Ryman Healthcare : first Australian village opens

Weary Dunlop Retirement Village officially opened in Melbourne

Residents and guests celebrated the opening of the Weary Dunlop Retirement Village in Melbourne on August 22.

The $150 million village is Ryman Healthcare's first in Melbourne and was named in honour of one of Australian's favourite sons - war hero, surgeon and former Wallaby Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop.

The village took 18 months to build and will eventually be home to more than 400 residents.

City of Monash Mayor Geoff Lake welcomed Ryman's decision to open its first Australian village in Wheelers Hill.

"Many of our residents have lived in this part of Melbourne for 30-plus years. They want to stay living here in their older years,'' Cr Lake said.

''Places like the Weary Dunlop Retirement Village give Monash's older residents the opportunity to downsize while still living in the community they love,'' he said. 

Ryman Healthcare chairman Dr David Kerr said it was an honour to name the village after Weary Dunlop.

"He was a courageous, compassionate and an inspirational man. As a doctor his dedication to caring for his patients was exceptional. We're incredibly proud to be naming our first village in Melbourne in his honour.''

Weary's son John Dunlop said his father would have been pleased to see the village opened.

"His attitude was that he would do anything he could to help people, particularly if they were from an ex-service background. 

"After the war, he committed himself to their ongoing care and management''. 

"(The village) is therefore pretty much in keeping with what he would have wanted. I think if he'd been approached by Ryman he would have agreed. 

"I hope the spirit of the old man will live on in this place. Every time you pass by his photo in the foyer he will be beaming down at you.''

The Weary Dunlop Retirement Village includes an aged care centre with high and low level care, as well as dementia care. Other amenities include a bowling green, indoor swimming pool, library, movie theatre and a hairdressing salon.

Ryman Healthcare has bought a second site at Brandon Park in Melbourne which will be developed once Weary Dunlop is complete.

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About Ryman Healthcare:  Ryman was founded in 1984 and has become one of New Zealand's largest listed companies.  The company owns 28 villages and serves over 8,000 residents in New Zealand and Australia.  Each village offers a combination of retirement living and aged care.

Media advisory:  For further information, photos, interviews or comment please contact Corporate Affairs Manager David King on 03 366 4069 or 021 499 602.