Last month, CEO Max Shifman explored why Southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales continue to outperform as some of Australia’s fastest-growing regional markets (read insights). 

For buyers looking to call the Northern Rivers home, Aureus brings together the best of coastal living. Nestled between Lennox Head and Ballina in Skennars Head, it offers the relaxed lifestyle people are seeking, with beaches, local shops, schools and everyday conveniences all close by.

It’s a location where you don’t have to choose between convenience and lifestyle. Both are part of everyday life.

A coastal lifestyle without compromise

Living at Aureus means having two of the Northern Rivers’ most sought-after destinations within minutes of home.

To the north, Lennox Head has built a reputation as one of Australia’s most loved coastal villages, known for its surf beaches, village atmosphere and thriving café scene. Whether it’s an early morning surf at Seven Mile Beach, coffee at Williams St, or a walk to the Pat Morton Lookout, the relaxed coastal lifestyle is part of everyday life.

To the south, Ballina offers everything needed for day-to-day convenience. Major shopping, healthcare, schools, dining, sporting facilities and Ballina Byron Gateway Airport are all within easy reach, making travel for work or holidays simple.

Positioned between the two, residents enjoy the best of both worlds, combining the relaxed character and natural beauty of the Northern Rivers with easy access to everyday services, employment opportunities and transport connections.

Built for an active lifestyle

The region encourages an active lifestyle year round.

Residents have easy access to Sharpes Beach and Angels Beach, kilometres of coastal walking tracks, cycling paths, surf breaks, fishing spots and nearby national parks. The Richmond River provides opportunities for kayaking, boating and paddleboarding, while hinterland towns including Newrybar and Bangalow offer weekend markets, local produce and boutique shopping just a short drive away.

Living at Aureus means these experiences are no longer reserved for holidays or long weekends. A morning walk along the coastline, an afternoon at the beach with family or a weekend exploring the surrounding villages can simply become part of everyday life.

Surrounded by trees and parkland, combined with its strong sense of community, it’s the perfect place to come together with your neighbors throughout the year.

Everything families need

For those looking to settle down, lifestyle is only part of the equation. Access to quality schools, services and everyday convenience plays an equally important role.

For growing families, a range of highly regarded schools are located nearby, including Emmanuel Anglican College and Holy Family Catholic Primary School, while Ballina provides additional public and private education options from early learning through to secondary education.

Whether it’s cheering on the sidelines of a local sporting club, watching children form lifelong friendships or becoming part of a close-knit community, the area offers more than convenience. It’s a place where families can put down roots and create lasting memories.

Why more people are choosing Skennars Head

The relaxed coastal lifestyle may draw people in, but it’s the combination of location, convenience and community that makes them want to stay.

As Intrapac Property CEO Maxwell Shifman noted in the previous market update, the country’s strongest regional markets share many of the same qualities. They combine an enviable lifestyle with the everyday essentials people need, from employment opportunities and infrastructure to the long-term appeal of limited coastal land.

Skennars Head reflects each of these trends.

Since the 2021 Census, the Lennox Head and Skennars Head area has recorded population growth of 11.6%, reflecting continued demand from buyers seeking regional coastal locations. Recent property data also points to consistent long-term price growth across the local market, reinforcing its appeal as both a lifestyle destination and a place for long-term investment. (AreaSearch)

For buyers thinking long term, Skennars Head offers the chance to secure a coastal home in a location with strong lifestyle appeal, while still representing better value than more established beachfront suburbs further along Australia’s east coast.

Looking ahead

Choosing where to live means thinking about the life you want to build. A place where children can grow up, friendships can form and your home and community continue to support you as your needs change over time.

Positioned between the village charm of Lennox Head and the everyday convenience of Ballina, Aureus brings together everything people love about the Northern Rivers in one connected community.

For those looking to invest in both their lifestyle and their future, it offers the opportunity to put down roots in one of Australia’s most sought-after coastal regions, where everyday liveability and long-term confidence go hand in hand.

