ELIZA JANE McWILLIAM Eldest daughter to Samuel and Martha McWilliam and older sister to John James McWilliam
Just who was Australia's First Female Winemaker??
The "Australian Women's Register" purports it to be Ursula Pridham (hotlink) who established the "Marienberg" vineyard and winery in McLaren Vale in 1966, and whose first vintage was in 1968. Recent historical researchers cast doubt on this claim.
Eliza Jane McWilliam was born in 1865, the eldest daughter and one of 9 children to Samuel and Martha McWilliam. Samuel had established the "Sunnyside" vineyard in Corowa in 1877. Eliza Jane was born 2 years before her brother, John James McWilliam who first trained as a winemaker with Herbert Lindeman in Corowa, and then went on to manage and make wine with his father and brothers at the family's "Sunnyside" vineyard". Around 1895, John James moved to Junee where he set up his own "Mark View " vineyard and winery and later, expanded to Griffith in where he established the "Hanwood Vineyards" in 1913.
Eliza's mother, Martha, died aged only 48 in 1889, when Eliza was only 24, leaving her to raise her 5 younger siblings, aged from 18 down to 7.
Around 1892, Samuel, along with Eliza and his 3 other daughters, moved to Sydney leaving his sons John James and Thomas to run the Sunnyside vineyard. Eliza, who was 26 at the time, became his house keeper and surrogate mother to her 3 younger sisters who were aged 14, 11 and 9 at the time. Whilst in Sydney, she studied singing and acting and became an accomplished vocalist after receiving professional training and performed regularly on stage.
Her father, Samuel, died in 1902 and in his will left his 9 sons and daughters one seventh of his estate each except John James and Crawford who were given one fourteenth each and eldest son William was excluded. It maybe assumed that he had previously given financial aid to the older boys. His will stipulated that the vineyard known as “Sunnyside “ was not to be sold for 3 years from the date of his death but in the meantime to let the vineyard and divide the rent equally to his 4 daughters.
Although, the auction notice of 13th Sept 1902 indicates that considerable winemaking equipment was to be sold. An article in the same paper of the 16th September 1902, indicates that the auction “effected a clearance”.
Eliza Jane and her sisters, Rose May and Mary, returned to Sunnyside after Samuel’s death. They had raised 200 pounds each from a Mr R W Holt of Petersham, Sydney, and used it as capital to set themselves up at Sunnyside, possibly buying some of the plant and equipment at the auction. Eliza, who was 37 at the time, and her 2 youngest sisters, Rose May (22) and Mary (20), took over the running and managing of the "Sunnyside" vineyard and winery in 1903.
The "Evening News" (Sydney), Friday 20 March 1903 page 7, (hotlink) reporting on the 1903 vintage in the Corowa district says that it was the worst on record due to hot scorching winds in the prior December and mentions that Miss McWilliam only made 2000 gallons from her 60 acres and another woman, Mrs Meyer, practically nil.
The Sydney Morning Herald in 1904 reports in a series "On the Land" (hotlink) that
"Close to Corowa, Miss McWilliam manages an 80 acre vineyard on behalf of her sisters and herself. The vineyard, established by the late Mr. McWilliam, is in good condition and Miss McWilliam's first year of office has been signalised by a very full vintage. The vintage was put through in good style and Miss McWilliam had no trouble with the numerous people employed. She engaged boys at 18s per week and found them excellent pickers and most reliable. The wines are of the full-bodied, sweet kinds and the manageress is evidently capable of keeping up the reputation of the cellars"
The Corowa Free Press of the 8th April 1904, reported the celebration of her first vintage
"At the conclusion of grape-picking operations at "Sunnyside" on the 31st March, the boys (grape-pickers) were entertained by Miss McWilliam in a manner which sent them home in a good humour. A program of races and a tug of war event, for money prizes, were gone through, after which the lads sat down to a tempting spread"
The Sydney Mail and NSW Advertiser, 17 August 1904, p396,(hot link) mentions that Miss McWilliam won 1st place in Sweet White wine, in the Wine section of the Corowa Agricultural show held earlier that same year.
Under the terms of her father's will, the vineyard was finally sold at auction, on 20th July 1905, to her brother, John James, who by this time had fully established his own "Mark View" vineyard and winery at Junee. He advertised the vineyard for 12 months tender in Corowa Free press, 12 June 1906 and sold it on the 10th August 1911, to Messrs W A Taylor and R G Henderson for 2560 pounds.
Eliza and her 2 youngest sisters moved to Christchurch, NZ. She never married but returned to Sydney where she died in 1919, aged 53
So it is interesting to note that Eliza Jane McWilliam was making wine 65 yrs before Ursula Pridham.
