About Us
Meet the Local Team behind Longridge Country Estate
How Longridge began
Longridge Country Estate came together in a very simple way.
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Tim and Jenny looked at retirement living and thought about how they would want life to feel one day, with plenty of space, good people around, and the freedom to live how you like.
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Tim had years of property experience behind him, but a retirement village was new territory. That actually helped. They were not influenced by the usual industry thinking, and they did not build Longridge by looking at what other villages were doing.
They trusted their instincts and kept things practical and down to earth. If something made sense for everyday living, they did it.
The Longridge way of doing things
That is how a lot of the small but important Longridge traditions started.
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Happy Hour became complimentary.
Then a weekly barista was brought in, also complimentary.
Industry consultants told them not to do it, but they had already done it.
Residents were allowed to bring their pets.
Someone asked about parking their motorhome and the answer was yes.
Another asked for a pergola and the reply was yes, and let’s make them all the same colour so the village stays tidy.
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A resident wanted an aerial for ham radio. That was fine as long as it did not affect anyone’s view.
Pots on the patio are fine because it is your patio.
Gardening around your villa is fine too.
If your boat fits, you can bring it.
You and your guests can park on your driveway.
If you want to dry clothes in the dryer you can, but there are screened clotheslines if you prefer them.
Still growing, still evolving
This kind of common sense has shaped Longridge as it continues to grow.
The village has developed stage by stage and it is still growing. The people who move in bring their own humour and character, which is a big part of why Longridge feels the way it does today.
Tim Bartells
Tim has spent more than 30 years in property development, but Longridge is the project closest to his heart.
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He is the big picture thinker. He is the one standing on a bare paddock imagining where the villas should sit, how to make the most of the views, and how people will move through the village years from now.
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Tim is always looking for ways to make things better. Better layouts. Better use of space. Better comfort for residents as they get older.
His approach has always been simple. Build the kind of retirement village he would be proud to live in himself.
Jenny Wilson
Jenny brings the people side of Longridge.
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Her background in tourism, events, and community work means she naturally thinks about how a place feels. Whether people feel welcome, settled, and comfortable in their day to day lives.
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She knows that staying active, being around nature, and having a sense of connection makes a real difference at any age. That thinking has shaped the feel of Longridge from the beginning.
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Jenny is often the one helping new residents settle in and making sure the village keeps its down to earth, easygoing atmosphere.
