History
Thomas Hardy, our pioneer, founder and first generation family member, leaves Devon for Australia. Upon arrival, Thomas finds work with John Reynell, South Australia’s first winemaker.
Thomas marries Johanna and his vision and passion for winemaking leads him to purchase his first property, Bankside. Bankside allows for Thomas to put his vision of creating ‘wines that will be prized in the markets of the world’ into practice.
Four years after planting his first vines, Thomas produces his first Bankside vintage and becomes one of the first exporters of Australian wine. Thomas’ wines continue to demonstrate their quality, making history by being the first Australian wines to be awarded two prestigious Gold medals at the International Wine Shows in Bordeaux, 1882 and Paris,1889.
In order to continue his expansion and further the vision he had for his wines, Thomas Hardy officially takes his sons into the family business, becoming Thomas Hardy & Sons.
The Bankside cellars are destroyed by fire, with the loss of every drop of wine. Two days short of his 82nd birthday, our founder, Thomas Hardy dies. His son, Robert Burrough Hardy (second generation), takes over the family business, continuing the legacy of his father.
Tom Mayfield Hardy (third generation), Thomas Hardy’s grandson, is tragically killed in a plane crash. Following his death, Tom’s wife, Eileen Hardy, and his cousin, Kenneth Hardy, take the reins of the business.
The townsfolk of McLaren Vale erect a monument to thank Thomas Hardy for bringing prosperity to the region.
Thomas Walter Hardy (fourth generation), Tom and Eileen Hardy’s eldest son, becomes the fourth generation of the Hardy family to enter the family business.
After managing the McLaren Vale vineyards and winery for 66 years, Thomas Hardy Nottage retires. As a tribute to his dedication, a vineyard at Tintara is named after him. This vineyard gives birth to a range of wines that have since become as well loved as its namesake. As we usher in our centenary, a large celebration is held at the house of Eileen Hardy (third generation), whose dedication to the family business has seen her become the grand matriarch of Hardys Wines.