Blog

In April we shared fun things to do close to home for the school holidays and with the September holidays now upon us, here’s a snapshot of 10 more local attractions within 10 kilometres.

Warralily neighbours some of regional Victoria’s greatest adventures and attractions. This list is a surefire way to get your Easter getaway started on the right track!

Meet the team at Warralily

Meet the team at Warralily

Starting 2022 making a difference to our planet! Here are some small, yet important ways you can make your home more sustainable.

Make the most of your weekends and explore your own backyard.

Welcome to Spring! It's Salad season. Don't give us any eye rolls, we're bringing you the most exciting salad recipes that will perk up any at home dinner menu.

Easy ways to upgrade your home.

Are you a first homebuyer feeling the FOMO now that the Homebuilder Scheme has ended and think you have missed your opportunity to enter the housing market? Think again!

Meet the team at Warralily!

Meet the team at Warralily!

‘BE WHO YOU WERE CREATED TO BE AND YOU WILL SET THE WORLD ON FIRE.’

If you’ve had a chance to get a sneak peek at the new Oberon High School campus at Armstrong Creek, you might well be thinking, ‘Wow, I wish I’d gone to a school like that.’

What does your child want to be? How can we help them be their very best? At Geelong Lutheran College, finding the answers to such questions is key to the learning and growing process from day one.

Towards the end of last year, there were an array of new incentives for homebuyers announced by both the state and federal governments, including the extension of the Homebuilder Grant and the introduction of Stamp Duty Savings.

Talk with Armstrong Creek School Principal Evan Savage and you will soon discover that the school’s motto, ‘The Heart of Opportunity’, truly guides its focus on embracing challenge and innovation.

If you’ve been considering building a new home by now you will have heard about the Federal Government Home Builder Scheme or Grant. Homebuilder is intended to bolster the property market and construction industry due to the COVID 19 pandemic by offering a $25,000 cash incentive from the government towards building a new home.

Let’s look at some simple ideas that can have you feeling proud as punch of your new home.

After days, weeks and possibly months of dreaming about a new home, you finally make the decision to take the plunge and reach for that goal of purchasing land to build your dream home! Emotions and excitement are running high and within seconds those same emotions can plummet into a sinking feeling of fear. The questions start spinning in your head, how do you buy land, where, what & who do I need to speak with??

Did you know Warralily has been designed to ensure the best possible access to the surrounding amenities? We can be at Bancoora Beach in 7 minutes, Geelong City in 10 minutes, and in Melbourne in 1 hour. BUT… it’s what’s within our community that we are excited about! From the Surf Coast Highway right through to Barwon Heads Road our 380-hectare greenfield site is packed with hidden gems to discover.

Did you know to live a comfortable retirement as a couple you will need to have $640,000 in combined super. I use the term comfortable because that is the terminology the Association of Super Funds use. 

Coles, Gyms and food, oh my!
Some seriously exciting progress has been made at the Armstrong Creek Town Centre on Surf Coast Highway that neighbours Warralily Coast and Grange!

The Winter months are upon us and combined with the last eight weeks of travel restrictions you’re probably spending more time at home looking around at how you can improve your lifestyle. It’s as good a time as any to practice some new habits and we think that Sustainable Living is a great place to start.

Enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits by bringing the outdoors in.  
For many staying at home, this has been the perfect time to tick off those home improvement jobs on the to do list, with the focus being outside the home. With the days getting shorter and cooler there’s no denying that winter is coming. The cooler weather will mean more time inside. Take this time to really to enjoy your home and perhaps look to make some decorating updates and improvements.

For the past three years Warralily and Flora Victoria have been cultivating and harvesting native grass seeds from our very own conservation reserves to restore the native vegetation in our neighbourhood.

With all of us at home social distancing, a lot of households are embarking on home improvement projects including new ways to improve your garden. One of the best and easiest ways to improve the quality of your soil and ultimately the heath of your plants is through compost. 

With the school holidays in Victoria “officially” coming to a close on the 14^th April , it will only be a matter of time until the new term begins, and despite the Victorian Government advising schools will be reopening in some capacity, remote online learning will become the new normal for families.   To assist parents with navigating these unchartered waters here are some tips to make sure that you and your child is prepared and ready to learn in their new home classroom.

