St George Anchorage Historic Homestead & Horticulture Tour

A rare example of opulence and grandeur for a homestead of the early 1900s, The Anchorage was built in 1903 for Andrew Nixon from local cypress milled at Nixon’s sawmill. The unique architecture features large lofty rooms and wide sweeping verandahs perfectly suited to western Queensland living. 

Enjoy a morning tea in this exceptional rural setting, tour through the Homestead and discover its significant pastoral and agricultural heritage. Tour includes a historical perspective of St George and development of horticulture and grape growing since the 1860s. Wine tasting of Riversands award-winning wines is a journey full of flavour and historical interest, with each label honouring remarkable stories of the Balonne Shire. 

The Details:

• Tours run Wednesday’s May – September, or on demand outside these times.  Minimum 12 required. Maximum 24.
  

• Pickup from Riversands Vineyards, Pelican Rest, Kamarooka Tourist Park, Rivergum Tourist Park, motels & the St George Region Explore Centre from 8.45 am onwards. Tours return around 2 pm. 

• Please book your tour (May to September). Outside these times check if tours are running by contacting the St George Region Explore Centre 07 4620 8877 or vic@balonne.qld.gov.au or Riversands Vineyards 07 4625 3643. 

• You can book & pay directly on-line or at the St George Explore Centre or Riversands Vineyards. Alternatively you can pay the bus driver. 

Horticulture history in brief

The first wine grapes were grown at St George by Dr Ernest Seidel in 1862. After eventually establishing a vineyard he produced
over 500 gallons of red wine from his 2 acres of vines.Other grape growers & orchardists followed along with Chinese gardeners who produced vegetables for the local market. 

However it was the Tebb/Jibson families who were the pioneers of commercial table grape growing in St George supplying the Brisbane markets. George Faessler further developed the table grape industry from 1978 onwards. 

Today St George is a major supplier of table grapes to supermarkets along with Moonrocks onions, garlic and pumpkins & Lamattina carrots. At Riversands we grow both wine and table grapes with thanks to our early pioneers and the water security offered by the Beardmore Dam.

Testimonials

“A personal tour with knowledgeable guides who are long standing members of the community”

“Thank you for restoring a piece of Australian history” 

“Excellent morning tea and a beautiful 1900s homestead”