HISTORY
Record (Emerald Hill, Vic.)
Friday 29 June 1883
Page 3
MOUNT PRIOR VINEYARD
This vineyard is the property of Messrs A. and R. Caughey, Australian wine merchants, Yarra-bank, Melbourne (pictured). The place was at one time the homestead of the Gooramadda station during the ownership of Mr. Farmer, who sold to Messrs. Rae and Thorpe. Mount Prior is a property of about 600 acres, and is situated at the north end of Brown's Plains and abuts on the Murray lagoons, being close to that river. The hill called Mount Prior, is about half a mile from the river flats, and commands an extensive view of the entire vineyard, Mount Octatyre and the large range of mountains on the other side of the river in New South Wales. The prospect is open and very pleasing on all sides, and is one of the prettiest sights in the locality. Messrs. Rae and Thorpe planted 16 acres of vines, and were so successful in their winemaking operation, as to secure many valuable prizes at the earlier exhibitions. Messrs. Caughey purchased the place 10years ago, and for some time confined their operations to the original plantation, supplementing its production by buying grapes from the neighbouring vignerons, but within the last few years have planted largely, and the land under vines now amounts to over 180 acres, and as another50 acres are grubbed and ready for trenching and planting this season, the quantity will then exceed 230 acres, and be, we believe, the largest vineyard in Australia. The greater portion of the vines lately planted have been selected, regardless of expense, of sorts that are thought will in this locality make first-class wines of the Claret and Hock type, and it is hoped that by producing something superior in this line, a good foreign market may be secured for as much as can be made. The vines are planted at distances of 10 feet one way and a portion 4 feet and some 6 feet the other. This gives plenty of room to run a team of horses between the rows, which makes the cultivation comparatively easy. The greater part, of this vineyard will be trellised. The present season's yield of wine has been good, fully double that of last, the quality of the must was also good. The wine-making plant is very conveniently arranged, and with slight alterations will be quite equal to the large vintages that are expected in the future. It is contemplated excavating a cellar about 600 feet long through the solid rock, to find an outlet at the foot of the present vineyard. Messrs. Caughey during the past season have planted a large number of walnut, olive, orange, and lemon trees, which are all doing remarkably well, and it may be mentioned that their efforts at hedging have been also successful. On each of the three sides of the property they have planted African Box thorn, Osage orange and Whitethorn. According to present appearances the first-mentioned succeeds best and promises to make a good hedge. The Osage orange has done well but it is feared will not make so good a protection. The white thorn started well but the hot dry weather withered it up and it is doubtful if it will come on again. A plan of irrigation is proposed by the erection of a large reservoir on the Mount at some expense water can be raised to it from the river, and when this is accomplished it will add materially to the production of the vines. After wandering through the vineyards we were shown over the stock, which comprises about a dozen Clydesdale mares, and a Young Victor entire, besides some working horses. Messrs. Caughey have also about 30 head of shorthorn cattle, from the celebrated herds of Messrs. Robertson of Colac, Mr. W. M'Culloch of La Rose, and Mr. S. Gardiner. They all look in the pink of condition, and show an amount of breeding not often to be met with about here.
Melbourne warehouse of
A and R Caughey
MOUNT PRIOR
Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW)
Saturday 23 April 1887
Page 28
In the land, of the Murray.
(BY OUR TRAVELLING ARTIST CORRESPONDENTS.)
STILL AMONG THE VINEYARDS.
Proceeding some two or three miles to Gooramadda we visited the Mount Prior Vineyard, owned by Mr. Caughey, who has recently completed his new mansion, which is beautifully finished in every respect, possessing spacious drawing and dining rooms, together with lofty bedrooms, all of which are being furnished in a style not often met with in the country districts. A lofty tower is erected, from the summit of which an extensive view is obtained. Surrounding the house, at the foot of the hill, upon the crest of which it is built, is the vineyard which consists of 225 acres. It is indeed a pretty sight to see the rows of vines running out in parallel lines to the boundary fence, beyond which is undulating country, with blue hills in the distance. Close to the cellars is the old residence which, however, occupies a far inferior site to tho new one. The storage room is ample, being capable of holding, down below, fully 80,000 gallons. The cellars measure 100ft by 54 ft. In the interior there are forty 1200 gallon vats, twenty of 1000 gallons, whilst the remainder are all 600 gallons. The full capacity below and above amounts to 150,000 gallons». At the end of the cellar a lift is being constructed so that the carts will be enabled to unload the grapes being raised up to the top of the building, where they are crushed outside, and the juice flowing out into a travelling vat upon a trolly, which will run upon a tram discharging its contents as required into the fermenting vats below. The red wine is allowed to remainder about eight days to ferment; but the white wine is run straight into the casks. Two of Fraser's crushers will be employed. Upon the ground floor there are twenty-four fermenting vats; most of which possess a capacity of holding one thousand gallons. There are also fifty vats of five hundred gallons each. Mr. Caughey has certainly left nothing undone to insure success; and deserves every praise for the energetic and thorough manner in which he has carried out all that was necessary in connection with this splendid property.