Gledswood Hills

Gazing across the rolling hills, can you imagine a thousand acres of thriving vineyards? This is Gledswood Hills. A suburb steeped in history and natural beauty. Gledswood Hills was officially recognized as a suburb in 2011. But its story begins much earlier. The land belongs to the Dharawal people. Their history is intertwined with this landscape. In 1810, Gabriel Louis Marie Huon de Kerilleau, a French exile turned tutor to the Macarthur family, built the first structure here. It was a convict lock-up. He named the property “Buckingham”. James Chisholm purchased the estate in 1816, renaming it “Gledswood”. Chisholm, a shrewd businessman involved in the rum trade, saw the potential of the land. He completed the main homestead, a beautiful rubble stone structure in the style of an Indian bungalow. In 1830, Chisholm’s son planted the first vineyard. The Macarthur family, friends of the Chisholms, even lent their German vine dressers to help establish the vineyard. Gledswood became a successful enterprise. The Chisholms raised cattle, bred sheep whose wool fetched top prices, and of course, produced wine. Their convict-built cellar could hold an astounding 20,000 bottles. The gardens at Gledswood also flourished, eventually being featured in the Horticultural Magazine in 1870. The Testoni brothers purchased Gledswood in 1971. They revived the winery and established the property as a tourist destination. They even had a herd of cattle for cheesemaking. Gledswood Hills offers a glimpse into Australia’s colonial past. The Gledswood Homestead and Winery stands as a testament to the vision and industry of those who shaped this land. It is a place where history whispers through the vines and echoes in the grand homestead. It invites you to step back in time and experience the rich heritage of Gledswood Hills.