The refurbishment, worth more than $1.5m, was made possible by the donation from the estate of Venita and Stanley Priestley. 

Their grant was aided by $40,000 raised by the Freemasons from the City of Maitland Retirement Village Association.

The project saw the addition of six new residential rooms as well as a new sunroom, expansion and renovation of the dining room, installation of a café, a new courtyard and bowling green, an extension of the patio area and an upgraded entry foyer.

The work takes the not-for-profit facility’s number of beds from 43 to 49, an important boost given the growing aging population around Maitland according to Whiddon Group CEO Chris Mamarelis. 

“We’re committed to rural and remote NSW and offering services to those communities, so this was a fantastic opportunity to do it,” Mr Mamarelis said. 

Mr Mamarelis said the additional six beds would provide some much-needed relief for aged care demand in the local community.

Daughter of the donors, Paterson’s Betty Sexton, said she was glad the funds could help a local organisation, given her family’s long history in the area. 

Betty’s husband Colin said the donation was a good use of the money. 

“It it had to go anywhere, it couldn’t have gone to a better place,” he said. 

Whiddon Largs director of care services, Jennifer Armstrong, welcomed the completion of the project and said that residents, families and staff are delighted with the results.

“The project has significantly enhanced our facilities and created a more contemporary feel,” Ms Armstrong said.

"The new spaces such as the sunroom, extended courtyard, dining room and café are beautiful and inviting areas for residents to enjoy spending time with loved ones.”