Dalwood House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dalwood House |
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Dalwood House
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| Location | Dalwood Road, Branxton, Singleton Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1829–1838 |
| Owner | National Trust of Australia (NSW) |
| Official name: Dalwood House and surrounds of Wyndham Estate; Wyndham estate | |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 377 |
| Type | Vineyard/Winery |
| Category | Farming and Grazing |
| Builders | George Wyndham |
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Dalwood House is a very old and important house in Branxton, New South Wales, Australia. It was built between 1829 and 1838 by George Wyndham. This historic home is located on the land of the former Wyndham Estate winery, which is now called Dalwood Estate. Today, Dalwood House is a museum where people can learn about its past. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because of its special history.
Contents
History of Dalwood House
How Dalwood House Began
In 1823, a man named David Maziere received a large piece of land, about 2,000 acres, in the Hunter Valley. He named his property Anandale Estate. He started building fences and growing crops. But in 1828, he had financial difficulties, so the estate was sold. George Wyndham bought it for 1,200 pounds.
George Wyndham and his wife, Margaret, arrived in Australia in 1827. They moved to the property in 1828 and renamed it "Dalwood." This name came from a wooded part of their family's estate back in England.
Building the House
The building of Dalwood House started in 1829 and happened in different stages. Convicts helped to quarry the stone needed for the house. It had to be a very large house because George and Margaret Wyndham had 12 sons and 2 daughters!
The first parts of the house were finished and lived in by February 1830, even though the whole house wasn't done yet. By 1833, a washhouse, kitchen, and other sections were completed. The design of Dalwood House was likely inspired by a house in England that George Wyndham knew well.
The original roof was flat and made of timber slabs covered with earth, tar, sand, lime, and even blood! This was meant to keep water out. But it didn't work very well, so around 1838, a sloped roof was added instead.
George Wyndham had planned to build a grand entrance with large columns facing the river. He even had the stone columns quarried. However, these columns were later cut up for grinding stones, and the grand entrance was never built. Instead, a simpler verandah was added.
Growing Grapes and Making Wine
Early leaders in New South Wales encouraged people to plant vineyards and make wine. They thought it would be good for the economy and help people drink less alcohol.
In 1825, James Busby wrote books about growing grapes and making wine. In 1833, he brought 437 grape cuttings to NSW from France. These cuttings were shared widely, including with George Wyndham at Dalwood. This helped start the wine industry in the Hunter Valley.
George Wyndham's diary from 1830 to 1840 talks a lot about his first attempts to make wine. He received vine cuttings from Mr. Busby in 1830, but many didn't survive. He tried again in 1831 and had 1400 vines by 1832. He also got different types of grapes from other people.
His first wine was made in February 1835. It wasn't a huge success at first, but he soon reported success with his white wine. The next year, he made 1650 gallons of wine! It was challenging because there weren't many skilled workers for vineyards. Wyndham mostly used convict labor, and sometimes Aboriginal people helped too.
The Wyndham family's wine became very famous. They won prizes all over the world, even in Europe, America, and India. In 1882, they won a special Gold Medal at the Bordeaux Exhibition for being the best Australian wine.
Besides wine, George Wyndham also grew many other crops like maize, wheat, and tobacco. He also grew all kinds of fruit trees, vegetables, and flowers. He treated his assigned servants well. George Wyndham also bought more land in other areas of New South Wales.
By 1843, the Hunter Valley had a lot of vineyards, making up a big part of NSW's total. Even during tough economic times in the 1840s, winemaking continued to grow. George Wyndham briefly left Dalwood during this time, but he returned and started making wine again when things improved.
From 1853, the vineyards at Dalwood grew to be the second largest in the world. George's fourth son, John Wyndham, continued to run the property until 1887. By 1886, the winery had cellars, a press house, and offices.
Grape cuttings from Dalwood also helped start other famous vineyards in the Pokolbin Hills area. John Wyndham was also very involved in the Agricultural Society of NSW. He helped create the rules for what became the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales and the famous Royal Easter Show. He played a big part in setting up the wine section of the show.
The Wyndham family also experimented with many different types of fruit trees. They wanted to find out which ones grew best in Australia. Their list included many varieties of apples, pears, plums, peaches, and grapes.
The wine industry faced difficulties around 1893 and after 1901, when cheaper wines from other states became available. It also suffered from a plant disease in the 1920s and the tough economic times of the 1930s. But after World War II, as people's drinking habits changed, the industry slowly grew again.
Some of the original vines planted by convicts remained until 1959, when they were removed. In 1966, the Dalwood vineyards were owned by Penfold, another famous wine company.
Dalwood House in Recent Times
In 1972, the property was taken over by Wyndham Estate Pty Ltd. Then, in 1988, it was given to the National Trust of Australia (NSW), which helps protect historic places. The property is currently owned by Orlando Wyndham.
For many years, the house was empty and started to fall apart. The ground it sits on and poor drainage caused damage. Over time, parts of the roof were changed, and a back wing of the house was taken down in the 1970s because it was so damaged.
However, during the 1980s and 1990s, a lot of work was done to save and restore Dalwood House. This included fixing the roof, repairing verandahs, replacing doors and windows, and rebuilding walls and fireplaces.
Today, community groups continue to work on preserving Dalwood House. It was opened to the public on weekends in March 2018, so people can visit and learn about its amazing history.
What Dalwood House Looks Like
Dalwood House is built on a small hill, looking out over the vineyards that George Wyndham started in the 1830s. Many parts of the original landscape are still there, including an old timber barn and the graves of George and Margaret Wyndham among the grapevines.
The House Itself
Dalwood House is a large, single-story home made mostly of sandstone and bricks found nearby. It was built in a style called Greek Revival, which means it looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. It has a special entrance called a portico with two short, strong columns. There are also two wings with bedrooms and servants' rooms on either side of a central courtyard. A verandah faces the river and is the main entrance.
The outside walls are made of carefully cut sandstone. Some inside walls are made of brick. The roof is now made of corrugated iron. Inside, the house has beautiful carved sandstone fireplaces and elegant woodwork made from local cedar.
The house has a long main section facing south towards the Hunter River. It has French doors that open onto a verandah, which has a timber shingle roof and wooden columns.
The Garden
The historic garden around Dalwood House is still largely intact. It includes several old, large trees that surround the house.
Why Dalwood House is Important
Dalwood House is very important for many reasons:
- It shows the history of one of the most important pioneering families in the Hunter Valley, the Wyndhams.
- It is a rare example of one of the earliest Greek Revival style buildings in New South Wales.
- It is connected to the start and growth of the wine industry in the Hunter Valley wine region.
- The way the house was built, especially its early attempt at a flat roof, tells us a lot about building techniques from that time.
Dalwood House and the land around it were officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
