John Septimus Roe become Western Australia's first Surveyor General after an illustrious career in the British Navy. An accomplished explorer and Mathematician he worked in the New South Wales colony from 1817 to 1827 before accepting the West Australian role in 1829.

After 11 years of service which included the overseeing the development of colonies at Fremantle and Perth, he was in 1840 rewarded for his efforts by the reigning Queen Victoria with the bequethment of 2,000 acres of land along the Swan River in Caversham.

He named the Swan Valley property Sandalford, and soon after planted the first vines there. The property flourished and wines produced from the vines grown there satisfied the requirements of the local community for the decades following.

The Winemaker at Sandalford Wines from the mid 60's to the late 70's was Dorham Mann - son of famed Wine-making Pioneer Jack Mann. Under Dorham's advice the Roe family expanded into the Margaret River region in the South West of Western Australia.

This area had earlier been assayed by Dr John Gladstone which he assessed as being an ideal climate and terrior for the growing of Premium wine grapes, likening the terroir and general conditions to famed region of Bordeaux in France. Based on this the Roe family purchased a 280 hectare property which was planted with vines in 1970.

This Wilyabrup sub region of Margaret River has gone on to be one of the most famed wine producing areas in all of Australia, and indeed is recognised on the World stage for amazing Cabernet's Chardonnay's and now Shiraz.

1840 and 1970 are therefore very important dates in the history of Sandalford Wines, and whilst we look to the future with great optimism having plans to grow and expand our wine, tourism, F&B, and Event offerings, we will never lose sight of our heritage and the fact Sandalford Wines was indeed a pioneer of both the Swan Valley and Margaret River.