilities for residents to use including a gym, indoor pool, common lounge and kitchen, courtyard with BBQ, and communal computers. Many villages also often offer added security, a community environment, and customisable services. At Bondi Beach Astra we have a daytime concierge (Village Manager) to help with any resident issues, a 24/7 emergency medical alarm system for any help outside of office hours, and we run regular community events and activities.
It has been shown in numerous studies that being social and connected is good for your health and happiness and may even help people to live longer.
Downsizing into a Retirement Village may benefit both financially and physically. Having a smaller space to keep clean and tidy is an upside for many people choosing to downsize at this point in life and may be generally more convenient. A smaller living space often means lower utility costs, and with more disposable income from having sold your larger house, you may be able to better plan for the future.
We would love to talk to you further about any questions you may have, to help you decide whether living in a Retirement Village is right for you. Please give us a call on 02 9365 3344, email us at sales@bondiastra.com.au or have a look at our FAQs.
We’ve been doing it tough here in Sydney the past couple of months and sadly, for those of us at Bondi Beach Astra who like to come together and socialise, we have been unable to meet up in person and run events and activities. However, we asked a few residents what they had been up to in lockdown to keep them sane and here are some of the responses:
“This is Choc, a beautiful, very friendly Cocker Spaniel, he lives next door to the Astra and I have been taking him for a walk across the road to the park every day since lockdown. He is a wonderful companion and he looks forward to his walks as much as I do.”
“A friend told me about this method of drawing. You get a picture of a face and put it upside down, then draw it upside down. It’s fun.”
“Went for a walk to Watsons Bay in glorious weather. Moved quickly past Camp Cove, (too many people) and circled South Head. Photos are view from Watsons Bay, Lightkeepers House, 1858 with North Head east and city west.”
“One of the positives I have found with lockdown is that I am taking the time to send emails to family overseas and friends here whom I haven’t contacted in a while. Connecting again.”
We even had a response in poem form:
"LOCKDOWN
Locked-in days slipping into weeks, months
Brief distractions of culinary and cleaning routines
Walks in the haunts of paperbarks
Magnificent, majestic
Birthday celebrations postponed
Next month? Next year?
Remote conversations with friends
Mourn the Covid casualty of a cancelled holiday
Stream megabytes beyond allowance
Make a virtue of virtual
Pen family Christmas gifts
Memoirs perhaps unread
Until the author is no more
Lulled into acceptance Of this surreal, liminal time."
The Bondi Beach Astra is a Retirement Village comprised of 55 independent living units, situated in the heart of Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. The Astra is a beautiful art-deco building on Campbell Parade, directly opposite the iconic Bondi Beach. Residents of the Astra have access to a wide range of facilities such as a communal lounge, games room, courtyard with BBQ and indoor pool area with serviced gym equipment. The Bondi Beach Astra is perfect for active, independent and social people over 55 years of age, who value comfort, natural beauty and community. Close to shops, restaurants and parks, the Astra is conveniently situated close to Bondi Junction and the city of Sydney. There are a small number of excellent properties available for sale now - don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity!
Alternatively, call us now on 02 9365 3344.
34 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026
