Well over 500 people attended the summer open day at the popular Douglas Vale Historic Homestead and Vineyard on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Coupled with tremendous weather conditions, the event was designed to showcase the many attractions associated with the homestead and vineyard.
Volunteer Kay Morrison said it was delightful day with everyone seemingly enjoying the good weather and many features on display.
“There were many group tours hosted on the day,” she said. “Many took advantage of the guided tour of the house while others enjoyed the tour of the grounds.
“As well, there was a very strong turnout of volunteers to assist on the day.
“There were lots of people coming and going all day and it will certainly raise funds for us to continue to maintain these buildings and grounds but also raising awareness about what we doing here.”
One visitors, Denise Burke, said she had been a resident of Port Macquarie for a number of years but was visiting the homestead for the first time.
“It is a delightful and beautiful part of Port Macquarie,” she said.
Historic Douglas Vale dates back to 1859 when vigneron, George Francis, bought two parcels of land totalling 20 acres on what was then the New England Road.
He had prospected enough gold at Major’s Creek diggings near Braidwood to buy the property, build the cottage for his family and start the vineyard with Black Isabella cuttings believed to have come form the vineyard of Major Innes’ property at Lake Innes.
He had worked for Major Innes for three years, planting his vineyard, before going gold prospecting. The Black Isabella grapes were imported from America.
George later purchased land to a total of 44.7 acres.
The property was named after George Francis’ first wife, Margaret whose maiden name was Douglas. Her family originated from Scotland.
Douglas Vale developed into one of the finest vineyards in the district.
Its wines were exhibited in Bordeaux in 1882, Amsterdam in 1883, Calcutta in 1884 and 1885 and in London in 1886, winning commendations and medals.
On the death of her father, in 1898, George’s daughter, Margaret Wilson, continued to maintain Douglas Vale as a successful vineyard until the last vintage in 1918.
The homestead is the oldest remaining timber house in the Hastings region and with the out buildings, represents the last remaining fabric of the pioneering wine industry of the 1880’s.
When Margaret Wilson died in 1932 and the ownership of Douglas Vale then passed to her daughter, Margaret Ethel Isabella Dick, the widow of Earnest Dick.
His father had been responsible for establishing the oyster farming industry on the Hastings River.
Margaret Dick was joined by her youngest son, Patsy, who remained living in the homestead after his mother died in 1963.
In 1968 the land was resumed by the state government mainly for educational purposes and for housing.
TAFE as the new owner of the property, was unable to prevent the vandalism that occurred following Patsy’s death in 1993.
As a response to the decision by TAFE to demolish the property, The Douglas Vale Conservation Group was formed in 1995.
Only approximately 4 acres remains of the property today.
The homestead is the oldest remaining timber house in the Hastings region and with the out buildings, represents the last remaining fabric of the pioneering wine industry of the 1880’s.
The vineyard in the oldest in Port Macquarie and in the late 1880’s it was the largest.
The Conservation Group is preserving Douglas Vale as a working museum/vineyard for future generations.
The homestead and its cartilage is classified by the National Trust of Australia and is included in Port Macquarie/ Hastings Council list of Heritage sites.