The company says more than 100 jobs will be created at the home - which replaces Opal's site at Kelso - when it is at full occupancy.

The first sod was turned at the building site in Stanley Street, between Hope and Peel streets, in February last year and construction was completed in March, according to Opal's commissioning manager Dean Saxby.

"The Stanley Street site was chosen due to its picturesque location overlooking the Macquarie River and farmland beyond, whilst being very close to the centre of Bathurst and hospitals and other services," he said.

Opal's site in Boyd Street, Kelso needed renewal, he said, and "the strong demand for high quality aged care services in the Bathurst region gave Opal the confidence to invest in building a new state-of-the-art home at Stanley Street".

Mr Saxby said the new home would be a boost for the Bathurst economy.

"Due to the increased size of the new home over the existing Kelso home, we will create close to 100 new jobs in Bathurst when the new home is at full occupancy," he said.

"The roles will be mainly for care and support staff, with roles for registered nurses, assistants in nursing, administration, hospitality and general services.

"At full occupancy, the number of team members will be around 160."

The new home accepted its first residents last Monday and residents from Kelso were moved in stages from last Monday to Wednesday.

Mr Saxby said Opal will be selling its old site in Kelso.

The new Stanley Street care home has two storeys and 146 beds. Resident rooms are single occupancy, with ensuite bathrooms and flat screen TVs, and a small number of companion rooms are available.

"Many of the rooms have views over the Macquarie River," Mr Saxby said.

The new care home has a specialist memory support unit for 18 residents living with dementia that has direct access to a secure garden and courtyard; gardens, terraces and courtyards; an in-home central kitchen with chef and hospitality team; hairdressing salon; and in-house café with alfresco dining, according to Opal.

Mr Saxby said the design for the new care home was "based on best practice aged care and dementia design principles".