Ryman village named after Bert Newton

Australian showbiz icon Bert Newton joins Weary Dunlop, Nellie Melba, John Flynn, Charles Brownlow, Deborah Cheetham and Raelene Boyle in having a Ryman village named in his honour.

More than 200 people attended the unveiling of the village's name at the Sandringham Yacht Club including Bert's wife Patti who said she was honoured her husband had been recognised in this way.

"We're really thrilled to have this honour of naming the village after Bert," Patti said.

"Bert was a people person; he loved to make people happy and the quality of this beautiful village will do that.

"I'm on the search for memorabilia to have within the village so you can always see his smiling moon face.

"He never wanted to be forgotten, so now with the Logie named in his honour and this village, he's doing well."

Ryman Healthcare's Victorian sales and community relations manager Debra Richardson said the company had been naming its villages after exceptional people for more than 30 years.

"First and foremost, this tradition is about honouring the contribution of that person and doing what we can to help preserve their legacy," Debra said.

"But it's also about creating a unique identity for that village. The village community becomes coloured by their character and imbued with the values that set that person apart.

"We're not just slapping a name on the front gate - we're committing to create something which stands as a living, breathing homage to that person's life and legacy."

The Bert Newton Retirement Village at 32-40 Graham Rd, Highett, will include independent apartments, assisted living in serviced apartments and an aged care centre.

It will have a gym, a bowling green, a hair and beauty salon, a chapel, a cinema, a bar, a cafe and an indoor swimming pool, among other amenities.

It will be home to about 230 people with the first residents moving in next year.