| Notes |
- 26 March 1840 Death:25 December 1912
Cultural Heritage:
English
Occupation:
grazier
store/shopkeeper
wine and spirits dealer
winemaker
Life Summary
Abbreviations
BASSETT, SAMUEL SYMONS (1840-1912), vigneron, storekeeper and pastoralist, was born on 26 March 1840 at St Enoder, Cornwall, England, son of William Bassett, landowner, and his wife Phillippa, née Batten (or Letcher). Migrating to New South Wales in 1856, he gained colonial experience on the Hunter River with his uncle John Christian, went to the Maranoa District in Queensland in 1858, and became overseer of Euthulla station.
Grapes had already been grown on the adjacent Mount Abundance station and, perhaps because of his Hunter Valley experience, Bassett planted vines on the banks of Bungil Creek just north of the developing town of Roma. Using local cuttings and some from Toowoomba, he established a vineyard on freehold land purchased in June 1866. Despite his limited knowledge of either vine-growing or wine-making, he gradually expanded his Romavilla vineyard and orchard to 60 acres (24 ha) and was soon selling wine locally. Although he tried unsuccessfully to sell Romavilla in 1879, he persisted with development and by 1889 had the largest vineyard of seven in the Roma area, yielding 200 gallons of wine to the acre (2250 litres to the hectare). By 1884 he had a cellar and a wine-making plant.
Bassett began business as a storekeeper and wine merchant in Roma in partnership with A. J. Skinner from 1874 and was on his own in 1880-92. He also held interests in the pastoral runs Mount Maria (1875-88), Brigham (1876-88), Tarawinnabah (1876-88), Winneba (1877-88), Red Cap (1878-88), Bassett (1882-88) and Protection (1885-88), all in the Warrego District and in partnership with Skinner and Robert Douglas. After considerable losses Bassett and Skinner withdrew.
Returning to wine, Bassett began marketing operations which eventually covered eastern Australia. He also sold grapes to colonial and overseas markets, packing them in sawdust for safe transit. His wines won prizes at the Brisbane Exhibition in 1902 and at interstate and overseas shows. In 1903 the Romavilla marketing list included port, muscat, amontillado, burgundy, madeira, chablis, hock, claret, sherry, champagne and sauterne. Irrigation was introduced before 1900.
Despite poor health in the latter half of his life, Bassett was an enterprising, energetic, tough businessman, respected as a benevolent taskmaster by his family. He died of pulmonary tuberculosis on Christmas Day 1912, survived by his wife Isabella, née Cameron, whom he had married at Roma on 27 July 1871, and by six sons and three daughters of their fourteen children. His estate was valued for probate at £823.
Romavilla had involved a heavy contribution from the family. Bassett's sons, Lionel, Samuel and Kenneth, travelled for the firm and Samuel, before leaving the business for the pastoral industry, was manager of the vineyard. His twin WILLIAM AUGUSTUS (1887-1973) took increasing responsibility for the wine-making operations. Born at Roma on 27 April 1887 and educated there and at The Armidale School, New South Wales, William was sent to Sydney by his father to learn the wine-making art from Leo Buring. Returning to Roma he joined the family business, working in the winery. When his father died William took over the total management of Romavilla. He continued the family's success in retail-marketing of wine and exhibiting at various shows.
Like his father, Bassett was interested in grazing, holding at various times Crochdantigh near Muckadilla, Karoola Park and Ventura Downs in the Surat district, and Mooga Hills near Roma. On 8 June 1911 at Roma he married Ruby Maiden who predeceased him in 1971. Actively managing Romavilla into his old age, he died after a short period of illness on 4 December 1973, aged 86. The business was then sold. He had been a respected member of the business community and a strong supporter of local interests. He was survived by one daughter and three sons and left a gross estate of $85,113 to his family.
Select Bibliography
Queensland and Queenslanders (Brisb, 1936); R. B. Taylor, Roma and District, 1846-1885 (Roma, 1959); Viticulture and Wine-making in the Southern Districts, Votes and Proceedings (Legislative Assembly, Queensland), 1889, 4, 25; Western Star (Roma), 28 Dec 1912, 7 Dec 1973; H. Spencer, The Bassett family, Roma Pioneer Families (State Library of Queensland); Ecclesiastical file 13/102, SCT/P848 (Queensland State Archives); LAN/N6, N63, AB12 (Queensland State Archives); private information.
Author: Paul D. Wilson
Print Publication Details: Paul D. Wilson, 'Bassett, Samuel Symons (1840 - 1912)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, Melbourne University Press, 1979, pp 205-206.
Bassett, was christened 13 Mar 1840 in Pencorse, St. Enoder, Cornwall. He
died 25 Dec 1912 in Romaville, Queensland, Australia. He married Isabella
Cameron on 27 Jul 1871 in Roma, Queensland, Australia.
