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First discovered in 1606 by Capt. William Janzsoon
in the Dutch East India Company vessel "Duyfken",
it was not until 1788 that Capt. Arthur Phillip lead
a fleet of 11 ships and 736 convicts to establish the
first settlement at Port Jackson now known as Sydney
Harbour. Although eastbound ships from Europe had to
pass the west coast of the country it was not until
1827, when a military outpost was established at Albany
followed by free settlement in Perth in 1829, that the
western half of Australia became established.
Settled in the 1850s, Margaret River was one of several
rural communities that developed in the countryside
south of Perth, Western Australia. It remained a predominantly
timber and farming area until 1965 when Dr John Gladstone
recognised in Margaret River strong similarities to
the Bordeaux wine region. He compiled a comprehensive
report entitled "The Climate & Soils of Southern WA
in relation to Vine Growing". His recommendations resulted
in the establishment of Vasse Felix, Margaret River’s
first commercial vineyard and winery, by Dr Thomas Cullity
in 1967, laying the foundations for Margaret River’s
wine industry.
The Margaret River wine region is located in the state
of Western Australia: Longitude - 115.07361 and Latitude
- 33.95250. It is approx 290km southwest of Perth and
nestled in a 100km strip of forested banks along the
Margaret River, halfway between Capes Naturaliste to
the north and Leeuwin to the south.
The region is bounded by ocean on three sides and enjoys
a strong maritime-influenced climate. Winters are wet
and stormy, with most of the region’s 900mm annual
rainfall falling between May and September. The summers
are mild and dry making irrigation essential.
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