Village gives aged new choices

A $6m gated development under construction on Gympie's Southside is the realisation of a dream for enterprising husband and wife team Ken and Pattie Hudson.

Ken and Pattie Hudson are investing in Gympie’s future with their $6 million Southside Family Village, where work was well under way yesterday. Picture: Renee Pilcher

A $6 million gated development under construction on Gympie's Southside is the realisation of a dream for enterprising husband and wife team Ken and Pattie Hudson.

Earthworks were well under way yesterday on the Southside Family Village off Rose Rd, where 15 strata titled units will be spread over a hectare of land, joined by fruit groves, communal and individual courtyard gardens, communal barbecue and meetings areas, a pool, outdoor recreation area and shed/workshop.

A first of its kind in Gympie, the village will be situated on land formerly owned by Toby and Dot Hamilton and its forward-thinking design has already won the Hudsons an award for Best Small Over 50s Housing Plan in Australasia, which they flew to Melbourne to receive late last year.

"We are not developers," Pattie stressed yesterday.

"This is our dream and we want to share that dream."

The Hudsons live onsite and say the concept of the village is to offer Gympie residents an alternative in retirement living.

Ken is a civil engineer and Pattie has enjoyed a long and successful career in the health system, including several years as district manager of the Gympie Hospital.

"As middle-aged people we have experienced our parents having no choice but to be moved away from their communities, suburb and old neighbours during the later stage of their lives due to lack of suitable close housing and lifestyle options," Pattie said.

Village residents will be able to "continue to contribute to their community and feel comfortable at home in their own town with family and friends, and maintain their own interests, networks and hobbies," she said.

It is about a kilometre from the Southside shopping precinct, showgrounds, medical centre and hotel. It will be officially launched at Harcourts on Tuesday night.

Originally published as Village gives aged new choices