Meet Mudgee Spring Lifestyle Estate’s founding Residents

Have you ever gone on a house hunt that took you further than expected? For Dennis and Donna Callcott, the journey to finding their perfect home wasn’t a quick one, but it was worth it.

Among the first residents at Mudgee Spring Lifestyle Estate, the couple in their early 60s toured various communities across New South Wales and Queensland in search of the perfect place to downsize before discovering Lincoln Place.

“Relocating from Windsor in Sydney’s north-west, we looked at over 20 estates as far as Yamba, Cessnock and down south in Eden,” Dennis said.

“The moment we saw this home in Mudgee Springs, we knew it was the one. It was downsizing without sacrificing what we wanted. Mudgee is a beautiful part of the world. The scenery is great, and the people are lovely.”

Now they have settled in, Dennis and Donna are enjoying the benefits of a low-maintenance lifestyle. Their home comes with access to brand-new community amenities including pickleball courts, a competition-sized bowling green and a barbeque pavilion.

Lincoln Place CEO, Paul Yeo, said Mudgee Spring has been thoughtfully designed as a vibrant, connected community for over-50s, where feel-good facilities bring neighbours together and enhance daily life.

“We invested $8 million into high-quality recreation spaces and amenities that support an active, social lifestyle,” Mr Yeo said.

“This included a wellness centre and residents’ clubhouse, which quickly became the heart of the community – hosting happy hours, Christmas parties and everyday catch-ups.”

But for Dennis and Donna, the best part is the connections they have already formed with their neighbours. On New Year’s Eve, fellow resident Cathy Henderson invited them and the other early residents for a barbecue in the pavilion.

“We all met up, had a few drinks, and socialised. It was a great day getting to know everybody,” Donna said.

Even with just nine residents moved in, they have already formed a tight-knit group. “We all checked in on each other. Whoever went into town was on mailman duty,” Dennis laughed.

Donna’s family have embraced the move as well. “My son visited on New Year’s Day and was blown away,” she recalled. “He just said, ‘Wow, you’re so lucky to wake up every day in this beautiful part of the country.’”

The couple loved their new two-bedroom Franklin home, which was built on site with convenient single-level access. It features a double garage and an open-plan layout that reminded them of their family home in Windsor – only more manageable.

Their transition to Mudgee was made seamless by local sales agent Peter Vanags, who supported them every step of the way. “He made everything easy,” Dennis said.

With their new lock-and-leave lifestyle, the couple have already made travel plans for the year, including trips to Adelaide and Townsville to visit family.

They are particularly excited about the Estate’s upcoming amenities, which would include a clubhouse and indoor swimming pool. “We just felt so relaxed,” they said.