Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Thursday 11 January 1912, page 5


A VETERAN VIGNERON,

Death of Mr. Thomas Hardy, Grand Old Man.

The death occurred on Wednesday, at the age of nearly 82 years, of Mr. Thomas Hardy, the well-known vigneron, who had generally been regarded as the father of the wine industry in South Australia. Mr. Hardy was one of those grand old pioneers who came to South Australia as a young man, and by his unbounded energy, built up a business which is known in both hemi spheres and which has played an important part in winning for the Central State much prominence as a producer of wine. A long, useful life his had been indeed.

—Early Days.— Mr. Hardy was born in Devonshire in 1830, and arrived in South Australia 20 years later. To use his own words, 'I came out in the ship the British Empire, and have consequently never left the Empire.' During the voyage he acted as instructor to the boys on board, and the late Mrs. J. Gillard was schoolmistress to the girls. For this service he received £5 at the end of the voyage — Roughing It — A few days after landing in the State Mr. Hardy secured a position with the late Mr. John Reynell, the first winemaker in South Australia, and there had his initial experience at 'roughing it.' On reaching the vineyard he was told by Mr. Reynell to occupy with the shepherd boy the watch house in the sheepyard. What an awful night he spent there! In the hut he was almost worried to death by enterprising nocturnal insects, which seemed to tho roughly appreciate his newly imported blood, while outside the lambs dragged con tinually at the door. Next day Mr. Hardy complained to Mr. Reynell, and at his sug gestion made up a bunk in the room of a small superseded house on the property.

Before many days had passed that com partment, although only about 8 ft. square, contained three other occupants, including two Germans and a Swede. The last named, though, sought fresh quarters after one night. The principal workers in the vineyards were Germans, and right good men they were, too. They had brought their knowledge of viticulture with them from the Fatherland, and in that respect they had a distinct advantage over the great majority of the English hands. Mr. Hardy never failed to emphasize that South Australians were deeply indebted to the Ger mans in connection with the wine industry. -On the Goldfields-At the end of about 12 months Mr. Hardy, with hundreds of other residents, got the gold fever, and went to the dig gings, He made his way back to Forest Creek, and after a while entered into partnership with a butcher. Mr. Hardy's work was to deliver the meat, and it was while at this that he came within the pale of the law for the first and the only time in his long and honoured career. Everybody on tho field was sup nosed to carry a licence, but when he left home Mr. Hardy forgot his. As luck would have it he was met by a trooper, and when asked to produce his licence could not com ply. Forthwith he was marched to the lockup— a small hut with walls of pine and a tarpaulin covering— and there detained with about a dozen other similar offenders. In the afternoon all were presented before a justice of the peace, and fined amounts ranging from £1 to £1 10/. In relating the incident years after, Mr. Hardy admit ted that, although at the time he was naturally much annoyed, he could not help laughing subsequently at the predicament. —Beginning of Bankside.—

While at Reynella Mr. Hardy obtained a fair insight into vinegrowing and winemaking, as then conducted, and when he returned to South Australia in 1853 he decided to engage in the industry on his own account. He began in a very modest way, but with unlimited pluck, de termination, and commonsense. He pur chased 46 acres at Bankside, and set to work to build up the estate. At that time he looked forward more to mixed fruit than vinegrowing, as he felt certain from what he had seen on both sides of the River Torrens above Adelaide that his land was eminently suited for that purpose. As the Shiraz had proved itself to be a good, pro fitable grape he planted a large number of cuttings for wine production, and put in a fair proportion of muscatels with a view of raisin making. He also estab lished the nucleus of an orange grove, and planted olives, chiefly to form a border and breakwind, but also with the intention to utilize the fruit of the trees for oil. In this connection, however, he was sadly disappointed. Unfortunately, like other growers in those days, he did not look with sufficient care to the kinds of olives, and planted a large number of local seedlings, which, when they had developed, were dis covered to be non-bearing. There upon better kinds were imported, and grafted on to the original trees. When Mr. Hardy first became associated with the wine industry there was prac tically no machinery. The grapes were trodden by men and boys with their bare feet, and then placed in the lever press. In 1859 he shipped his first produce, con sisting of two hogsheads of wine, to Eng land. This was one of the first shipments of wine for South Australia. Some of the vines at Bankside have been bearing con tinuously for 40 to 50 years, and are still in a good, healthy condition— convincing testimony to the suitableness of the soil and the climate. Mr. Hardv also planted extensive vineyards at McLaren Vale. He started the first wine bar in Adelaide, and it did much to break down the prejudice against colonial wine. In 1881 Mr. Hardy obtained the handsome trophy, valued at £100, presented by Sir Edwin Smith, to the exhibitor who had done most to es tablish new industries suitable to the colony, — Southern Vineyards. —