The First Homeowners Scheme is an initiative run by the government aimed at getting first homeowners into the property market sooner. From 1^st January 2020 the government launched an initiative offering 10,000 low deposit loans for eligible applicants.

“I’m not sure it’s the right time to buy, I hear interest rates will come down more”
“The economy isn’t going so great, so I might wait”
“Garry at work said it was a terrible idea to buy property, bit coin was the way to go…”
“We are going to go overseas and will use our deposit to pay for the trip; I mean property isn’t going anywhere is it?”

Saving for your first home can feel overwhelming, but it is achievable goal.  Follow these steps and you will find yourself in a position to own your first home quicker than you think.

It seems activities involving gardening and sustainable living have become essential to our community culture. Over the years, Warralilian’s have naturally connected through communal gardening activities, holding regular clean up days in conservation spaces and park lands, celebrating the indigenous flora and fauna of our wetlands at events or volunteering at nearby community gardens.

Thousands more people will spend their tourism dollars in the Geelong and Great Ocean Road regions thanks to an agreement between the Federal and State Government that unlocks the region’s visitor economy.
The $355 million Geelong City Deal is a ten-year partnership to revitalise the city and the broader regional economy.

Fresh food, all day breakfast, great people AND hand roasted specialty coffee - what more could you want from a local coffee shop

Local resident Rachel Dawson is the trailblazer behind the Dodgeball sessions at Armstrong Creek School on Tuesday nights, a dynamic and fun way to get fitter and meet new people.

The house keys are finally dropped into your hands and the house is yours!  Move in day is just around the corner. Your dream home is ready to be decorated with your personal touches, new furniture, and special photos.

Choosing a block of land is not like popping over to the local supermarket and picking up tonight’s dinner. It’s a massively important part of the process of building what may be your most significant asset. As such you need to put the work in to find the best available block that suits your needs, budget, timing & house plan.

A common question we get when we are assisting first home buyers who are just starting the process. Where do you start? Do you buy the land first, get pre-approval from a bank, choose a builder etc?

At Kat B’s Jungle Body classes, the lights go down, the music turns up and the half court at Armstrong Creek School is transformed into a dance floor with disco lights! Under the cover of the flashing lights and high energy moves “it really feels like I can dance out the stress of the day like no-one’s watching” said a regular participant.

As the weather heats up we will be spending more time outdoors enjoying family bike rides or hand-in-hand walks on the shared pathways along the creek. Listen out for the frogs along the way and follow the flitting of the native bird life, we are truly lucky to have this remarkable environment on our doorstep.

“Drop the ego, just get on the mat and that’s all you have to do.”
 
These are the words of Fran Forde who has recently commenced her refreshingly real Yin Yoga classes at the Warralily Community House.

With mounting bodies of evidence that outdoor activities such as exploring natural environments, are beneficial to children and contribute to improving children’s health and wellbeing, it’s no wonder Bush Kinder is becoming the classroom of the future!              

Wondering why all the Warralily parks are empty on Saturday mornings? Everyone's at Auskick!

Have you had a chance to meet Nina our new Community Development Officer at Warralily? 

It is still a safe bet that a majority of the Armstrong Creek and broader Geelong community are still unaware of the sheer scale & the natural beauty of the many kilometres of winding wetlands that now wend their way through Warralily. 

The view speaks for itself….
If you have had the opportunity to stand on the viewing platform on the top of The Hill you will understand what I mean.
You could also say the location speaks for itself, but it can’t talk…. so I will have to provide a few superlatives. 

Let's get to know the sales team at Warralily.

Let's get to know the sales team at Warralily. 

The opening of the Village Warralily is fast approaching. Let's get to know a bit more about each of the tenants moving in!

The opening of the Village Warralily is fast approaching. Let's get to know a bit more about each of the tenants moving in!

The opening of the Village Warralily is fast approaching. Let's get to know a bit more about each of the tenants moving in!

The opening of the Village Warralily is fast approaching. Let's get to know a bit more about each of the tenants moving in!

The opening of the Village Warralily is fast approaching. Let's get to know a bit more about each of the tenants moving in!

