A SPECIAL event to mark the 189th anniversary of the planting of the first vines at Dalwood is scheduled to take place later this year.
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Descendants of the convicts, indigenous residents, Bounty immigrants, German vine-dressers and anyone else who worked for George Wyndham, or his son John, at the Branxton property are invited to join the family's ancestors at a lunch at Dalwood Cellars on Saturday, September 7.
Dalwood is the oldest continuous commercial vineyard in Australia following its maiden sowing on September 1, 1830.
George and Margaret Wyndham arrived in New South Wales on Boxing Day, 1827, and purchased a property on the banks of the Hunter River in January 1828.
They renamed it Dalwood.
Wyndham subsequently acquired Mahngarinda (Merriwa), Colly Blu (Liverpool Plains), Bukkulla and Nullamanna (McIntyre River) and Keelgyrah (Richmond River).
He employed a mix of convict, indigenous and free men, women and boys to help develop each of these properties.
And, any descendants are welcome to attend.
The names of approximately 180 convicts have been identified, so far, with more yet to be confirmed.
Another 200 people have been identified as working for George Wyndham.
He also established the first Hereford cattle herd in New South Wales, built the first Greek-style building in Australia (Dalwood House) with the help of his convicts, and had one of the largest and most successful horse studs in the colony.
In recognition of the contribution that the convicts assigned to Wyndham made, details of their lives are being collected to ensure that they are given the recognition they deserve.
Anyone interested in attending the Descendants' Day lunch, providing information about a convict or other ancestor associated with a Wyndham property, or interested in the restoration of Dalwood House, is asked to contact secretary@dalwood.org.au