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Home at one time to the largest winery in Australia, Fairfield’s guests in its heyday ranged from vice-regal visitors to future<br/>members of the Kelly Gang.
1/24Home at one time to the largest winery in Australia, Fairfield’s guests in its heyday ranged from vice-regal visitors to future
members of the Kelly Gang.
Located 11km from Rutherglen in Victoria’s Murray Valley, the property is being<br/>offered either as a whole or in five separate parcels, including Fairfield (397ha), McGarrigles (39ha), Mills (194ha), Popes (102ha) and<br/>Homeleigh (120ha).
2/24Located 11km from Rutherglen in Victoria’s Murray Valley, the property is being
offered either as a whole or in five separate parcels, including Fairfield (397ha), McGarrigles (39ha), Mills (194ha), Popes (102ha) and
Homeleigh (120ha).
Soil types range from rich flood plain grey/brown clay loams to soft free-draining red<br/>loams with water supplied by two bores reticulating to troughs, plus numerous dams.
3/24Soil types range from rich flood plain grey/brown clay loams to soft free-draining red
loams with water supplied by two bores reticulating to troughs, plus numerous dams.
There’s also a high-security water entitlement of 99Ml and Wild Duck Creek crosses<br/>part of the property, with a pump supplying water for domestic purposes.
4/24There’s also a high-security water entitlement of 99Ml and Wild Duck Creek crosses
part of the property, with a pump supplying water for domestic purposes.
Fairfield was first settled in 1859 by English migrant George Francis Morris, flush<br/>with profit from the Beechworth goldfields.
5/24Fairfield was first settled in 1859 by English migrant George Francis Morris, flush
with profit from the Beechworth goldfields.
Morris quickly put in some vines and, over the following decades, sent his full-bodied<br/>red wines to England by the shipload.
6/24Morris quickly put in some vines and, over the following decades, sent his full-bodied
red wines to England by the shipload.
His vineyards and fortune flourished — by the 1890s, he was said to own the largest<br/>winery in the southern hemisphere.
7/24His vineyards and fortune flourished — by the 1890s, he was said to own the largest
winery in the southern hemisphere.
The homestead was built in 1889 using cement-rendered bricks — reportedly made<br/>with clay from what is now a large dam behind the creeper-covered cellar.
8/24The homestead was built in 1889 using cement-rendered bricks — reportedly made
with clay from what is now a large dam behind the creeper-covered cellar.
By 1904, Fairfield was being described as the country’s largest vineyard and winery<br/>complex, with 700 acres (283ha) of vines, extensive cellars and infrastructure and a<br/>staff of over 100.
9/24By 1904, Fairfield was being described as the country’s largest vineyard and winery
complex, with 700 acres (283ha) of vines, extensive cellars and infrastructure and a
staff of over 100.
The home’s grandeur was trumpeted with features such as its four double-potted<br/>chimneys, ornate lacework, 21 rooms and imposing ballroom (added around 1896).
10/24The home’s grandeur was trumpeted with features such as its four double-potted
chimneys, ornate lacework, 21 rooms and imposing ballroom (added around 1896).
There are extensive underground cellars on either side of the ballroom, but these were<br/>superseded by the cavernous brick structure behind the house which was once<br/>described as holding 750,000 gallons of wine with a total capacity of one million<br/>gallons.
11/24There are extensive underground cellars on either side of the ballroom, but these were
superseded by the cavernous brick structure behind the house which was once
described as holding 750,000 gallons of wine with a total capacity of one million
gallons.
Original equipment still standing includes the fermentation building and its fittings, a<br/>weighbridge, steam-powered crusher, two basket-crushers, the old still and bond store<br/>and the stables for the draught horses which used red gum bricks in the stalls to<br/>protect the horses’ hooves.
12/24Original equipment still standing includes the fermentation building and its fittings, a
weighbridge, steam-powered crusher, two basket-crushers, the old still and bond store
and the stables for the draught horses which used red gum bricks in the stalls to
protect the horses’ hooves.