He went to Australia with his sister Loveday on the "Robert Small"
leaving Portsmouth 30 Jan 1856 arriving in Sydney on 23 May 1856. He worked
for his uncle John Symons Christian in the Roma area. In June of 1886 he
started the first winery in Queensland called Romavilla. It was sold after
the death of his grandson William Augustus in 1973 but is still in
operation.
ROMAVILLA WINERY (Excerpt)
Samuel Bassett established The Romavilla Vineyards in 1863 and sold
his first wine in 1866. By the turn of the century his marketing list
included "Burgundy, Chablis, Hock, Claret, Riesling, Champagne and
Sauternes, Port, Muscat, Sherry and Madeira". Bassett also sold grapes to
colonial and overseas markets packing them in sawdust for safe transit any
many thousands of cases of grapes annually from other Roma growers also
found their way to eastern markets. Romavilla has not missed a vintage
since 1866 producing 30,000 to 170,000 litres of wine through the 1930's to
60's depending on the year.
The present winery was built in 1878 and is a fine example of those
large timber and corrugated iron buildings of yesteryear. The high roof,
supported by elegant king post trusses, helps alleviate the heat during
summer.
A.D.B. 1891-1939
Bassett, Samuel Symons (1840-1912), vigeron, storekeeper and
pastoralist, was born on 26 March 1840 at St Enoder, Cornwall, England, son
of William Bassett, landowner, and his wife Phillippa, nee Batten (or
Letcher). Migrating to New South Wales in 1856, he gained colonial
experience on the Hunter River with his uncle John Christian, went to the
Maranoa District in Queensland in 1858, and became overseer of Euthulla
station.
Grapes had already been grown on the adjacent Mount Abundance
station and, perhaps because of his Hunter Valley experience, Bassett
planted vines on the banks of Bungil Creek just north of the developing
town of Roma. Using local cuttings and some from Toowoomba, he established
a vineyard on freehold land purchased in June 1866. Despite his limited
knowledge of either vine-growing or wine-making, he gradually expanded his
Romavilla vineyard and orchard to 60 acres (24 ha) and was soon selling
wine locally. Although he tried unsuccessfully to sell Romavilla in 1879,
he persisted with development and by 1889 had the largest vineyard of seven
in the Roma area, yielding 200 gallons of wine to the acre (2250 litres to
the hectare). By 1884 he had a cellar and a wine-making plant.
Bassett began business as a storekeeper and wine merchant in Roma
in partnership with A.J. Skinner from 1874 and was on his own in 1880-92.
He also held interests in the pastoral runs Mount Maria (1875-88), Brigham
(1876-88), Tarawinnabah (1876-88), Winneba (1877-88), Red Cap (1878-88),
Bassett (1882-88) and Protection (1885-88), all in the Warrego District and
in partnership with Skinner and Robert Douglas. After considerable losses
Bassett and Skinner withdrew.
Returning to wine, Bassett began marketing operations which
eventually covered eastern Australia. He also sold grapes to colonial and
overseas markets, packing them in sawdust for safe transit. His wines won
prizes at the Brisbane Exhibition in 1902 and at interstate and overseas
shows. In 1903 the Romavilla marketing list included port, muscat,
amontillado, burgundy, madeira, chablis, hock, claret, sherry, champagne
and sauterne. Irrigation was introduced before 1900.
Despite poor health in the latter half of his life, Bassett was an
enterprising, energetic, tough businessman, respected as a benevolent
taskmaster by his family. He died of pulmonary tuberculosis on Christmas
Day 1912, survived by his wife Isabella, nee Cameron, whom he had married
at Roma on 27 July 1871, and by six sons and three daughters of their
fourteen children. His estate was valued for probate at 823£.
Romavilla had involved a heavy contribution from the family.
Bassett's sons, Lionel, Samuel and Kenneth, travelled for the firm and
Samuel, before leaving the business for the pastoral industry, was manager
of the vineyard. His twin William Augustus (1887-1973) took increasing
responsibility for the wine-making operations. Born at Roma on 27 April
1887 and educated there and at The Armidale School, New South Wales,
William was sent to Sydney by his father to learn the wine-making art from
Leo Buring (q.v.3, T.G.H Buring). Returning to Roma he joined the family
business, working in the winery. When his father died William took over the
total management of Romavilla. He continued the family's success in retail marketing
of wine and exhibiting at various shows.
Like his father, Bassett was interested in grazing, holding at
various times Crochdantigh near Muckadilla, Karoola Park and Ventura Downs
in the Surat district, and Mooga Hills near Roma. On 8 June 1911 at Roma he
married Ruby Maiden who predeceased him in 1971. Actively managing
Romavilla into his old age, he died after a short period of illness on 4
December 1973, aged 86. The business was then sold. He had been a respected
member of the business community and a strong supporter of local interests.
He was survived by one daughter and three sons and left a gross estate of
$85113 to his family. By Paul D. Wilson
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1840 - 1912 (72 years)
[3]