The circa 1820s homestead has been painstakingly restored and refurbished into a state-of-the-art community facility for residents, including a mini theatre, a library, bar and meeting rooms, card rooms and indoor bowls facilities.

The new community facility was officially opened and blessed by Emeritus Archbishop the Very Reverencd Adrian Doyle in a ceremony attended by Southern Cross Care executives and the Glenara Lakes community residents.

Southern Cross Care chairman Ray Groom thanked residents for their patience during the restoration and refurbishment process and said it was named after Mr Patmore, the former chairman, for his “vision and enthusiasm in the development of the village”.

“Without doubt Peter Patmore was the driving force throughout the planning and construction phases of the village,” he said.

“He was a character and a most remarkable man.”

Alongside the homestead’s renaming, Mr Groom said the board had agreed to name the driveway into the building the Ron Johnstone Drive, in honour of resident Mr Johnstone who “has made a fantastic contribution to the village”.

Mr Groom said the board had agreed to build eight new villas at Glenara Lakes as the first stage of a 20-villa extension.

Alongside that extension, a new heating and cooling system will be installed in the aged care facility, with both projects combined totalling $8 million.

The homestead and adjoining community rooms renovation cost $1.5 million.

“We now employ 348 people in the North of Tasmania and this year will spend $22 million on salaries and recurrent expenditure in this region of the state,” Mr Groom said.

Southern Cross Care chief executive Richard Sadek said residents were delighted with the upgrades and said it had been wonderful to see the renovations restore the homestead respectfully and tastefully.