There are no grapes grown these days at Fairfield — a share farmer grows crops of<br/>wheat and canola while another producer agists sheep there.
13/24There are no grapes grown these days at Fairfield — a share farmer grows crops of
wheat and canola while another producer agists sheep there.
Located 11km from Rutherglen in Victoria’s Murray Valley, the property is being<br/>offered either as a whole or in five separate parcels, including Fairfield (397ha), McGarrigles (39ha), Mills (194ha), Popes (102ha) and<br/>Homeleigh (120ha).
14/24Located 11km from Rutherglen in Victoria’s Murray Valley, the property is being
offered either as a whole or in five separate parcels, including Fairfield (397ha), McGarrigles (39ha), Mills (194ha), Popes (102ha) and
Homeleigh (120ha).
Soil types range from rich flood plain grey/brown clay loams to soft free-draining red<br/>loams with water supplied by two bores reticulating to troughs, plus numerous dams.
15/24Soil types range from rich flood plain grey/brown clay loams to soft free-draining red
loams with water supplied by two bores reticulating to troughs, plus numerous dams.
Fairfield was first settled in 1859 by English migrant George Francis Morris, flush<br/>with profit from the Beechworth goldfields.
16/24Fairfield was first settled in 1859 by English migrant George Francis Morris, flush
with profit from the Beechworth goldfields.
His vineyards and fortune flourished — by the 1890s, he was said to own the largest<br/>winery in the southern hemisphere.
17/24His vineyards and fortune flourished — by the 1890s, he was said to own the largest
winery in the southern hemisphere.
There’s also a high-security water entitlement of 99Ml and Wild Duck Creek crosses<br/>part of the property, with a pump supplying water for domestic purposes.
18/24There’s also a high-security water entitlement of 99Ml and Wild Duck Creek crosses
part of the property, with a pump supplying water for domestic purposes.
The homestead was built in 1889 using cement-rendered bricks — reportedly made<br/>with clay from what is now a large dam behind the creeper-covered cellar.
19/24The homestead was built in 1889 using cement-rendered bricks — reportedly made
with clay from what is now a large dam behind the creeper-covered cellar.
The home’s grandeur was trumpeted with features such as its four double-potted<br/>chimneys, ornate lacework, 21 rooms and imposing ballroom (added around 1896).
20/24The home’s grandeur was trumpeted with features such as its four double-potted
chimneys, ornate lacework, 21 rooms and imposing ballroom (added around 1896).
There are extensive underground cellars on either side of the ballroom, but these were<br/>superseded by the cavernous brick structure behind the house which was once<br/>described as holding 750,000 gallons of wine with a total capacity of one million<br/>gallons.
21/24There are extensive underground cellars on either side of the ballroom, but these were
superseded by the cavernous brick structure behind the house which was once
described as holding 750,000 gallons of wine with a total capacity of one million
gallons.
Original equipment still standing includes the fermentation building and its fittings, a<br/>weighbridge, steam-powered crusher, two basket-crushers, the old still and bond store<br/>and the stables for the draught horses which used red gum bricks in the stalls to<br/>protect the horses’ hooves.
22/24Original equipment still standing includes the fermentation building and its fittings, a
weighbridge, steam-powered crusher, two basket-crushers, the old still and bond store
and the stables for the draught horses which used red gum bricks in the stalls to
protect the horses’ hooves.
There are no grapes grown these days at Fairfield — a share farmer grows crops of<br/>wheat and canola while another producer agists sheep there.
23/24There are no grapes grown these days at Fairfield — a share farmer grows crops of
wheat and canola while another producer agists sheep there.
Expressions of interest for the property close November 7 and the price starts at $11,000 per hectare.
24/24Expressions of interest for the property close November 7 and the price starts at $11,000 per hectare.
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Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/property/fairfield-estate-at-rutherglen-for-sale/image-gallery/6a197d424cd24bba484cfc7d46659fbb