Explore the New North Coast and discover life at Aureus.

Banyan Hill Block Party, Cumbalum, NSW

A strong community does not appear overnight. It grows through everyday encounters, shared spaces and the small moments that bring people together.

At Intrapac, this belief shapes how every neighbourhood is planned and supported. Physical design creates the setting, but it is the programs, gatherings and local partnerships that bring each place to life.

Across Intrapac Property projects, residents are encouraged to connect in ways that feel natural and lasting. From regular activities at Whiterock’s Community House to resident events at Kinley in Melbourne’s East, and wellbeing programs at Aureus in Skennars Head, each initiative contributes to a stronger sense of belonging for residents.

Creating Opportunities for Connection at Whiterock and Aureus
Intrapac’s approach to community building begins with spaces that make connection part of daily life. Parks, walking tracks and the Whiterock Community House are delivered early so residents have places to meet, exercise or simply stop for a chat.

At Whiterock, our masterplanned estate in Queensland, the Community House sits at the heart of local life. It is more than a building; it is a trusted meeting place, a space for support services and a hub for social activity. Each week, it hosts yoga, counselling, playgroups and youth mentoring, helping residents find balance, access advice and connect with others close to home.

The Community House also brings people together through its Get to Know Your Neighbour afternoons, which began as informal tea gatherings and are now a regular feature on the community calendar. It has become a place where new residents are welcomed, where ideas are shared and where friendships and families naturally grow.

Viane Ali, Whiterock’s Community Development Officer, says the early response from residents has shown just how important the Community House is to the estate.

“For something that’s only been running a short time, the impact has been extraordinary. The goodwill, participation and support we’re seeing show just how ready people are to build a strong community together.”

Whiterock Community House, White Rock, Queensland

At Aureus, connection grows through shared well-being. Local trainer Emma Le Sueur, who runs The Fit Way group, began an outdoor fitness session series soon after the estate’s Village Green was completed. The classes have become as much about community as exercise.

“It’s not just a workout. Everyone encourages each other, and the friendships that have formed make people want to keep coming back. It’s a supportive group, and that energy spreads through the neighbourhood.”

These programs make it easy for residents to get involved and build relationships naturally. They turn open spaces into gathering places and help each neighbourhood grow its own sense of community.

Events That Bring Neighbourhoods Together
While everyday programs help connections grow gradually, community events create shared moments that bring them into focus. They are a chance for residents to come together, celebrate milestones and take pride in the places they are shaping.

Earlier this year Whiterock came to life with its first annual Winter Festival, a week of activities and entertainment that brought residents together across the estate. From weekday programs at the Community House to a lively Saturday event at the Adventure Playground, the festival celebrated connection, creativity and local spirit.

More than 200 people attended, gathering for food, music and family fun in an atmosphere that reflected what Whiterock is all about.

“You will see neighbours meeting for the first time, people who’d only ever waved across the street, stopping to talk, and families spending time together. That’s what community looks like in practice,” said Viane.

Winter Festival, Whiterock Estate, White Rock, Queensland

At Kinley, events like the annual Easter and Halloween celebrations have become key moments for the growing community. The most recent Halloween event drew more than 160 RSVPs, with families arriving in costume to enjoy games, food and music at the Sales and Discovery Centre and surrounding wetlands.

Tristan, a Kinley resident, says these events have been vital in helping families settle in and feel part of the community.

“The events here are incredible for supporting the community. You get to know your neighbours, your kids make friends, and there’s a real sense of people looking out for each other. It makes Kinley feel like home.”

Halloween at Kinley, Kinley Estate, Lilydale, Victoria

At Banyan Hill Estate near Ballina in NSW, the spirit of connection was just as strong at the recent Block Party. What can you expect at a Banyan Block Party? Fun, friends and food! The event welcomed around 200 adults and families for an afternoon filled with music, food trucks and entertainment that showed how vibrant the new community is becoming.

