Hayley Barnett

I was driving past a beautiful stretch of coastline recently when I saw it. A couch. Not near a house and not outside a shop, just sitting there in the long grass as if it had decided to retire early. It would have been almost funny if it wasn’t so bleak. Illegal dumping has a way of sneaking up on us. A mattress on a roadside, a pile of renovation waste tucked into a reserve, bags of rubbish stacked beside an overflowing charity bin.

Step into a world in which it’s Mana by name and a sense of mana by nature. WORDS JO FERRIS In the exclusive enclave of Mana Ridge, Welcome Bay, this home marries the charm of a country house with the finesse of skilful contemporary architecture. The site occupies the pinnacle of this private estate, which is home to just 13 residences.

Luxury retirement village Bethlehem Shores has been gradually but purposefully evolving into a resident-led community designed to meet every contemporary need. A $100 million expansion has taken it there. PHOTOS SUPPLIED These days, age is more of a mindset than a number. We’re living longer and keeping active and social for many more years than previous generations. In response, retirement living is undergoing a huge evolution.