Mr. Hardy first became a producer of wine in 1857, and not a year passed with out an increase of operations. In 1873 Mr. Hardy purchased the famous Tintara vine yard, which was planted by the late Dr. Kelly. This property is about 25 miles from Adelaide, and is situated among the ironstone hills south of the Onkaparinga. Its produce has been well known in Eng land for many years. After it came into his possession, Mr. Hardy greatly improved and extended the area under cultivation. In 1870 he purchased one of the disused flourmills at McLaren Vale, near Tintara, and converted it into a wine manufactory. This proved a great boon to the surround ing district, for in addition to treating his

own grapes, Mr. Hardy was able to buy up and treat a great deal of the fruit grown in the district. In 1881 he erected the large warehouse, four stories high, in Currie street, as a distributing depot for his wines. The business of the firm spread in all direc tions, and in addition to his interstate trade, the firm has had agencies in England for many years. In 1883, accompanied by one of his sons, Mr. Hardy made a trip to Europe and America, and visited all the great wine-producing cen tres. He again visited the old country and South Africa during 1898. On both occasions he contributed valuable travel notes to The Register and its associated papers. —Address of Welcome.— Of the esteem in which he was held the following address, presented to him soon after his return on the latter oocasion, bears testimony:— We, the undersigned, on behalf of a large number of residents and friends in the district of West Torrens, in which you have resided over half a century, extend to you a hearty welcome on your return from your visit to the old country. We desire to express our appreciation of your indomitable energy and perseverance in fur thering the interests of the district and the State in general, not forgetting the kindly interest you have always evinced in the schools over which you have presided as Chairman of the School Board for over 23 years. You may feel assured that you have our best wishes for your continued prosperity, health, and happiness. Trusting you will yet tie spared many years of useful life. We desire you to accept the accompanying photo, as a slight token of our esteem for you. The address was signed by Sir Edwin Smith, Messrs. T. H.Brooker. M.P., J. F. Mellor, C. B. Ware (then Mayor of Thebar ton), J. H. Burden, A. G. Lea, E. C. Hemingway, E. P. Fisher, W. Bennett, J. H. Aldridge, R. J. Holbrook, Col J. Rowell, C.B., C. R. Morris (late Mayor of Port Adelaide), J. D. Holbrook. W. H. Goodenough, R. B.. Cumins (ex-Mayor of Thebarton), and others. Mr. Hardy was one of the oldest members of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society. The Winegrowers' Association, the Chamber of Manufactures, the Agricul tural Bureau, and the West Torrens School Board of Advice, all had the advantage of his services. He was twice married, but had been a widower for about 25 years. The only surviving son is Mr. R. B. Hardy, Sydney manager for the firm, who is at present in Adelaide. The late Messrs. J. J. and T. N. Hardy were associated with their father for many years in the busi ness, which, about 27 years ago, was formed into a limited liability company, comprising the father, sons, other members of the family, and Mr. J. R. Osborn. The only surviving daughter is Miss A. E. Hardy, of Bankside. Another daughter, Mrs. W. Anstis, of Ballarat, died last year.

'1'IIB LATE MR. T. UA11DV.

'1'IIB LATE MR. T. UA11DV.