1823 - 1906
George "Daddy" Wilson
George Wilson came to Australia on the ship Regina, travelling with his wife Mary Jane (nee Baker) and children John Edward (aged 9), Mary Anne (aged 7) and George Henry (aged 1). The family left Southampton England on 17 March 1857 and arrived on 23 June 1857. George's occupation on the shipping indent is noted as "sawyer".DEATH OF MR. G. WILSON Snr – from the Boorowa News
- 19 October 1906
Death has conveyed to the peaceful urn an old and esteemed resident of the Boorowa District and it can be said truthfully that the grave has closed over a generous good hearted man. Mr. George Wilson died at his residence at Rye Park on Friday 12th inst. at the age of 83. A life of honesty, probity and integrity gained for him the respect and esteem of all who had his acquaintance. Although not feeling in the best of health of late years, his end was not expected so soon. He partook of his usual midday meal and on retiring from the table suddenly collapsed and died within a few minutes. Mr. Wilson was born in County Sussex England in the year 1825 and came to this State in 1857. The first scene of his labours was at Shoalhaven where he started a saw pit. From there he went to Dalton (then called Jerrawa) following the same occupation and cut the timber for the first bridge at Gunning. He was afterwards a resident of Grabbingullen for six years. From Grabbingullen he went to Rye Park where he made one of the oddest homesteads in the Boorowa district establishing splendid vineyards his wines being very well known for their excellent quality and there was reared a respectable family of one daughter and three sons, Mrs. Veness, Sydney, Mr. John E. Wilson, Junee, Mr. G.H. Wilson and Mr. W. Wilson, Rye Park and no-one of them deviating from the honourable examples of their father. The deceased also took a very active part in mining and in the early days visiting the gold fields of Lambing Flat, Grenfell and Parkes. By his death the place has lost a worthy man but the memory of his life will long remain green in the remembrance of those who knew him. The funeral took place on Sunday to the Church of England Cemetery at Rye Park. Mourners from every district around being present and was one of the largest funerals ever seen at Rye Park, the coffin being borne from the hearse to the grave by his six grandsons. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. G. Patterson & Son in their usual satisfactory manner.
George's winery was attached to his residence "Ainsbury" at Rye Park. The
winery shed was intact on the property in the late 1970's and by 1988 had
been removed to a local winery and rebuilt.
The old winery shed on the property 'Ainsbury'. Photo taken in 1979.
At the time of George's death the winery had 8000 gallons of mixed wine held in 165 casks. A local story has it that an auction held after George's death went on for a week, the time it took for the wine to be drank.
When George died his assets consisted of his vineyard, sawmill, blacksmith's shop, farm, orchard, shares in two mines and substantial land holdings including the Rye Park Hotel. The net worth of his Estate was 3,836 pounds. George's Will was a simple document, leaving the whole of his Estate to his children equally.
Rye Park Hotel, photo from Town and Country Journal, 19 July 1905. The building consisted of a hotel and dwelling. The hotel contained a bar, taproom, dining room, parlour and 3 bedrooms and a kitchen. The dwelling had a parlour, six bedrooms, dining room, kitchen and storeroom.
