Mike Roycroft doesn’t want to mow his lawns anymore. 

In fact, the owner of Red Parrot Coffee says since he turned 71 last week, he doesn’t even want to own a lawn. 

After five decades of running successful businesses and an illustrious career as a country music entertainer, Mike says he’s ready to hang up his Akubra and enjoy the delights of living in the throbbing heart of his favourite city – Newcastle. 

In less than two years, Mike and his wife Deb will become one of the first to call the new Dairy Farmers Towers “home”. 

Moving from music to mowers, car parts and accessories, to coffee and cafes, his next move is to a home base that will allow him to put his feet up. 

Dairy Farmers Towers is an exclusive Newcastle West address that’s in the process of being reborn by residential apartment developer Third.i. 

Once the Dairy Farmers’ Co-operative Milk Company Limited administration building, bounded by Hunter, Railway and Tighe streets, the site is being transformed into two towers boasting 184 residences, five floors of commercial space, and views across Newcastle. 

From welcoming an army of trucks moving in and out of its once state-of-the-art bottling plant that washed and sterilised 4,000 bottles daily, the iconic inner-city landmark is looking to feel more “deluxe” than “dairy”. 

Referred to as The Dairy Farmers Corner, the site will be home to communal and green spaces, a gym, cabana pool area with lap pool, wine bar and cellar, and function rooms by 2026. 

And, in what has become a signature move among developers in the former steel city, the new building will maintain some of its iconic traits. 

An enormous milk bottle formed out of glass bricks and coloured terracotta panels that is rumoured to have afforded its designer (Joseph Likely) free milk for life, will remain. 

Inside, behind the iconic glass milk bottle, the building’s two clock faces will also stay [The pair were once decorated with an illuminated advertising slogan reading ‘Dairy Farmers Milk. Precious as Time’]. 

“It’s all part of history, the clock and the bottle, I’m so glad they’ve chosen to retain all of that,” Mike says. 

“Newcastle has managed to do this well. All these original features add a bit of character to the city. 

“If you continue to construct only modern structures that are just all glass and steel, you have the fear of ‘Americanizing’ the city, but I think Newcastle is doing a good job at avoiding this so far.” 

For Mike and Deb, purchasing a penthouse in the towers is an inviting way to address a practical inevitability.  

“This opportunity arose, and Deb and I thought maybe it’s time we think about downsizing,” he told the Newcastle Weekly. 

“It’s the normal thing to do now for people when they get older, it’s just more convenient. 

“When you turn 70 the last thing you want is to be mowing lawns every weekend, in fact the plan is to get rid of your weekend chores list. 

“You get to a point in your life when you don’t see your friends as often, and when you do you go and have a drink and go for dinner.  

“You don’t use your home as much as you used to. 

“In that respect, living in a nice sized apartment close to everything really appeals, and Deb and I love the look of the project.” 

Downsizing is also about reducing tasks and increasing leisure time, he adds. 

“You spend all your life owning homes, we’ve had quite a few since we left New Zealand in 87. 

“We’ve always had big homes, big walls, big gardens, pools, too much hard work. 

“Now it’s time to think about what’s next.” 

Moving to an apartment in the city isn’t just for the retirees, Mike adds. 

“There are a lot of professional people, now more than ever I’d say, that want to get rid of the tools and enjoy their weekends without responsibilities,” he said. 

“And, then there’s the security, knowing that it’s all safe and that all you do is walk away and there’s someone there taking care of it. 

“The public can’t get to each floor unless they’re with a resident, so nobody can get in and make a nuisance of themselves.” 

Already comfortable in a home with views and a central location, Mike says the appeal of Newcastle West is its future aspirations. 

“We know that that area will, in two or three-years’ time, be even better than it is now,” he said. 

“There’s outstanding views, there’s restaurants, there’s more facilities open for people to live at that end. 

“You’ve got transport, the train, the tram, and it’s only about a kilometre away from my business if I need to be there.” 

Originally from Waihi in New Zealand, Mike left the land of the long white cloud in 1987 to fulfill a successful career as a country music singer in Tamworth. 

He recalls visiting the city of Newcastle to perform in the late 80s. 

“I swore I was never going to come back here again,” he laughs. 

“It’s a wonder anyone got out alive.” 

Then, nine years ago, Mike and Deb moved from Terrigal to Newcastle after their son married a Novocastrian, and they’ve never looked back. 

“It had changed a lot,” he recalls. 

“And, it’s continuing to change. I think it’s the envy of most people in Australia now. 

“It was the best move I’ve ever made.” 

Mike and Deb are the faces behind Red Parrot Coffee.

The Islington-based business supplies coffee to more than 100 IGA and specialist convenience stores throughout QLD and NSW.

The coffee roasters with a cheeky logo of a red bird that’s ‘dying for good coffee’ survived COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns, and are now stocked in more than 400 cafés, restaurants, hotels and clubs throughout NSW.

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