The cuttings of the first Hermitage hill fleet created these vineyards. Now they are threatened

Sitting on a hill overlooking the Hunter Valley, vineyard owner Andrew Margan sees new homes where some of the oldest vines in the world once grew.
Key Points:Vineyard owners s striving to secure their historic significance vines protectedThere is no precedent in Australia for heritage listing of agricultural landscapesWithout listing, some of the world's oldest vines are vulnerable to development the remaining heritage listed vines worldwide to ensure they could no longer be uprooted.
"Early days of convicts and the first fleet brought cuttings from Hermitage Hill [France], for example, for shiraz," Mr Margan said.
Australia's untouched syrah, or shiraz, vines became the oldest vine rootstock after than an epidemic of grape phylloxera, the devastating destroyed most of Europe's vineyards in the late 1800s.
As urban sprawl occurs on the outskirts of towns across the Hunter, the protection of the vineyards and the landscape on which they stand has become a priority.
"The wine world was wiped out by phylloxera, but not the Hunter Valley," said Mr. Margan.
Several agricultural technologies for harvesting grapes from vineyards have passed. (Provided by James Agnew)
"We we seem to be constantly fighting against planning instruments and coal mining in our vineyard. What we really need is for the area to be protected and recognized for its value," Margan said.
State executives must change first
If history of the vine is hard to deny, Australia has no precedent for listing agricultural landscapes as heritage sites except for indigenous sites.
Although a handful of Hunter Valley wineries and vineyards have their own historical recognition based on the age and significance of their buildings, there is no protection for the landscape as a whole.
"In New South Wales or Australia, there is no agricultural landscape recognized for its heritage value of European origin. The law does not allow it,” Mr. Margan said. -component="Figure" data-uri="coremedia://imageproxy/102140214">< img alt="A black and white photo of the Pokolbin Mountains in the Hunter Valley." class="_8VgO3 eLhlC" sizes="100vw " src="https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/37cd04fea3988b809137ba41fa094c82?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1598&cropW=2397&xPos=282&yPosth=5830&wid=282&yPosth=5830&wid=data="lazy-loading="component" Image" data-lazy="true"/>The Hunter Valley region is known for its wine, with over 150 wineries in the region. (Supplied: James Agnew)
Fourteen wineries around the world are recognized as heritage by UNESCO, but without any recognition from Australia, the Hunter Valley cannot access this status.< /p>
In a 2021 review, the NSW Government backs...

Agrotech Mar 27, 2023 0 69 Add to Reading List

The cuttings of the first Hermitage hill fleet created these vineyards. Now they are threatened

Sitting on a hill overlooking the Hunter Valley, vineyard owner Andrew Margan sees new homes where some of the oldest vines in the world once grew.

Key Points:Vineyard owners s striving to secure their historic significance vines protectedThere is no precedent in Australia for heritage listing of agricultural landscapesWithout listing, some of the world's oldest vines are vulnerable to development the remaining heritage listed vines worldwide to ensure they could no longer be uprooted.

"Early days of convicts and the first fleet brought cuttings from Hermitage Hill [France], for example, for shiraz," Mr Margan said.

Australia's untouched syrah, or shiraz, vines became the oldest vine rootstock after than an epidemic of grape phylloxera, the devastating destroyed most of Europe's vineyards in the late 1800s.

As urban sprawl occurs on the outskirts of towns across the Hunter, the protection of the vineyards and the landscape on which they stand has become a priority.

"The wine world was wiped out by phylloxera, but not the Hunter Valley," said Mr. Margan.

An old , black and white photo. Vineyard in the field and a horse and cart laden with grapes.

"We we seem to be constantly fighting against planning instruments and coal mining in our vineyard. What we really need is for the area to be protected and recognized for its value," Margan said.

State executives must change first

If history of the vine is hard to deny, Australia has no precedent for listing agricultural landscapes as heritage sites except for indigenous sites.

Although a handful of Hunter Valley wineries and vineyards have their own historical recognition based on the age and significance of their buildings, there is no protection for the landscape as a whole.

"In New South Wales or Australia, there is no agricultural landscape recognized for its heritage value of European origin. The law does not allow it,” Mr. Margan said. -component="Figure" data-uri="coremedia://imageproxy/102140214">< img alt="A black and white photo of the Pokolbin Mountains in the Hunter Valley." class="_8VgO3 eLhlC" sizes="100vw " src="https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/37cd04fea3988b809137ba41fa094c82?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1598&cropW=2397&xPos=282&yPosth=5830&wid=282&yPosth=5830&wid=data="lazy-loading="component" Image" data-lazy="true"/>The Hunter Valley region is known for its wine, with over 150 wineries in the region. (Supplied: James Agnew)

Fourteen wineries around the world are recognized as heritage by UNESCO, but without any recognition from Australia, the Hunter Valley cannot access this status.< /p>

In a 2021 review, the NSW Government backs...