About 100 people turned out to witness the official opening of the first Strathearn Villas on Gundy Road, where they could also gain an insight into the progressive facility with a guided tour of the display villa. 

Decked out with their extra wide doorways, easily manageable handles, large and manageable power points and other wonderful  aspects in a true step free environment that is subtlety ‘age friendly’, the villas are ideal for aged living right here in the Upper Hunter. 

The new facility was opened by Strathearn chief executive officer Matt Downie and Upper Hunter Shire mayor Michael Johnsen, who were both excited to unveil the wonderful new development. 

The first and only residents of the villas, Anne McMullin and Robert Miles, shared an insight into how thrilled they are with their new home. 

Having recently made the change from a large house with stairs, their three bedroom villa is everything they now want and Ms McMullin said she wouldn’t move away for anything. 

She said despite not wanting to, she was considering making a move away from Scone to find a suitable place to live in her elderly years, until the villas came up. 

“It’s just terrific, extremely comfortable and very suitable for older people’s living.

“We don’t hear any noise when inside and when we’re sitting out the back (on the Gundy Road side) we don’t have to cease conversation, so it’s not loud. 

“We get our lawn mown for us, and our villa is marvellous,” she said. 

“I only have one negative and that is that we have no neighbours.”

Judging on the response on Saturday, this should change in the near future. 

People can choose a two or three bedroom villa with a single or double specially designed oversized garage.

Mr Downie said it was extremely exciting to present the first display home to the public and offer a new standard in retirement living across a number of areas. 

“I believe the villas will enable residents to continue living independently as they age for as long as they choose to,” he said. 

The opening also saw the official naming of the first internal street with an acknowledgement to one of the founding board                   members Mona Wacker. 

A barbecue was provided by the Friends of Strathearn.