The opening of the Village Warralily is fast approaching. Let's get to know a bit more about each of the tenants moving in!

The opening of the Village Warralily is fast approaching. Let's get to know a bit more about each of the tenants moving in!

The opening of the Village Warralily is fast approaching. Let's get to know a bit more about each of the tenants moving in!

The opening of the Village Warralily is fast approaching. Let's get to know a bit more about each of the tenants moving in!

The opening of the Village Warralily is fast approaching. Let's get to know a bit more about each of the tenants moving in!

Join us as each month we take a look at a builder from the new Warralily display village and their stunning new designs on show at Warralily.

In communities across Australia they come. Children, babies, young people and adults, couples, families and friends, all heading towards their local park, playground or open space. Some come to play, some to enjoy regular exercise, others just to slow down and enjoy being outdoors. 

Warralily launched its new neighbourhood six months ago and a lot can happen on site in that time! Lets revisit Warralily Central and catch everyone up on how the new neighbourhood, surrounding Village Warralily and school construction plus how the community in general has progressed. Click Here for the article. 

If neighbourhoods are a reflection of those who live in them; have you ever wondered why some neighbourhoods seem so active, vital and dynamic while others lack life and personality? A healthy, happy community is often the result of residents getting involved and working collaboratively.  Lasting positive social change often starts with people referred to as ‘change agents’. 

Geelong residents have a multitude of options when it comes to shopping but nothing beats being able to pop down to the local store. And while proximity is important, as Warralily’s community development officer, I’m excited by the benefit that keeping it local has on enhancing community life.

Chocolate Mud, Lemon Butter…..mmm Red Velvet!!!!   
You would be forgiven if you started licking your lips when walking around the Warralily Estate and you get a ‘wiff’ of these aromas.  In fact, you have stumbled on the location of a home based business called Warralily Cakes. 

I first thought I would write a blog on the top 10 tips of property investing or the 5 biggest pitfalls to avoid. Instead I’m going to pose a question, a question that I had to answer before deciding to invest? WHY? Why are you considering investing in property and what is the overriding factor driving you to do so? Do you see a niche, or a bargain or a new property hot spot ready to take off?

So, you have chosen your little patch of dirt, now it’s time to choose the house and more pertinent to this blog, it’s time to choose your builder.
This decision can be a challenging one as you certainly won’t lack for options in what is a very competitive market place. Depending on budget you could pick from over two dozen builders display homes at Warralily and in the Greater Geelong region. 

Located less than 25km away from Warralily – The stunning new Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery on the Great Ocean Road is definitely a place to visit. Created by passionate foodies Ian & Leanne Neeland, they’ve created a family friendly place based on their love of chocolate.

The modern world is fast paced and high speed broadband has paved the way for users to adapt to and compliment it. Infrastructure such as the fibre optic network is transforming the way we live. Some things that barely seemed feasible even a decade ago are now becoming cultural norms as we take advantage of modern technology. When you purchase a recently constructed land allotment and a brand new house at Warralily it only seems fair that your awesome new internet connection will be up to *20 times faster than your previous ADSL connection.

Building a new home at Warralily means that you will require a construction loan. Construction loans are very similar to normal home loans, with a few quirks. Before deciding to build your new home at Warralily, it’s important to understand how constructions work, and ensure you are selecting the right loan for your needs.

The phone rings and you hear those magic words you have been waiting for ‘your land has titled!’ As excitement builds, it is natural to focus on the construction of your future home, colours, and interiors. It is also the perfect time to start designing the landscape for your front yard for submission.  The Warralily Design and Siting Guidelines do provide the information required to submit your landscape plan, but it is always best to use the landscape guidelines which were provided in your contract. So, you might ask how do I begin?

The decision about where to live is a complex one.  Apart from the more obvious factors such as price and location, the decision includes the need to feel safe and connected to your community. 

Now you’ve decided you want to buy your first home, it’s important to look at how much deposit you will need, and how you’re going to make it happen. When you apply for a home loan, banks generally prefer if you have saved 20% of the purchase price, plus costs. By doing this, you avoid paying lenders mortgage insurance, and most banks have a little more flexibility in their credit policy. While this is great in theory, the reality is saving a full deposit while maintaining your lifestyle is difficult to do. Here are our top 3 tips to make it easier.
 

