The two homesteads are Ben Eadie and Craiglee, which were two of Sunbury's earliest vineyards that were established in Sunbury. James Stewart Johnson designed and built his concrete home, Craiglee, in 1865 where the previous year he had planted out his vineyard on the surrounding 26 acres of land.The property was on the east side of Jacksons Creek on Macedon Road. He concentrated growing Riesling and Hermitage grapes. After his death in 1896, his son Wilfred continued to produce wines until the late 1920s, when he pulled out the vines and concentrated on raising sheep for wool and meat. The Carmody family purchased the property in 1961 and in 1976 decided to replant the vineyard. Ben Eadie was built some time in 1863 and settled by the Eadie family who also were millers. The winery was built into the side of a hill close to the house but the Eadie family tended to concentrate on milling and retailing.In the earliest days of European settlement many wineries were established in the Sunbury area.Two non-digital sepia photographs have been mounted on cardboard. They are photographs of two homesteads with bare hills in the background. They were built in Sunbury in the early days off European settlementBen Eadie Vic. Craiglee Sunbury 1903john eadie, ben eadie winery, james stewart johnson, craiglee, wineries, vineyards

The vineyards exhibition was mounted by the Sunbury & District Heritage Association in the former George Evans Museum from August 1996 to January 1997. It featured the establishment of the vineyards and the wine industry in Sunbury from the 1860s to the present day. From the early days of European settlement in Sunbury, it was found that the soils and climate suited the growing of grapes, especially the east facing slopes along Vineyard Road. A number of people of German origin established vineyards along there. By the end of the nineteenth century and limited spending power as a result of the 1890s depression, the demand for wine declined in Victoria with beer being the preferred beverage.While Phylloxera destroyed the vines in many areas of Victoria, Sunbury's grapevines were not affected. As the demand for wine increased in the 1960s - 70s, some vineyards in the Sunbury area were replanted.The vineyards established in Sunbury in the 1860s were one of the earliest agricultural pursuits taken up by European settlers in the area and remained an important industry for 40 years.A non-digital coloured photograph of a display board advertising an exhibition of vineyards in the Sunbury area.vineyards, sunbury, vignerons, wine production

harvest, vineyards, grapes, fruits