Our History and Team

1928 — A New Beginning in Difficult Times

Syd and Ella Stanford arrived on this land facing uncertainty and loss. Just weeks before welcoming their first child, a devastating flood swept through their market garden, leaving their livelihood tangled in blackberry vines. With little choice, they moved into a modest home on a 16-acre muscat grape vineyard owned by a widower. Among the vines and open paddocks, they rebuilt their lives piece by piece. Within three years their children — Ross, Lance and Norma — were born, and the land that first offered refuge soon became their permanent home as Syd and Ella purchased the house and property. What began as necessity quietly grew into legacy.

Over the Following Decades — Growing Tregeagle

As the family’s connection deepened, Syd and Ella expanded the original holding to 160 acres — the property they named Tregeagle. With each new block, the land shifted from rough country to productive orchard. Syd became known across the district for cultivating what was once the region’s largest Packham pear orchard — a quiet achievement recognised by fellow orchardists. Orchard life, school days at Canobolas and community ties defined this era, strengthening the bond between family and land.

1955 — A New Generation Takes Root

Ross married Jeanette and together they raised their four children — Dorothy, Elynne, Robin and Pam — on the same land that had supported the family for decades. The orchard diversified into cherries, plums and newer apple varieties, reflecting both changing markets and the family’s evolving vision. When Syd passed away in 1962, Ross and his brother Lance carried the property forward, continuing the long rhythm of orchard life. School holidays were often spent at Ella’s home — Ma’s — where warm morning teas and her steady presence became treasured memories for the grandchildren.

2001–2011 — Continuity, Family & the Birth of Lakeview

As adulthood arrived for the next generation, their connection to the land strengthened. Pam married Trevor in 2001 and, following Ella’s passing in 2004, purchased the back-paddock and moved into Ma’s house — the place where so much of the family’s story had unfolded. Their daughters, Eleanor and later Sarah, were born here, marking the beginning of the fourth generation’s link to the land. In 2011, the first Lakeview villa was built beside the humble shed-house where Pam and Trevor lived for more than 11 years. Two more villas followed in 2013 and 2017, each shaped by intention, care and a desire to share the land’s quiet beauty with others.

2016–2023 — Lakeview Takes Its Shape

The addition of Highland cows in 2016 — three and a calf — brought a new charm to the property. Today the herd stands at 18, adored by guests and family alike. In 2023, Pam and Trevor completed their family home, anchoring Lakeview’s next chapter. What began as a humble vineyard block is now Lakeview Luxury Retreat — tended across three generations, with the fourth on the way.

A Place Shaped by Time & Care

Today, Lakeview Luxury Retreat is more than accommodation — it is a sanctuary shaped by family, resilience and an enduring respect for the land. Every path, view and quiet moment reflects years of thought, work and love. Guests are welcomed not just to stay, but to feel — to slow down, breathe deeply and settle into a place that holds generations of stories. We are honoured to share this land with you.