J O H N & T R I S H S H A R P · S I N C E 2 0 1 6
Finding home at Speldhurst.
Before moving to Speldhurst, John and Trish Sharp lived rurally on a lifestyle property surrounded by paddocks, gardens, and the steady rhythm of country life.
Over time, the upkeep began to feel like more than they wanted from this stage of life, and the idea of something simpler became increasingly appealing.
Trish first discovered Speldhurst while driving past one afternoon, as the former Kimberley Centre site was being cleared to make way for the village. Wayne Bishop was on-site that day and invited her through the show home. By the time she and John spoke about it later that evening, they could both see the appeal.
They became Speldhurst’s very first residents.
At the time, only the first homes had been completed. Beyond them was open green space, with much of the village still existing only in plans and drawings. Gradually, more homes were occupied, more lights appeared, and the neighbourhood slowly began to take shape.
Nearly a decade later, John and Trish still value the balance they first hoped to find at Speldhurst — a lifestyle that offers the freedom to spend their days exactly as they please, whether quietly at home or enjoying the company of others. “
You can go a week without seeing your neighbour, or you might see them every day, ” Trish says. “Some weeks are social, others are quieter - the choice is yours. ”
What they came for has also remained unchanged - mature trees, established surroundings, low- maintenance living, and the comfort of knowing they could lock the house and leave without a worry. But more than anything, they came for time.
Life on the lifestyle block had always demanded attention - gardens to maintain, lawns to mow, jobs that never seemed to end. At Speldhurst, that changed.
“I came here to read,” Trish says simply.
She wanted mornings with a book, more time with grandchildren, and the freedom to enjoy life without the constant pull of upkeep and responsibility.
Over time, their days began to feel lighter - shaped less by what needed doing, and more by what they genuinely wanted to do.
Around them, the village continued to grow. Exercise classes, bowls, pickleball, hobbies, and social gatherings became part of village life - available to enjoy as much or as little as they pleased.
“You could do something every day if you wanted to,” Trish says. “But there’s no pressure.”
Their hobbies came with them too. Before moving, John had one condition: half the garage for his model train collection, built over more than twenty years. These days, he’s also part of the on-site model train club.
Looking back now, John and Trish are grateful they made the move when they did.
“We see so many people arrive who were sceptical at first, and they often say they wish they ’d done it years earlier."
For John and Trish, Speldhurst became more than a place to live. It became a place to enjoy the life they had spent years building.