Celebrating the Life of Tim Purbrick

Celebrating the Life of Tim Purbrick

For nearly four decades, Timothy Francis “Tim” Purbrick (1941–2022) was a warm and familiar presence at Tahbilk. With his trademark bow tie, broad grin, and a sparkle of mischief in his eyes, Tim welcomed countless visitors to the Cellar Door and led many through the historic underground cellars. Today, we honour his memory with a commemorative plaque now on display in those very cellars—a lasting tribute to a man whose stories, warmth, and humour made people feel instantly at home.

Born in England in 1941, Tim was the second son of Jack and Daphne Purbrick and grandson of Reginald Purbrick, who purchased Tahbilk in 1925. Though his life began on the other side of the world, it would eventually lead him back to the family vineyard his grandfather once envisioned.

Tim’s early years were shaped by adventure. He attended Gordonstoun in Scotland and later served in both the British Navy and the Norwegian merchant navy. After arriving in Sydney in the late 1950s, Tim decided to stay in Australia, leaving his ship behind and heading north in classic explorer fashion. He hitchhiked through remote country and took work on one of Vestey’s vast cattle stations in the Kimberley. Later, he managed the station and others like it before moving into the meatworks sector, with hopes of working more closely with the land.

In Melbourne, he met Clare Bentham Green, a fellow English adventurer who had travelled through America before settling in Australia. The pair married in 1965 and began a life that would take them to Rockhampton, rural New South Wales, and finally, to Victoria. Their three children—Cecelia, Jessica, and Jonathon—were raised during years of rugged station life and farming. Eventually, they purchased a former soldier settler block near Grafton, then spent 14 years managing Bundemar, a 30,000-acre sheep station in western New South Wales.

Tim and Clare moved to Nagambie in 1986 and soon became integral to the Tahbilk experience. They worked tastings and led tours, becoming much-loved fixtures at the Cellar Door. Tim was known for his smart shirts, signature bow ties, and that unmistakable English accent, along with his flair for a good story. One of his favourite sayings was the Latin phrase:
“Ne veritas impediat bonam fabulam”
– “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”

It suited him perfectly.

Tim’s storytelling made the winery’s rich history come alive. He delighted guests with anecdotes from the past, gently folded in with a touch of family lore, delivered with a wink and a warm chuckle. He embodied the spirit of welcome that lives at the heart of Tahbilk.

Today, we invite all visitors to pause in our underground cellars and reflect at Tim’s commemorative plaque. It rests in the space he so loved—among the stone walls and old oak vats, where stories echo and history breathes.

Come and raise a glass in Tim’s honour. Ask our Cellar Door team to guide you to the plaque on your next visit, and take a moment to toast a man whose life was as colourful and generous as the stories he loved to tell. He may not have always let the truth get in the way, but he always made people smile—and that, in the end, is a story worth telling.