Guests also explored the display village, where six homes from G.J. Gardner Homes, Perry Homes and Coral Homes were open to visitors. At G.J. Gardner’s displays, families collected cupcakes and showbags before watching The Wildlife Twins reptile show. Perry Homes offered complimentary snow cones, while Coral Homes hosted lawn games including Jenga, Connect 4 and Cornhole.

For many attendees, the event offered a first glimpse of life at Banyan Hill and the strong sense of connection that will define the community as it grows.

Banyan Hill Block Party, Banyan Hill Estate, Cumbalum, NSW

The People Who Shape Intrapac Communities
Connection sits at the core of Intrapac’s work, not only within its neighbourhoods but across the teams that help bring them to life. Each year, the Collaboration Celebration brings together staff, builders and partners to recognise the people behind every project and the collective effort that drives them.

Held at Luna Park, the event is a chance to celebrate shared achievements and reflect on the partnerships that make Intrapac’s work possible. It reflects the same values that guide its approach to community building: collaboration, trust and a commitment to creating places where people feel they belong.

Building Communities That Last
Community building continues long after construction ends. Across every Intrapac neighbourhood, programs, partnerships and shared spaces help people stay connected. We have spent years honing a considered development plan designed to foster strong communities from the outset:

• We deliver early community infrastructure, such as parks, walking tracks and spaces like the Whiterock Community house, to encourage connection
• • We develop regular activity programs to make it easy for residents to meet, stay active and access local support
  • We facilitate signature events – large-scale events like our Whiterock Winter Festival and Banyan Hill Block Party, or smaller seasonal activations like Halloween at Kinley, that offer residents a chance to celebrate and create shared memories
  • We collaborate with builders, local community clubs and enlist dedicated team members to ensure every Intrapac community continues to evolve while remaining connected, welcoming environments

The goal is simple: to create places where residents feel at home, where relationships thrive and where the sense of community grows stronger with time.

Discover Intrapac Property’s communities here.

A new chapter of coastal living is on the horizon at Aureus, with a limited Bream Lane release coming soon.

This exclusive collection of architecturally designed home and land packages embodies relaxed coastal luxury in one of the New North Coast’s rare and most sought-after locations.

Bream Lane offers the perfect blend of beachside calm and everyday convenience. Morning coffee from a local café, walks along the sand and afternoons spent soaking in the coastal air all come together to create a life that feels effortlessly balanced.

Sales Associate Sarah Cobb says Bream Lane offers something truly special within the Aureus masterplan.

“This exclusive release is perfectly positioned allowing future residents to be within walking distance to the beach and a lifestyle that is irreplaceable. These packages present a rare opportunity to purchase an inclusive, prestige home off the plan within a premium coastal community.” Sarah says.

The release includes four premium lots ranging from 504m² to 551m², each paired with one of four contemporary home designs: Raes, Laguna, Solace or Seacliffe. Buyers can secure a complete coastal home off the plan, with every detail considered from the outset. Whether you are creating your forever home or a holiday retreat, Bream Lane offers space, quality and the ease of a carefully guided design process.

Each home has been envisioned by Create Architecture, taking inspiration from the natural beauty and calm of the Aureus landscape.

“At Aureus, we’ve designed each home to respond to its surroundings through light, views and climate, creating spaces that feel open, refined and deeply connected to the coast,” says Tahlia Wright of Create Architecture.

Thoughtful planning, natural materials and abundant light come together to create homes that are both timeless and connected to their environment.

In partnership with BCI Hawker Group, a respected local family-owned builder, each home will be crafted to the highest standard. Together, Create Architecture and BCI Hawker Group have designed homes that sit harmoniously within the coastal setting while maintaining their own distinctive identity.

Each package includes a curated range of inclusions chosen for their quality and style, featuring elegant fixtures, refined finishes and premium appliances.

“Everything has been considered,” Sarah adds. “From the colour palettes to the materials and fittings, it’s all been designed to make the process simple while still delivering a truly premium product.”

To book an appointment to discover more contact Aureus on 1300 899 701 or email [email protected].