A Story 100 Years in the Making: The Purbricks of Tahbilk by Dr Fay Woodhouse

A Story 100 Years in the Making: The Purbricks of Tahbilk by Dr Fay Woodhouse

Now available at the Tahbilk Cellar Door

A century of stories, five generations of stewardship, and over 165 years of vines – The Purbricks of Tahbilk 1925–2025 is a landmark publication celebrating one of Australia’s most iconic wine families. Written by esteemed historian and family friend Dr Fay Woodhouse, this compelling new book honours the Purbrick family’s extraordinary legacy as custodians of Tahbilk Winery.

Published to coincide with the centenary year of Purbrick ownership, the book updates and expands the original 150 Year History of Tahbilk (2010). New chapters bring the story up to the present day, covering the past 15 years of innovation and environmental leadership, while earlier chapters have been carefully revised to reflect new research and greater historical insight. The result is a vibrant and richly detailed portrait of one of Victoria’s most treasured family wineries.

Meet the Author: Dr Fay Woodhouse

Dr Fay Woodhouse is a distinguished historian and biographer, and an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. Her work spans Australian social, political, and institutional history. She has edited the biography of Robert Russell and authored the biography of Scottish stockbreeder and pioneer pastoralist Duncan MacGregor.

Fay regularly contributes to the Australian Dictionary of Biography, with recent entries on Stephanie D’este, Elly Lukas, and Anne Woolliams. Her recent publications include Cornwalls: Celebrating 130 Years of Law, The Lancefield Football Club 1873–2023, and Watchdog for the People: 50 Years of the Victorian Ombudsman 1973–2023. She frequently presents papers at academic conferences, contributes to journals and edited volumes, and lectures on early Melbourne history. Locally, she writes for the Lancefield Mercury and edits articles for La Trobeana, the journal of the C.J. La Trobe Society.

As a long-time friend of the Purbrick family and visitor to Tahbilk, Fay brings warmth, familiarity, and deep historical understanding to this significant book.

A Legacy Rooted in the Land

Tahbilk’s story begins well before the Purbricks, on the ancestral lands of the Taungurung people, whose custodianship of the Goulburn River region is respectfully acknowledged throughout the book. The original Tabilk Vineyard Proprietary was established in 1860 with ambitious plans to plant one million vines. Its wines soon found acclaim across the British Empire.

But by the early 20th century, the estate had fallen into decline—until 1925, when Reginald Purbrick purchased the property and entrusted it to his son Eric. Eric arrived in 1931 to find Tahbilk in disrepair. Through vision, hard work, and a pioneering spirit, he restored its cellars, replanted vineyards, and re-established the estate’s name on the world wine stage.

Tahbilk remains home to some of the oldest vines in the world, including Shiraz planted in 1860—now 165 years old and still producing fruit today.

Five Generations of Family and Wine

Since Eric’s transformative work, four more generations of Purbricks have continued the legacy. Eric’s son John expanded Tahbilk’s reach and operations, while John’s son Alister became a qualified winemaker and took the helm in 1978. Alister guided the winery through over four decades of modernisation and environmental leadership, balancing respect for tradition with a forward-looking approach to sustainability and wine tourism.

From championing estate-grown varietals like Marsanne and Cabernet Sauvignon, to restoring the wetlands and achieving carbon neutrality in 2012, Alister's era has been defined by innovation grounded in heritage.

The Book that Captures It All

The Purbricks of Tahbilk weaves together vivid historical accounts, rare photographs, and personal family stories to create a rich narrative tapestry. The book delves into the lives of pioneering vignerons, the legacy of the Bear family (Tahbilk’s original founders), the rise of export markets, and the Purbrick matriarchs who shaped the cellar door experience across generations.

It’s a story of resilience, regional pride, and quiet determination—a uniquely Australian tale told with care, respect, and depth.

Visit Tahbilk, Taste the Story, and Take Home a Copy

There is no better place to discover The Purbricks of Tahbilk than the Cellar Door itself. Nestled in the heart of the Nagambie Lakes wine region, surrounded by 165-year-old vines and historic cellars, Tahbilk invites you to walk through time, enjoy its award-winning wines, and take home this remarkable new book as a keepsake.

Whether you’re a wine lover, a history buff, or a curious visitor, The Purbricks of Tahbilk is a must-read—and a heartfelt tribute to a winery like no other.

Pick up your copy today at Tahbilk Cellar Door. Explore the legacy. Taste the history. Be part of the story.