Residents of Estate Forrest regularly get together in the communal events area. Photo: Sally Job.
Richard and Sally Job spent 20 years living and raising their family in a big four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with a pool and big backyard in Farrer. When the kids moved out, they started thinking about downsizing.
In “a moment of madness”, the couple checked out an Estate Forrest display apartment last year and immediately decided that’s where they wanted to live.
Sally said they were a bit hesitant about moving into an apartment after always living in a big home in the Woden Valley, but the thought of no maintenance and lower cost of living was a big drawcard.
After six months “getting a handle on it”, the couple settled in and, while they loved the care-free life in their new two-bedroom apartment, Sally says there’s one element of living in the Estate community that caught her by surprise.
What she didn’t expect were the incredible friendships that would be made and the busy social life she would enjoy.
Early this year, Sally invited a few women in the surrounding apartments to join a book club. After meeting in the Estate’s wine cellar and consuming a few drinks, the book club soon became the ‘Champagne Ladies’ group.
“We get together once a month, take turns to cook and put on a bit of a spread in the events area outside the community cellar,” she said.
“We drink wine, talk over the top of each other and have a good laugh.”
Now that COVID-19 restrictions have eased, Sally hopes more Estate ladies will be keen to join in the fun.
Many of the men in the Estate also regularly get together for a round of golf or game of bowls, and all of the residents will be invited to a community Christmas party at the nearby South Canberra Bowling Club.
Sally is in the process of compiling an Estate newsletter in the hope that residents can continue meetings for regular walks with their dogs, bowls days and social outings.
She’s also planning to form a book exchange and a “serious” book club.
There’s a mix of older people, young couples, singles and families with kids living in Estate, and Sally says it makes for a great community vibe where everyone looks out for each other.
“During lockdown, we kept in touch and were always checking in on each other,” she said.
“I buddied up with the lady across the hall who lives on her own. She hasn’t been living in Canberra long and doesn’t really know anyone.”
Sally says her neighbours wave as they pass by, and she is looking forward to meeting the many newcomers who have recently moved into the community.
Boasting a prestigious address on State Circle, Estate offers a range of apartments, where penthouse-style living is the norm and every home features grand, unparalleled fixtures and fittings.
Every Estate apartment owner has their own custom joinery 60-bottle wine cabinets in the cellar designed in consultation with Australian wine personality Tyson Stelzer.
Created by Addval Developments, one of Canberra’s leading property developers, Estate has been expertly designed with extensive parks and landscaped gardens that connect the three individualised buildings, while the cellar also flows outdoors to a beautifully manicured pocket park and barbecue area.
To learn more about Estate Forrest or arrange a personal inspection, contact Charles Crowther on 1300 891 369.
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