Here’s a guide to some popular weekend markets in our local area held throughout the year. Markets in our local area showcase a variety of delicious fresh produce, jams and hand-made arts and crafts. Depending on which market you visit, you may also be able to hear some upcoming local musicians. We promise there will be coffee and possibly a sausage sizzle so why not visit a market this weekend and support our locals!

So, you have made the decision to build in Warralily, you have chosen your village (Coast, Prom, Central), you have picked a lot that suits your preferred house, your budget, timeframe and lifestyle. Congratulations!
Now once your lot settles, you get to watch your dream become a reality as your home comes out of the ground.

For those of you who have just found Warralily, you may have just found us at the perfect time. 2017 will go down as surely the most significant year to date for a project that has been actively selling since June 2010. 

If you are wanting to keep the kids occupied over the school holidays there are plenty of things to do in and around Warralily. 

Warralily is Geelong's first and largest master planned community. This means everything the community needs is planned upfront, including sports and recreation, schools, community centres and shopping and dining precincts set within a fully landscaped environment.

So you’ve found your block of land. Well done! You’ve paid a holding deposit and you are ready to sign up to the next exciting stage of your life. But wait a minute, haven’t you forgotten something?

Over the past several months we have touched on a number of the reasons why you would choose Armstrong Creek & Warralily as the ideal location to construct your new home; whether you are an owner occupier seeking a safe community to raise your children, or you are a savvy investor seeking outstanding capital growth. One of the first questions most buyers ask is where are the nearest schools?  In this blog we will give you a little bit of insight into our nearest Public Primary School - Mt Duneed Primary.

We all know that time old saying ‘A man’s home is his castle’ With Interest rates at record lows,  many mortgages cost less than rent. Rent money is now truly dead money!. With new home ownership filled with inducements and appeal, let’s have a look at first home buyers’ entitlements, so that those looking to open the door on their first home, can have that door blown off its hinges

As if living at Warralily with its meandering walking tracks and parklands peppered along the National award winning Armstrong creek, conservation reserves and playgounds isn’t enough, we are blessed with the benefit of having an international treasure, Lake Connewarre our benevolent neighbour. 

Did you know we have a historically significant reserve adjacent to Warralily Coast? Stewarts Reserve on Armstrong Creek is a rare grassy woodland gem, located on Stewarts Road between the Surf Coast Highway and Horseshoe Bend Road.

Interior design; the chi, feng shui and spirit making a house a home. What’s hot, what’s not? With TV shows like The Living Room, The Block and anything NineLife all the rage, everyone’s a critic. The in vogue might not always be your style but with some design basics down pat any home can be brought into the 21^st century and made on-trend. Here’s some interior design styles to keep your home modern, fresh and chic

Orientation rarely makes it on to a home buyers checklist but it can play a critical role in how big your energy bills are and how much you’ll enjoy living at home. The wonderful thing about building a new home at Warralily you have the ability to incorporate good orientation into your home before you build it and take advantage of what nature gives us.

With lending criteria a hot topic at the moment, it is important to know the “in’s and out’s” to help you secure a block of land to build your dream home on. Obtaining finance is one of the most crucial steps in purchasing your land, albeit maybe not the most exciting, but none-the-less vital.

One huge benefit of being part of the Warralily community – along with the chance to escape the pace of the city – is its close proximity to some of Victoria’s most popular beach destinations. Whether you’re a keen surfer, swimmer, hiker or even a budding bird watcher, Warralily puts you just a short drive away from your own private slice of the Surf Coast. 

One reason people dream about owning their own home is the opportunity to create their own sanctuary - and your home office should be no different. This is the place where late-night emails are written, bills are paid and schedules are organised, so it’s a good idea to make sure spending time here is as enjoyable as possible. 

When it comes to cleaning your home, sometimes all-natural is the best way to go - whether you’re a keen greenie, or you’d like to protect your family and pets from nasty chemicals. Luckily, nature has quite a few tricks up her sleeve, most of which are simple household items!