Rory’s Rambles: Destination coast, city and community

As Geelong and the Surf Coast populations grow, it’s interesting to see how new home-buyers are looking to enjoy the best of both locales.

The Surf Coast offers the beauty of ocean living and a strong nature-based, active lifestyle. Geelong offers all the services, facilities of a major regional city with ready access to Melbourne for work and play.

It’s not surprising that Armstrong Mount Duneed, nestled neatly between both these centres, is attracting so many people keen to capitalise on them.

It is interesting, though, to see just who we have arriving at Armstrong. It really is a great cross-section of the community.

If you look around the parks and playgrounds, or the paths or Club Armstrong, don’t be surprised if you spy the odd Cats footy player about. Gryan Miers is one familiar face, so too is Luke Dahlhaus.

People like Paul and Aimee Wheate, a corporate property valuer and interior designer respectively, moved from Geelong’s high-end Newtown to Armstrong.

They wanted somewhere their three kids could run and play safely and happily. Somewhere close to community, where they could get to the gym easily and where essential services were still close by.

People like leading town planner Simon Loader have recognised the attributes and made Armstrong home. You’ll find people like TV journalist Cameron Best and singer Sam Cocking hanging out with the kids there, too.

We have people who’ve built in adjoining communities spending their family time in our parks, café and playgrounds.

Quite a few have in fact sold up and moved across the highway to join us, especially to be part of the resort-style Club Armstrong with its facilities and activities.

In one remarkable story, we have four Geelong nurses – all friends and working on the same ward – who have built or bought at Armstrong.

Indeed, we have people moving from Highton, from Newtown, from Grovedale and Belmont – good, highly-sought suburbs – to live at Armstrong.

Their reasoning’s pretty simple, really. It’s about location and it’s about community. About access to schools, work, services and recreation.

Above all, it seems it’s about making friends and enjoying a powerful sense of community with their neighbours.