History: Glen Hardey Vineyard

These photos and descriptions are from February 2018

Glen Hardey Vineyard was established by Richard Watson Harden in September 1882, utilising the yet unused fertile ironstone-gravel soils and rolling hills found in the region. March 1884 also saw the completion of the Eastern Railway with a nearby train station called Smiths Mill (modern-day Glen Forrest) which allowed Harden to easily transport his grapes to Maylands for processing, where his family owned a prominent farm.

However, by 1897 the rising cost of transport led to Harden building a cellar and fermenting house, which is what you see here. This building utilised the hillside to easily syphon the grapes during the winemaking process. The location was also specifically picked as it would receive breezes from over the hills to keep the structure cool.

Harden died in 1910, but the vineyard had several different operators over the years up until 1949 when a bushfire destroyed the grape crops. The structure was not affected and stayed in a complete (but abandoned state) for another 30 years and became a local landmark. Sadly, yet another bushfire partially destroyed the building in April of 1978. It has remained in that post-fire state ever since.

Street Photography: Albany

Abandoned: The Red Hill Quarry