Twenty-five former Glamis Hospital residents shifted into the new $18 million Yvette Williams retirement village in Highgate, Dunedin, yesterday.
The new centre, the 23rd to be developed by Ryman Healthcare across the country, contains 32 serviced apartments and 90 rest-home or hospital-level-care beds, 30 of them designated for residents with dementia.
Village manager Jane Griffin said a further 25 residents would be transferred from Glamis today.
Once the Glamis site, in Montpellier St, Mornington, was vacant, Ryman intended to sell it, she said.
Mrs Griffin, who has been managing both Glamis and the new village, said Glamis had been used for aged care for about 23 years.
Staff from Glamis had transferred to the new village and extra staff had been employed, giving a workforce of about 100.
Mrs Griffin, describing the new facility as a boutique retirement village, said the move was "pretty exciting for all of us".
New residents were also appreciative of such features as en suite bathrooms.
There were about 15 beds across all areas to be filled and more admissions were expected next week.
Only one resident is from Canterbury, although the earthquake has had a minor impact on the finishing work at the village, delaying the delivery of some of the tiles for the outdoor area.
The official opening of the new village is on April 8.
Special guests will be former Olympic gold medal winner Yvette Williams and opera singer Dame Malvina Major.