The "Australian Women's Register" purports it to be Ursula Pridham (hotlink) who established the "Marienberg" vineyard and winery in McLaren Vale in 1966, and whose first vintage was in 1968. Recent historical researchers cast doubt on this claim.
Eliza Jane McWilliam was born in 1865, the eldest daughter and one of 9 children to Samuel and Martha McWilliam. Samuel had established the "Sunnyside" vineyard in Corowa in 1877. Eliza Jane was born 2 years before her brother, John James McWilliam who first trained as a winemaker with Herbert Lindeman in Corowa, and then went on to manage and make wine with his father and brothers at the family's "Sunnyside" vineyard". Around 1895, John James moved to Junee where he set up his own "Mark View " vineyard and winery and later, expanded to Griffith in where he established the "Hanwood Vineyards" in 1913.
Eliza's mother, Martha, died aged only 48 in 1889, when Eliza was only 24, leaving her to raise her 5 younger siblings, aged from 18 down to 7.
Around 1892, Samuel, along with Eliza and his 3 other daughters, moved to Sydney leaving his sons John James and Thomas to run the Sunnyside vineyard. Eliza, who was 26 at the time, became his house keeper and surrogate mother to her 3 younger sisters who were aged 14, 11 and 9 at the time. Whilst in Sydney, she studied singing and acting and became an accomplished vocalist after receiving professional training and performed regularly on stage.
Her father, Samuel, died in 1902 and in his will left his 9 sons and daughters one seventh of his estate each except John James and Crawford who were given one fourteenth each and eldest son William was excluded. It maybe assumed that he had previously given financial aid to the older boys. His will stipulated that the vineyard known as “Sunnyside “ was not to be sold for 3 years from the date of his death but in the meantime to let the vineyard and divide the rent equally to his 4 daughters.
Although, the auction notice of 13th Sept 1902 indicates that considerable winemaking equipment was to be sold. An article in the same paper of the 16th September 1902, indicates that the auction “effected a clearance”.
Eliza Jane and her sisters, Rose May and Mary, returned to Sunnyside after Samuel’s death. They had raised 200 pounds each from a Mr R W Holt of Petersham, Sydney, and used it as capital to set themselves up at Sunnyside, possibly buying some of the plant and equipment at the auction. Eliza, who was 37 at the time, and her 2 youngest sisters, Rose May (22) and Mary (20), took over the running and managing of the "Sunnyside" vineyard and winery in 1903.
The "Evening News" (Sydney), Friday 20 March 1903 page 7, (hotlink) reporting on the 1903 vintage in the Corowa district says that it was the worst on record due to hot scorching winds in the prior December and mentions that Miss McWilliam only made 2000 gallons from her 60 acres and another woman, Mrs Meyer, practically nil.
The Sydney Morning Herald in 1904 reports in a series "On the Land" (hotlink) that
"Close to Corowa, Miss McWilliam manages an 80 acre vineyard on behalf of her sisters and herself. The vineyard, established by the late Mr. McWilliam, is in good condition and Miss McWilliam's first year of office has been signalised by a very full vintage. The vintage was put through in good style and Miss McWilliam had no trouble with the numerous people employed. She engaged boys at 18s per week and found them excellent pickers and most reliable. The wines are of the full-bodied, sweet kinds and the manageress is evidently capable of keeping up the reputation of the cellars"
The Corowa Free Press of the 8th April 1904, reported the celebration of her first vintage
"At the conclusion of grape-picking operations at "Sunnyside" on the 31st March, the boys (grape-pickers) were entertained by Miss McWilliam in a manner which sent them home in a good humour. A program of races and a tug of war event, for money prizes, were gone through, after which the lads sat down to a tempting spread"
The Sydney Mail and NSW Advertiser, 17 August 1904, p396,(hot link) mentions that Miss McWilliam won 1st place in Sweet White wine, in the Wine section of the Corowa Agricultural show held earlier that same year.
Under the terms of her father's will, the vineyard was finally sold at auction, on 20th July 1905, to her brother, John James, who by this time had fully established his own "Mark View" vineyard and winery at Junee. He advertised the vineyard for 12 months tender in Corowa Free press, 12 June 1906 and sold it on the 10th August 1911, to Messrs W A Taylor and R G Henderson for 2560 pounds.
Eliza and her 2 youngest sisters moved to Christchurch, NZ. She never married but returned to Sydney where she died in 1919, aged 53
So it is interesting to note that Eliza Jane McWilliam was making wine 65 yrs before Ursula Pridham.