Hoopers Winery & Surroundings

Statement of Significance

Hooper's Winery has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: • The winery building is an integral element in a composition which is in the tradition of the English landscaped 'parks' which were essential components for English country estates. • The winery building is part of one of the states earliest hills wineries and is associated with an eminent person - Edward Keane, an MP, mayor of Perth, railway entrepreneur, timber merchant & water supply contractor. • The place demonstrates early winemaking in WA • The winery building contributes to the understanding of social values through the context of the whole winery complex in rural WA before the turn of the century. It has associations with practices of high achievement in winemaking, gardening and railway & timber industry development. • As one of the first wineries extant in the Perth hills, it is rare. • The winery building is in poor but not irredeemable condition. • The authenticity of the winery building is substantial Aesthetic Value The place possesses a strong rural aesthetic due to its position near the small stream and cutting into the gentle slope that was once covered with vines. Its juxtaposition with the other elements of the historic site reinforces the intrinsic cultural value of a setting created with references to English landscape tradition. In its present state it is difficult to appreciate the built form. Its presence is notable as it is highly visible from the main street of the town being on the northern slope of the valley opposite and stretching for some distance along the small stream. Historic Value Hoopers Winery is one of the state's earliest hills wineries. It was started in 1884 when Edward Keane, an important figure in Western Australia 's railway history (especially the Midland Railway Company), took up the land as payment for construction of the Chidlow to Spencers Brook section of the Easter Railway (the cost of the vineyard and his 20 room residence is reputed to have been £8,800). The stonework of the northern section was built by George Gwynne. The property had a gardener, Mr Burnes, who won many prizes for roses in Perth. In 1899 the residence burnt down and the family left the district. Subsequent owners were Woods and in 1911, R A Hooper took over the property and made extensive improvements that turned the winery into a showcase for many years. Scientific Value The place demonstrates the progress of winemaking from the early l 880's in the Darling ranges with the earliest and most recent vats extant. The location near the stream with its 'in ground ' water tanks are unusual and show that water was important to the production methods of the time. The place has the potential to reveal archaeological evidence of the occupation of the site which could contain evidence of early winery practises and the lifeways of the various occupants of the site. Social Value The winery building is part of a larger complex of owners, managers and workers housing, workplaces for coopers and maintenance sheds that can be interpreted to demonstrate the rural agricultural/viticultural way of life before the turn of the century. The location of the various components imply a reinforcement of social order with the owners residence being on the high ground and the managers on the opposite side of the valley with workers accommodation being close to the winery or well downstream. Its highly visible and commanding position across the valley from the townsite links it closely with the town and is a constant reminder of its presence in the community psyche. Edward Keane (1844-1904), the original owner was not only a prominent railway identity but also a timber merchant and water supply contractor. He was Mayor of Perth I 891-92 and a Member of Parliament in this period. Rarity The place is rare in that there are no wineries in the Darling Range as old and therefore it can be considered as the first of its kind. It is endangered by the progressive deterioration and the threat of a Demolition Order. Condition The winery is in an unstable and deteriorating condition. A Demolition Order has been threatened by the local authority. However, a substantial amount of the fabric is original and the building can be stabilised with the extensive timber frame and ci cladding reinstated with additional reinforcing techniques for the framing and re­ rolling of the iron. Authenticity As it stands, the building retains a substantial extent of its authenticity but the ongoing deterioration reduces this value and demolition will eliminate all of it.

Physical Description

The winery is the main part of a vineyard complex situated in a shallow valley on the northern side of the Bakers Hill townsite. The complex consists of the main building, cooperage, workers accommodation, managers house, owners residence, vineyard and various outbuildings and winery infrastructure. The winery is predominantly single storey with a second floor above the vat room. Building fabric is local stone, red brick and unpainted corrugated iron clad timber frame. The original square vats are rendered brick in the vat room with later vats of cylindrical concrete in the gallery. The floors vary from concrete to packed earth on the lower level with a timber floor to the upper level. The upper level was once lined with pine boarding and there is a small area extant within the collapsed top section. The building form is of a core of two storey with a gabled roof running east west over the vat room area with two dormer style projections of the west side. From this central gabled structure, the roof is lean to style on the north, west and south sides. The building sits on a levelled area cutting into the slope of the land on the north and a small stream runs close to the south face of the building. The stream was planked over for a considerable extent from the winery and downstream to the east.

History

Assessment 2003 Construction 1885 Alterations/Additions 1911 Builder: Edward Keane The district was first known as Bakers Mount after Frederick Baker, a local sawmiller. It subsequently was called Mount Baker and then Bakers Hill to avoid confusion with Mount Barker. William Coates first took up Land in the district in 1850 where he established an inn for wayside travellers. In 1851 Coates with the use of convict labour blazed a new road from where Wundowie is now to the coach road about two miles south of the townsite. Traces of gold were found in the surrounding hills in 1860 but no substantial lode or vein found. The district's section of the Eastern Railway was constructed in 1884 by Edward Keane. In 1890, its location was realigned to just north of the present townsite where the formation forms a trail for recreational uses. Being on the main route to the Eastern Goldfields, the rail, road and water pipeline of C Y O'Connor, the district grew to a modest size and currently enjoys a small increase in population as it offers rural lifestyle close to the metropolitan area. Hoopers Winery is one of the state's earliest hills wineries. It was started in 1884 when Edward Keane, an important figure in Western Australia' s railway history (especially the Midland Railway Company), took up the land as payment for construction of the Chidlow to Spencers Brook section of the Easter Railway (the cost of the vineyard and his 20 room residence is reputed to have been £8,800). Edward Keane came from a fairly wealthy English family. He was familiar with the large landscaped 'parks' that were a feature of English country houses . ft is thought that he tried to emulate the appearance of a 'landscaped park' on his estate at Baker's Hill. The stonework of the northern section was built by George Gwynne. The wine produced by the winery was apparently of good quality and won awards at the Perth Show. The property had a gardener, Mr Burnes, who won many prizes for roses in Perth. The Keane family left the district in 1899 when the residence burnt down. Edward Keane was not on ly a prominent railway identity, but he also operated a thriving timber company and was a water supply contractor. He served briefly as Mayor of Perth in 1891 - 92 and was also a member of Parliament for this period. Subsequent owners were Woods and in 1911, R A Hooper took over the property and made extensive improvements that turned the winery into a showcase for many years. Wine production ceased in 1970 and the Hoopers sold the property in 197 1.

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