Published Resources Details
Journal Article
- Title
- James King of Irrawang: A colonial entrepreneur
- In
- Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society
- Imprint
- vol. 57, no. 1, March 1971, pp. 40-57
- Url
- https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/ielapa.81114273160
- Format
- Contains
- Image
- Description
King was closely concerned with developing and promoting wine-growing as an important Australian industry, founding and becoming the first president of the Hunter River Vineyard Association in 1853. In the early 1850's his health began to deteriorate and he decided to travel to lEurope, visiting vineyards in France and Germany. While in London he received a Medal from the Society of Arts as an importer of best quality wine from New South Wales. On leaving the colony in June 1855 he leased 'Irrawang' to his manager. He intented to return to New South Wales, but fell ill in Europe, and died in London in November 1857. [page 52, paragraph 3]
- Abstract
His interest in chemistry aided his continual experimentation, and his papers [Mitchell Library MSS 682] contain many pages of tests und formulae. As well as producing wine, in 1848-9 he grew olives, preserving them in vinegar he made himself, and storing them in Irrawang stoneware bottles in the cellar. To obtain maximum control over his wine-making processes, the annual output ·was confined to about 2,000 gallons. As a result lrrawang wine was in great demand and highly praised, not only in New South Wales. but also in Europe. In 1850 he won First Prize and a Gold Medal :for dry white wine, and Second Prize and a Gold Medal for champagne, at the Horticultural Society's Annual Show in Sydney. He exhibited red and white wine (Vintage 1851 and 1852) and a sample of brandy at the Exhibition of Natural and Industrial Products of New South Wales in 1854, winning a Silver Medal, First Class. At the Paris Exhibition of 1855 he again won a prize, while his wines were served at the table oJ Napoleon III. [page 52 paragraph 2]
Related Published resources
isRelated
- Bickford, Anne; and associates, The Irrawang pottery site, Grahamstown Dam, Raymond Terrace, NSW: Assessment of cultural significance and options for its future (New South Wales: Hunter Water Corporation Limited, 1993), 1-97 pp, https://digital.library.sydney.edu.au/nodes/view/9106. Details