A Century of Tahbilk: Bonnie Purbrick Unveils Plaque Honouring 100 Years of Family Stewardship

A Century of Tahbilk: Bonnie Purbrick Unveils Plaque Honouring 100 Years of Family Stewardship

On the morning of Thursday 4th December 2025, Tahbilk Estate awoke to a historic moment. Victoria’s oldest family-owned winery celebrated 100 years of continuous Purbrick family ownership, marking the milestone with a commemorative plaque unveiling attended by family, dignitaries, and the local community.

At the heart of the ceremony was 97-year-old matriarch Bonnie Purbrick. With her children beside her, she unveiled the plaque on the right-hand side of the cellar door, among other historic markers.

“This morning I thought to myself, this is a very special day,” Bonnie said. “There have been some very important people who have unveiled plaques in the past, and I am honoured to have been asked to unveil a plaque celebrating 100 years of my family at Tahbilk.”

During the formalities, Bonnie sat beside the presentation area, watching as Alister and his brother Mark carefully set the plaque into the stone wall using the original 1876 trowel first used by their ancestor, James Purbrick. Carefully sealed behind the plaque, where the symbolic items chosen to represent the family’s past and future: a bottle of 2015 “1927 Vines” Marsanne, a 2015 ESP Cabernet Sauvignon, and a copy of The Purbricks of Tahbilk 1925–2025. These now rest quietly behind the stonework, witnessing the century that has passed and the one still to come.

For a moment, the gathering paused, where past, present, and future converged — the history of the estate, the dedication of the family, and the promise of the generations to come meeting in one quiet, profound gesture.

Bonnie’s decades on the estate have shaped a true sense of belonging; Tahbilk stands as her family’s constant and unwavering home.

The ceremony reflected Tahbilk’s long tradition of plaque unveilings, dating back to 1876 with James Purbrick’s completion of the “New Cellar.” Other plaques mark significant milestones, including Tahbilk’s centenary in 1960 unveiled by Prime Minister Robert Menzies, the 100th anniversary of the “New Cellar” in 1975 with Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, and Tahbilk’s 150th anniversary in 2010 with Victorian Premier John Brumby.

Alister Purbrick, fourth-generation winemaker, addressed the assembled guests: “To survive and thrive over a long period, a family or business must have vision, courage, and commitment. Tahbilk’s points of difference, from being Victoria’s oldest winery and vineyard, to our historic vine stocks, to our unique climate shaped by the Nagambie Lakes, have allowed us to flourish for a century.”

He also paid tribute to the staff who have been part of Tahbilk’s journey. “Many local families have been employed here for two generations, some for three,” he said. “We couldn’t have survived and thrived over so many decades without them. I like to think we’re one big family, and I love how passionate our staff are about this place we call Tahbilk.”

“The 2025 plaque will stand as a tribute to a century of Purbrick stewardship, preserving historic vineyards, caring for the wetlands, and carrying forward the traditions that define the estate. It will also serve as a marker for future generations, acknowledging the responsibility we all share in shaping what comes next,” Alister added.

“This isn’t just about looking back,” he continued. “This has been a day to honour the people who brought us here, and to look ahead to what the next century will hold.”

The morning air carried the soft hum of conversation, the rustle of leaves, and the distant calls of birds over the wetlands. Bonnie’s presence made the moment profoundly personal, a reminder that Tahbilk’s strength lies in the people who love it, call it home, and dedicate themselves to its legacy.

With the plaque now in place, Tahbilk looks forward to the next century of Purbrick stewardship, a future set in history, nurtured by family, and shared with all who visit the estate.