Echuca has emerged as one of the top retirement towns in Australia, according to a report published by Citro naming the 30 best retirement locations in the country.
Citro is an Australian financial technology company that is backed by AMP.
The retirement-friendly locations were identified based on price, location, healthcare infrastructure, and community-focus and leisure opportunities for older Australians.
Citro analysed Core Logic data from May, 2024, which took the average price of all dwellings, both houses and apartments, and compared it to dwelling prices in the nearest capital city.
Locations that are well-serviced by hospitals and quality infrastructure and amenities were selected, as well as destinations that provided access to leisure activities while making it relatively easy to survive on a fixed retirement income.
Echuca was ranked 10th on the list, with two other Victorian towns appearing in the top 10, Rosebud ranked sixth, and Maryborough ranked third.
The report emphasises Echuca’s natural features, such as its proximity to the Murray River and its function as a joining point of the Barmah and Murray Valley national parks, which form the world’s largest river red gum forest.
It also features highlights of Echuca’s historic town and how it has been turned into a thriving food scene with up-and-coming cafes and eateries.
The report highlighted Echuca’s welcoming atmosphere and the array of groups that actively engage in the community.
Retirees Trevor and Anne Rickard, who moved to Echuca nine years ago, originally hail from Cornwall, England, and spent the majority of their time in Melbourne. They felt that, more than anything, Echuca’s community consciousness made it one of the best places to retire in Australia.
“Back home in England, we came from a village that had roughly 500 people, and it was the sort of community that was very open, and it was enjoyable,” Mr Rickard said.
“I’m not quite sure what initially attracted us to Echuca all those years ago, but I suppose it reminded us of that community life again.
“We ultimately made friends in Australia, and as a group, we primarily came to Echuca for holidays.
“After about 10 or 15 years, we realised that this was a place we liked; we enjoyed the community, and it was quiet, so it suited us really well.
“During our time here, we found that the residents of Echuca are community-minded. I think when we all rallied around each other during the 2022 floods, the display of camaraderie demonstrated what Echuca is all about and why it is such a desirable place to live.”