Hutton Vineyards at Cooring Yering

When William Forbes Hutton died in 1896, one hundred and fifty acres, including the vineyard, was left to Walter and Maurice while the rest of the property was left to Eleonora. Subsequent entries in the Lilydale ratebooks are in the names of Eleonora Hutton and her two sons. Maurice and Walter were described as vine growers and wine sellers.

Maurice and Walter continued to develop the vineyard on the property although the economic depression during the 1890s affected winegrowers when wine became a luxury item resulting in a downturn of the wine industry in the Lilydale region.  John Forbes Hutton, Maurice’s son, provided Peter Hutton with information about the vineyard. Maurice had worked at Chateau Yering and Chateau Tahbilk developing his knowledge of grape growing and wine making. The grapes grown on the property were red Hermitage, white Hermitage, Sauvignon and Chasselas. There was an old cottage on the part of the property near the vineyards and a homestead, Cooring was later built there. A solid brick cellar with walls three foot thick was built. Tenders to build the cellar were called for in November 1889. Casks for storing the wine were made from English oak and each cask held from 500 – 800 gallons. There were twenty casks with fifteen in use. Wine was kept in the casks for one to two years then sold to the winemaker for approximately two shillings and sixpence per gallon. The wine produced was 60% red and 40% white.

The vines were grown as individual stands – no trellises were used. Tenders were invited for splitting and delivering 600 vine stakes 5 ft 6 in long 2 in x 2 in. The vines were planted six feet apart and pruned in May. Cuttings from pruning were burned to create smoke to help ward off frost. Birds, especially starlings were a threat to the crop and men were employed for three to four weeks each year using shotguns to create noise to frighten the birds. Ten to fifteen schoolboys were employed to help with picking the grapes. 

Maurice Hutton operated the vineyard until 1924 and there were good and bad years. There was a good vintage in 1901 but severe frosts in November 1914 resulted in three bad years. In 1918 there was an outbreak of downy mildew.

  

Map of Lilydale Memorial Park 

Section 3 of the cemetery map has reference to the old winery and to the Hutton Function Room. Part of the cemetery is on land where a Hutton family vineyard was located.