Meet the Family
This is our family, Robert and Patricia (Amos), Naoimh our youngest, Adam, Grainne, Eimear and Auley.
We make up the 6th, 7th and 8th generations who cherish this stunning property and all that it offers.
Our Beginning 1821
Gala Estate was one of the first land grants on the East Coast of Tasmania. 1000 acres was granted to Adam Amos in 1821, originally of Galashiels, in the borders of Scotland. Adam, his wife and family endured a harrowing five month long voyage from Gravesend to Van Diemen’s Land, travelling on the Emerald which set anchor in Hobart Town on St Patrick’s Day, 17 th March, 1821.
The early years were a hard slog for the Amos family, with the enormous task of clearing the fertile river flats of Cranbrook and the overwhelming burden of isolation, neighbouring free settlers being over 10 miles away. Adam also took on the role of Chief Constable for the emerging district of Great Swan Port. This took up a lot of Adam’s time and resources, with settlers under repeated attacks from both local aboriginals and bush rangers.
[A letter from Adam Amos to his sons- click on to enlarge]
By the end of the 1830s, Adam Amos was recognised as one of the most successful settlers in the colony and was reaping the rewards as a grain producer, later selling flour to the Victorian gold fields. (One of the original flour mills is now used as a wine store and is as good as any cellar with its 600mm thick convict brick walls).
The Farm Now
Gala has changed greatly since its humble beginnings with neighbours on all sides and a history of primary production that has helped the coast prosper.
Gala Estate is now a property of 4000 hectares. The farm has great diversity with 5 Private Forest Reserve,. four rivers and a full spectrum of soils and land types.
Gala currently produces fine wool from non-mulesed multi-purpose merinos, prime lambs, vegetable seed, pasture seed, cereals and poppies. In 2007 the decision was made to plant a vineyard at Gala and take advantage of Tasmania’s growing reputation as a premium cool climate wine region. Several successful vineyards have been flourishing in the Cranbrook area since the early 1980’s.
In a changing climatic, economic and ethical environment, farming practices and enterprise selection must adapt for a property to remain sustainable. At Gala we endeavour to meet all of these challenges to ensure another 8 generations of our family can have the opportunity to caretaking this beauitful land.