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100 Years of Winemaking Print Page 
The statue commemorates 100 years of winemaking from 1877 to 1977.
John James McWilliam became the pioneer of the wine industry in the area. "Plant a six-inch nail in this soil, water it and in a year you will have a crowbar" so said John James McWilliams when he arrived in Hanwood in 1913. The development of the Riverina region as a major wine producing area was primarily due to the foresight of the McWilliam family.
The Riverina, and Hanwood in particular, was an area John James McWilliam – the son of McWilliam’s founder, Samuel McWilliam – had identified earlier as having the potential to service the growing domestic and export wine markets. In 1913, John James McWilliam planted the first vines at Hanwood, 8 kilometres south of the agricultural town of Griffith in New South Wales; and in 1917 he established McWilliam’s Hanwood winery.
Note: McWilliams Wines went into voluntary administration in January 2020 and the creditors approved a purchase offer from private equity firm Prcstnt Asset Management in July 2020.
Location
| Address: | McWilliams Road, McWilliams Winery, Hanwood Estate, Hanwood, 2680 |
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| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -34.349962 Long: 146.042153 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Sculpture |
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| Monument Theme: | Technology |
| Sub-Theme: | Industry |
| Approx. Event Start Date: | 1877 |
| Approx. Event End Date: | 1977 |
| Artist: | Tom Bass |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Thursday 24th February, 1977 |
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Plaque:
JOHN JAMES McWILLIAM 1868 - 1951
Son Of Samuel McWilliam Who First Made Wine
At Corowa N.S.W. in 1877.
"J.J." Established Vineyards And A Winery
At Junee, N.S.W., Before The Turn Of The Century
And In 1913 Became The Pioneer Of The Wine Industry
In This Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.
To Show Their Respect And To Commemorate
One Hundred Years Of Winemaking, 1877 - 1977
Our Company Has Erected This Memorial.
The Clan Of 136 Spanning Four Generations
Gathered At Hanwood To Celebrate This Event
Unveiled By The Descendants Of John James McWilliam
On 24th February, 1977.
