Walter Stimson's Vineyard, Fairfield West NSW, 1911

Photograph Information

Date1911DescriptionOne of the early pioneer families of Fairfield, the Stimsons, owned multiple vineyards in the area. William Stimson had arrived in Australia in 1849 and obtained land in the eastern part of Fairfield; where he built a house, established gardens, a citrus and cherry orchard and vineyard. William and his wife, Eliza, lived on this property called Cherry Grove until 1878 when they took up residence in Cambridge House, a newly built stately home located on Fairfield Crescent.

It was around that time, between 1871 and 1876, that the majority of the Male Orphan School land grant was subdivided and sold to several local businessmen including N.G. Bull, John Lackey and William Stimson. Stimson bought a substantial part of the grant along Orphan School Creek – at an estimated 2 pounds an acre - making him the largest property owner in the district.

William was also one of the first aldermen of Smithfield-Fairfield Council and remained in this position until a few years before his death in 1902, serving as mayor in 1894-1895. His sons, Walter and George, followed in his footsteps; Walter was mayor of Fairfield for several terms from 1903 and George was mayor of the Cabramatta - Canley Vale Council for many years.

The rich and fertile soil along the Orphan School Creek enabled four of William Stimson’s sons to successfully cultivate grapes and establish extensive market gardens. George, Walter, Henry and Arthur all had vineyards near the old Cambridge road, now the Cumberland Highway, in Fairfield West. The fifth son, Joseph, grew grapes further West in what is now the Bonnyrigg area.

NSW State Archives: Government Printing Office; NRS-4481, Glass negatives, [7/15785], MS 887, Walter Stimson's vineyard, Fairfield, 1911Geolocation^[1]NotesOriginal negative is held by the State Archives & Records Authority of New South Wales. Please direct all enquiries, including image orders from the original negative, to State Archives & Records Authority of New South Wales.External LinkState Archives & Records Authority of NSW

Details

Image ColourBlack & WhiteOriginal Print AvailableNoCopyrightYou are free to use without permission. Please acknowledge copyright owner(s) and Fairfield City Council. Please cite the URL so that others can also find this item.Copyright Owner(s)State Archives & Records Authority of New South Wales

Connections

CollectionHistorical PhotographsExhibitionFairfield's Finest DropSuburbFairfield WestPeople & FamiliesStimson Family

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Walter Stimson's Vineyard, Fairfield West NSW, 1911

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