The rise and rise of the Armstrong Creek

From a few scribbles on a white board just over 10 years ago to what we see on the ground today, the Armstrong Creek Growth Corridor has exploded into a vibrant, connected neighbourhood boasting some of the best infrastructure in the state.

In just over 10 years, the combined suburbs of Armstrong Creek, Mount Duneed, Charlemont and parts of Marshall and Grovedale that make up the growth corridor, have seen the population explode to more than 20,000 in nearly 8,000 homes, making it one of the most successful and largest master planned communities of its kind.

At its launch, the Armstrong Creek growth area was the largest contiguous growth area in Victoria, consisting of 2,500 hectares of developable land, and was one of the largest growth fronts in the country, providing housing for up to 65,000 people in about 22,000 residential homes.

At the moment, Armstrong Creek is seen as Victoria’s sixth growth area alongside the Growth Areas Authority Councils Wyndham, Hume, Casey-Cardinia, Melton and Whittlesea.

The Major Activity Centre, and Neighbourhood Activity Centre’s already established are providing large scale employment opportunities across the growth corridor along with schools and community facilities.

Warralily, which was the primary residential estate to break ground in the growth corridor, is now an established and thriving community of over 10,000 residents, which is a fantastic milestone for the estate.

Warralily senior project manager Ben Stewart said Warralily was the first master planned community to release land at Armstrong Creek in 2010 and has continued to lead market popularity, both in terms of sales and community development.

“Warralily’s location, open space and the delivered amenity are all a big drawcard for purchasers,” Mr Stewart said.

“We invested in community development from when our first residents moved in, in 2012, and the sense of belonging that comes from this still resonates with residents 10 years later.

“The last financial year was a record breaker, with 604 lots sold, making Warralily the number one selling project in Victoria according to Core Project’s research figures.”

Warralily’s buyer group covers all life stages, including first home buyers, family subsequent home buyers and retirees.

While upgraders from both local and out of the area were the major buyer group in 2021/2022, Warralily are now seeing strong interest from first home buyers and investors and about 30 per cent of subsequent home buyers are Warralily residents buying at Warralily again.

Warralily presently has 800 lots under construction, with titles being delivered regularly throughout the year.

The community now enjoys a local shopping village including supermarkets, chemist and cafes, three schools including primary and secondary, a local bus network, community centre, childcare centres, sports ovals and landscaped creek, playgrounds and parkland, all connected by 30 kilometres of walking and bike paths.

Blocks in Warralily start from $359,000.

Another major developer in this space is Villawood’s Armstrong Mount Duneed master-planned community that consists of 3,000 lots, of which they are down to their last few hundred.

The community now boasts a population of 4,000 in about 1,500 homes.

They first came to market 2012 with sales from a former air hangar and were acknowledged by the UDIA Landscape for its Australian-first Green Street Display Village concept, combining a closed-street display village with a children’s playground.

Armstrong changed Geelong greenfields development with its $7.5 million Club Armstrong residents’ club with gym, swimming pools, café, family and function spaces, sport courts, community barbecues, and so much more.

Armstrong has extensive open space, a $2.6 million district park, multiple playgrounds, 30 kilometers of walking and cycling tracks and 24 hectares of parks, green spaces and wetlands.

Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe said their overall ambition was to create smarter communities that are better connected, happier and healthier.

“There’s a great lifestyle to be had in the Geelong and Surf Coast region, this is about helping the whole community enjoy it,” Mr Costelloe said.

“It’s vitally important to families moving to a new city, and a new suburb of that city, to have the solid support of new friends and neighbours.

“In the past, newcomers to an area might find themselves isolated and lonely, but today it is a growing imperative of new estates that they support residents.”

Mr Costelloe said at Armstrong Mount Duneed, the Club Armstrong Resident’s Club and a strong nucleus of groups and clubs – some structured, others less formal – have made a social bedrock that supports the community.

“It’s helped bring the community together and then keep it active, vibrant and healthy as an ongoing concern.”

Villawood now have lots for sale starting from $363,900.

Many more developments have come to market since Warralily and Armstrong broke ground including Charlemont, Ashbury, Anchoridge, Glenlee and a range of others.

Several real estate agents have established themselves in this growth market as the suburbs within the

Armstrong Creek Growth Corridor see nearly 500 homes exchange hands in the last 12 months.

The first agent to establish itself in this specific marketplace was Armstrong Real Estate.