First residents move into visionary Wairarapa retirement village

Greytown Orchards, Wairarapa’s newest and most visionary retirement village has welcomed its first residents today, marking a significant milestone in the Greytown development.

Formerly home to one of Greytown’s most prominent orchards the village will be home to 180 architecturally designed independent living villas and  a 60 bed care facility. The village will also have resident communal facilities which will accommodate a café, library, bar, pool table, lounge areas and indoor pool and gym. 

“It's a really exciting time for us as we transform the village from being a construction site to our resident’s home. We’re fortunate to be working with Tumu ITM, who’ve been instrumental in procuring building materials for the village. We’re thrilled with how it’s coming along,” said Craig Percy, Greytown Orchards developer. 

“The combination of stylish and modern villas, mature orchard surroundings and walking distance to Greytown’s Main Street really sets us apart. We’ve worked hard to retain a large number of fruit trees and open spaces on the property. We’re committed to delivering an unsurpassed lifestyle experience for our residents, and we’re looking forward to seeing them enjoy the relaxed pace of life that Greytown provides.” 

First residents Brian and Lilly Adamson, owner-operators of the local Mobil petrol station, have lived in Featherston for the past 58 years, and have now stepped down from running the business. “It’s time for us to slow down,” said Lilly. “We don’t need to worry about the maintenance of a large property anymore. Moving in here is like a weight lifting off my shoulders. Plus, the shops in Greytown are brilliant. The village is so close to town that I can walk to the cafes and restaurants.” 

Brian added, “When I first viewed the plans, I was impressed with the spacious design, but the first time I walked into the villa, I was gobsmacked. I couldn’t believe the space!”

The village is providing a significant boost to the local economy, with the villas being built by Wairarapa’s Holmes Construction. The first stage of the village, which will be home to 14 two and three bedroom villas, is set for completion in February 2022. Forty-five villas have sold so far.   Once the entire development is finished, Greytown Orchards Retirement Village will house around 350 residents and employ around 100 staff.