In the early years of settlement, the only grape vines to be planted in New South Wales were on government property. The First Fleet brought grape vines acquired in Rio de Janeiro and South Africa, and the first vineyard was planted in the government farm at Farm Cove, with further plantings on Norfolk Island and the Governor’s garden at Parramatta. The first privately owned vineyard in the new colony was planted by Phillip Schaeffer (alternatively Schaffer) at a property he called The Vineyard on the Parramatta River.

Schaeffer was a German immigrant who arrived in Australia with the Second Fleet — the first free settler in New South Wales. He had some English connections, possibly from his time as a hired soldier for the British in the American War of Independence, and was initially employed as an overseer of convict labourers. However, his poor grasp of English meant he was not suited to the work and, in 1791, he turned to farming on 140 acres (56.6 hectares) of land granted to him by Governor Phillip. It was just the fourth land grant made in the colony.

On the land he was given, Shaeffer planted corn, wheat, wine grapes and tobacco. By 1795, the vines were productive, and he had produced 90 gallons of wine in addition to table grapes. His enterprise did not fare well, however. It’s likely that the same blight that affected vines at the government farms also caused problems for Schaeffer, as did his lack of experience in vine management. In 1797, he sold his property to Captain Henry Waterhouse and took up another land holding.

Shaeffer was said to be a heavy drinker, and his fortunes declined over the years. He died a pauper in Sydney’s Benevolent Society Asylum in 1828. His time as the proprietor of the first privately owned vineyard in the colony lasted just six years, but was enough to secure his place in Australia’s history books.