More than a home: finding your community at New Vic
- 24th Sept 26
Moving into a new home can be exciting, but arriving in an unfamiliar area without knowing anyone can also feel daunting. At New Vic, residents can choose from regular events, informal activities and local partnerships designed to make meeting people and becoming part of the wider community a little easier.
There is no expectation to participate. Instead, the opportunity is there for residents who want to meet their neighbours, try something new or feel more connected to the place they call home.
A community that grows with its residents
New Vic recently celebrated its third birthday, and around 10 to 15 of the residents who moved in when the development first opened still live there. One couple who have called New Vic home from the beginning are now preparing to welcome a baby. It is an exciting new chapter in their lives and an example of how residents’ needs and circumstances can evolve while they remain part of the same community.
These longer-term resident stories help show that renting can provide stability as well as flexibility, giving people somewhere they can settle, build relationships and move through different stages of life.
Making it easier to meet people
New Vic’s events programme gives residents a variety of ways to get to know one another. Bingo and quiz nights provide relaxed opportunities to socialise, while working-from-home lunches bring together residents who may otherwise spend much of the day in their apartments.
Themed sip-and-paint evenings, outdoor yoga and sound-bath meditation offer different ways to participate. Activities are also arranged for children during the school holidays, helping families become involved in community life. Smaller moments can be just as valuable. Pancake breakfasts, summer ice creams and a Women’s Day brunch create informal opportunities for residents to stop, chat and meet someone new.
The team has seen residents arrive without knowing anyone, attend an event and gradually form friendships that continue beyond it. There is no pressure to join in, but having the opportunity can make settling into a new home feel less daunting.
Connecting with the wider neighbourhood
Community at New Vic extends beyond the development itself. During 2026, New Vic hosted 73 pop-ups, providing local independent businesses with a platform to meet residents and sell their products.
The development has also established partnerships with nearby restaurants, cafés, hair salons and other businesses. These provide exclusive offers for residents while encouraging them to explore the neighbourhood and support the people and businesses around them. For someone who is new to the area, these partnerships can provide a useful introduction to what is available locally. They also help connect the development with the wider community rather than allowing it to feel separate from it.
A personal welcome
Thoughtful details can make a difference when someone first moves in. At New Vic, welcome packs can be tailored to individual residents, from Australian treats to Brazilian gift baskets. These personal touches recognise where residents have come from and help make their arrival feel more considered.
A welcome pack may be a small part of the overall rental experience, but it can send an important message: the person moving in has been noticed and is welcome.
Creating opportunities to belong
For the New Vic team, building a community is not simply about filling a calendar with events. It is about creating different opportunities for people to connect, helping new residents settle into their surroundings and supporting the independent businesses that give the neighbourhood its character.
Not every resident will want to attend every activity, and they do not have to. What matters is having the choice, and knowing that, when they want to become involved, the opportunity is there.