CELEBRATING 175 YEARS
Marking 175 years
of Bleasdale
April 4th, 2025 marked the 175th anniversary of Frank Potts purchasing the 120 acres of land on which the Bleasdale Winery now sits. At £1 an acre, we think he got a pretty good deal!
When nautical adventurer Frank Potts signed the deed to his 120-acre property on the banks of the Bremer River in 1850 he could not have imagined what his family’s tenure would contribute to Langhorne Creek and the Australian Wine Industry…
Already with an amazing life story, Frank arrived in Adelaide on the HMS Buffalo in 1836. His journey bought him through a place then called Langhorne’s Crossing.
Frank Potts like building things – a home, a workshop, a winery, water pumps, floodgates, vats, a lever press and a dynasty. When he added more land to his original holdings, the vineyard area expanded and so the winery, and the family, grew.
In 2025 we celebrated the 175th anniversary of Frank Potts establishing Bleasdale and the incredible journey of his ancestors and all the incredible stories of a family, a community and the land that we are on.
The stories of all the authentic and hard-working people that have contributed to making Bleasdale’s wines what they are today.
THE FRANK POTTS STORY
In 1858, Frank planted 30 acres of Verdelho & Shiraz vines, and Bleasdale’s first vintage followed in 1862. With this production of wine, Frank also found himself in need of a winery, so he built one! From his saw pit and forge, Frank shaped Bleasdale – the first winery in Langhorne Creek. Inspired by those he had seen on his travels to Portugal, Frank built the original Red Gum Press in the 1860s. The first cellar building was constructed of bricks made from excavated clay.
When not used to construct crushers and vats, red gums from the property were cut and shaped into quartering, joists, flooring and shingles, whilst nails, tools, plough points and chains were regularly made in the original workshop’s forge, which still stands today.
As the winery grew, so too did the Potts family. At the time of Bleasdale’s first vintage, Augusta had already given birth to 6 children, with a further 5 to come before her untimely death in 1871. The auspicious sixth child, also named Frank, took over responsibility of Bleasdale’s winery, distillery & vineyards as soon as he was old enough, leaving Frank I to return to his former love – boat building.
Between 1875-77, Frank senior built paddle-steamers ‘Wilcannia,’ ‘Bourke’ & ‘Dispatch’. A painting & scale replica of the former are located in the AB Potts room. Throughout the later years of his life, Frank played a definitive role in the design and building of many paddle steamers, cutters and barges. During this time, he also took great pleasure in racing his yachts at both Wellington and Milang sailing regattas.
In 1881, Frank’s final child was born to his second wife, Anne, née Flood. Frank and Anne produced two children during their 18-year marriage. Arthur was a talented artist who travelled to London to pursue his education. Richard – affectionately known as Uncle Dick – was a self-described Gentleman. The “Wise One” Tawny is named after this brilliant fellow.
In December 1890, Frank died, aged 75. Having pre-empted his death, the ever-pragmatic pioneer is reported to have built his own coffin, no doubt using his favourite wood – red gum. Frank and Augusta are buried together on the Bleasdale property.
