15 June 1888   Samuel Smith of Yalumba

When Samuel Smith died on the 15 June 1888 he had established a business that is still run by the family. 

Smith was born in Dorset in 1812 and came to South Australia in 1847 with his wife, four daughters and a son, Sidney. They lived for a time at Paradise, but recognising the possibilities of the soil and climate for viticulture Samuel determined to go to Angaston, for he felt that his experience as a brewer in England would help him at wine making. He took up land near the town and planted vines and fruit trees.

In the early years he had difficulty in selling his produce and when the gold rush to Victoria began he joined the exodus, and on sinking his 17th shaft he struck some gold. On his return he enlarged his orchard and vineyard and called the estate 'Yalumba', aboriginal for 'all the country around'. The first wine made in a small cellar in 1853 was of good quality and he gradually prospered. On his death his son, Sidney, was ready to take charge. Sidney had five sons who all came into the business in some capacity. It was during Sidney's management that the winery's imposing brick building with its clock tower was built.

Smith's now produce many fine wines and probably one of their best known is the Galway Pipe Port. This name came about from the time the Governor, Sir Henry Galway, used to visit Yalumba and taste the various blends and select one for his cellar, the winemaker would then write on that pipe (cask) Galway's Pipe. On his return to England in 1920 the Governor allowed Yalumba to use the name.

T.T. Pascoe (ed), History of Adelaide and Vicinity,   Hussey & Gillingham, Adelaide, 1901, pp. 540-543.
Mike Potte,r Wines and Wineries of South Australia,  Rigby, Adelaide,
1978, p. 215.