About Wexford

I spent about 22 years running electrical jobs across south-east Queensland, mostly commercial fitouts in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Decent work, steady enough. But by the time I hit 43 I was driving two hours a day and quoting jobs I didn't want just to keep the crew on. My wife Karen kept saying I looked like I was waiting for something to end. She wasn't wrong. The plan was always to scale back eventually, maybe retire somewhere quieter. What I didn't plan was landing in Castlemaine, Victoria with a trailer load of outdoor furniture samples and no real idea whether any of it would sell.

Before Wexford, I'd been buying kwila and ironbark pieces from a small mill near Gympie and reselling them at the Eumundi Markets on weekends. Nothing serious, just a few tables and benches to cover fuel costs. But in 2019 I shifted about 14,000 dollars worth of stock in four months, mostly to people who'd seen the stuff at the markets and tracked me down afterwards. That told me something. I wasn't doing anything clever, I was just stocking things that were actually built for Australian conditions rather than imported flat-pack gear that warps after one wet season. People noticed the difference immediately.

— Built to last, not to impress. — Dean, Dean Edward Partridge

Our team

• Brigitte Nguyen — Operations and Fulfilment Coordinator: Brigitte joined Wexford in late 2022 after five years managing logistics for a landscaping supply company in Bendigo. She handles everything from inbound freight off the Dandenong runs to packing schedules and carrier bookings. If an order leaves the Mostyn Street warehouse on time, it's because Brigitte sorted it out the day before.
• Callum Osei — Customer Service and Product Queries: Callum grew up in Mildura and moved to Castlemaine in 2020. He came to Wexford through a local job board in early 2023 with a background in hardware retail at a Mitre 10 store in Mildura. He handles all inbound customer questions, including the technical ones about installation clearances and gas fittings, and he's the one who writes the product FAQ pages.
• Renata Kowalczyk — Online Store and Marketing: Renata ran her own small e-commerce consultancy out of Ballarat before Dean brought her on part-time in mid-2023 to sort out the website and get the product photography consistent. She now works three days a week from the warehouse and two from home in Ballarat. She manages the Shopify store, the email list of around 2,400 subscribers, and coordinates with the Ballarat fabricator on new product photography.

Frequently asked questions

How long will my order take to arrive?

Standard delivery takes 3–8 business days depending on your location. Metro areas like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are usually at the faster end; regional WA, NT and TAS can take up to 10 business days. You'll get a tracking link by email as soon as your order leaves our workshop in Castlemaine, VIC.

Do you ship to all states and territories, including regional areas?

Yes, we ship Australia-wide including NT, TAS and rural postcodes. Some bulky items like the Outdoor Rattan Lounge Set or Composite Decking packs may incur an oversized freight surcharge at checkout — this is calculated automatically before you pay.

Can I return something if I change my mind?

Yes. You have 30 days from delivery to return an item in its original, unused condition. Return shipping costs are on you for change-of-mind returns, but if the item is faulty or not as described, we cover it. Email us at hello@wexford-co.com to start a return.

What materials do you use in your outdoor furniture and fire pits?

It depends on the product. The dining table uses Kwila hardwood, which is dense, naturally oily and handles Australian weather well. The firepit bowl is Corten steel, which develops a rust-patina surface over time — that's by design, not a defect. The modular lounge uses all-weather synthetic rattan over a powder-coated steel frame.

Do you offer custom sizing or finishes?

We don't offer custom orders through the website right now. Dean occasionally takes on made-to-order commissions directly out of the Castlemaine workshop, but capacity is limited. If you have a specific project in mind, send the details to hello@wexford-co.com and we'll let you know whether it's something we can take on.

How do I care for the Kwila hardwood table?

Kwila is naturally oily so it doesn't need a lot of intervention. Give it a light sand and an application of teak or hardwood oil once a year to keep the colour even. Avoid leaving it soaking wet for extended periods and don't use harsh chemical cleaners — warm soapy water and a cloth is all you need for day-to-day cleaning.

Are there any allergens or chemical treatments I should know about?

Kwila timber can cause skin irritation in some people during initial handling, particularly if you're sensitive to wood dust or natural tannins — wearing gloves when first assembling is a good idea. Our Corten steel products have no chemical coatings applied. The synthetic rattan uses standard UV-stabilised PVC; if you have known PVC sensitivities, check with us before ordering.

Do you offer wholesale or trade pricing?

We do have a trade program for landscapers, builders and interior designers. Minimum order thresholds apply. Send your ABN and a brief description of your business to hello@wexford-co.com and we'll get back to you within 2 business days with pricing details.

Customer reviews

• 5/5 “Solid table, fast delivery” Ordered the Kwila Hardwood Outdoor Dining Table on a Tuesday and it was on my deck by Friday, which I wasn't expecting at all. Assembly was straightforward and the timber is genuinely heavy and solid — nothing wobbly about it. Already had six people around it and it hasn't skipped a beat.
• 4/5 “Great firepit, took a week to arrive” The Corten Steel Firepit Bowl looks exactly like the photos — the patina started developing after the first couple of uses and it actually looks better now than when it arrived. Delivery to Brisbane took about seven business days, which was fine, just longer than I hoped. The grate sits securely and it handles a decent fire without any issues.
• 5/5 “Lounge set exceeded expectations” I was a bit nervous buying outdoor furniture online without seeing it first, but the Rattan Modular Lounge Set arrived well-packaged and in perfect condition. The frame is heavier than I expected, which is a good thing. We've had it through a few Sydney storms now and it's held up without any issues.
• 4/5 “Decking boards are good value” Ordered four packs of the Composite Decking Boards for a small deck project and they arrived reasonably well strapped on a pallet. One board had a small surface scuff but nothing that affected the install. Cut cleanly and the colour is consistent across packs. Would order again for the next stage of the project.
• 5/5 “Pergola awning is a game changer” The SunShade Retractable Pergola Awning took about two hours to install with two people — the instructions were clear enough and the hardware was all included. It's been through some heavy afternoon sun and a couple of downpours and retracts smoothly every time. Really changed how much we use the back area.
• 4/5 “Good quality, minor packaging issue” The Kwila dining table arrived with a small dent in the outer box but the table itself was completely fine underneath the foam wrapping. I emailed Wexford just to flag it and got a response the next morning, which I appreciated. The table looks great on the patio.

From the journal

• Why the first table we made was Kwila — Kwila wasn't the obvious choice for most people, but after fifteen years working with timber in Queensland, it was the only one that made sense to me.
• Getting the Corten firepit set up right the first time — Most people unbox the firepit, drop it on the paving, and wonder why the base is staining after the first burn, so here's what actually needs to happen first.
• Two years finding a rattan supplier worth trusting — I went through four different factories and two Australian importers before I found rattan outdoor furniture I'd actually put my name on.
• The honest answer about awning wind ratings — Every awning manufacturer quotes a wind speed rating and almost none of them explain what that number actually means in practice.
• What a Castlemaine winter actually does to outdoor furniture — We get proper frosts here, the kind that sit on the grass until ten in the morning, and I've spent two winters watching what that does to every product I sell.
• How the Wexford workshop actually runs day to day — It's not a factory and it's not a craft studio, it's a converted machinery shed on a half-acre block and it works about 80 percent of the time.