Marble Hill Winemakers

The pages of history paint a vivid picture of the swings of fortune in the Adelaide Hills over the past 140 years. The climate and the rich red soils remain as they were in 1878 when SA's Governor Jervois chose Marble Hill for his summer residence. But in Jan 1955, the Black Sunday bushfires destroyed much of the magnificent multi-storeyed mansion, and the governor vowed never to return after he and his family almost lost their lives. The governor's stables were also destroyed, but in ’73 the National Trust restored the stables (converted into a tea room) and a caretakers cottage, but with support withdrawn, these buildings also fell into disuse. Now there is a fully fledged renaissance. The tea-room complex has been restored, and the extensive gardens meticulously brought back to full glory, assisted by the purchase of an adjoining property that had a water licence (and coincidentally almost 4ha of vineyards). Restoration work has begun on the governor’s residence, and there is constant demand on the venue for weddings and similar events. The Marble Hill wine label has now been added into the mix, with chardonnay, merlot and pinot noir planted. -JAMES HALLIDAY