When Vision Lifestyle Projects (Vision) and Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club (the Club) launched The Riverly in October 2025, the market responded immediately. More than 400 people attended the launch events, and expressions of interest exceeded projections. Five months on, that early momentum has translated into something concrete: over 20% of the 87 apartments have been deposited on, and site demolition commenced on 2 March 2026.
The Riverly didn’t begin with a construction timeline. It began with years of conversations. The Clubs CEO Carl Pozzato has spent the best part of a decade engaging with club members about what they want from retirement living. Those conversations shaped every aspect of the project, from apartment configurations to community spaces and services.
When the Club was ready to move forward, they engaged Vision to provide specialist seniors living experience across market research, product design, sales, marketing and the ongoing management. The result is 87 independent living apartments, a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom configurations with study options, designed for over-55s who want to live independently while remaining connected to a vibrant community.
The model is straightforward. The Club brings its land, community, and long-standing local presence. Vision brings retirement living expertise across the full lifecycle, from initial research and product design through to sales, to ongoing operational management. It is a partnership structure that allows Clubs to diversify income and extend their community role without needing to build specialist capability from scratch.
Securing deposits before construction begins is one of the clearest tests of a retirement living project’s market positioning. Prospective residents are committing based on the strength of the concept, the credibility of the operator, and confidence in the delivery team.
At The Riverly, the Expression of Interest process was managed through a structured, transparent approach. Information sessions, one-on-one consultations, and a dedicated sales suite gave prospective residents the opportunity to understand the offering in detail. The approach balanced professional sales execution with genuine community building, and many of the depositors began connecting with each other through the process itself.
For Clubs and developers considering retirement living, The Riverly demonstrates that a well-researched, well-positioned product can secure meaningful pre-construction commitment, even in a market where buyers have plenty of established alternatives.
“The strength of this result reflects not just the quality of the product, but the depth of demand that Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club has cultivated within its community over many years. Our managed EOI process gave every prospective resident a fair opportunity, while building genuine connection from day one. It’s a model we’re confident replicating across new and existing villages.”
— John Burgess, Managing Director, Vision Lifestyle Projects
One of the distinguishing features of The Riverly is how deeply it reflects the needs and expectations of the Ryde-Eastwood community. This is not a project that was designed in isolation. Over the past 10 years, Carl Pozzato has had hundreds of conversations with members about what a retirement living project on this site could look like, what would matter most to them, and what would make them consider it home.
That sustained engagement means The Riverly was shaped by the people it is designed for. When prospective residents attended the launch events and information sessions, they recognised a project that had been built with their input and reflected their expectations. That level of trust and familiarity is difficult to replicate without years of genuine community relationship.
“We’ve been listening to our members for over a decade about what they want from a retirement community. The Riverly is the result of those conversations. It’s incredibly rewarding to start conversations with depositors who in the next little while will be welcomed as residents into their new home allowing them to live their exceptional lives.”
— Carl Pozzato, CEO, Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club
With site demolition now underway, The Riverly is progressing through builder selection. An announcement is expected shortly, with completion scheduled for mid 2028.
Vision’s role extends from the construction phase into the ongoing operational management of the completed village. For the Club and its future residents, that continuity means the same team that designed the product, conducted the market research, and managed the sales process will be responsible for delivering and operating it. To learn more about The Riverly, visit theriverly.com.au.
Our Managing Director and General Manager Sales & Marketing, John Burgess, who has extensive retirement living industry and sales & marketing experience, is ready to discuss your needs.
