Our Beginnings

The Malone family are descendants of Cornelius A. Malone who was born in 1869 in Mt Barker and married Annie White eldest daughter of Michael White of Millicent.  Cornelius was the first of 4 generations of the Malone family to be involved in farming; over time owning and running a range of properties such as ‘Glen Roy’, ‘White Park’ and ‘Beamma’ within the South East Region. Cornelius eventually purchased ‘Laurie Park’ Station to farm with his sons White and Ivan as a grazing and cropping enterprise.  Ivan and his wife Constance purchased part of Laurie Park Station, from his family in 1930 and named it ‘Talinga’.

The property ‘Talinga’ is the site of the family business and vineyard today, passed on from Ivan to his son Jim and Jims wife Rosemary.

Quality focus

Production of quality primary produce has always been a focus of the family farming business. This philosophy has remained a constant over the years and today continues to underpin the way in which the farming enterprise and vineyard is operated.

Production of fine wool merinos was the corner stone of the family business for many years.  One of the major steps in the diversification of the business was commencing irrigation in the 1980s which opened up a range of opportunities for the business including pasture seed, prime lamb and hay production.  Today the family business is an intensive enterprise characterised by the production of wine grapes, prime lamb, pasture seed, and now wine production.

Who is Involved

The family connection is important to Jim and Rosie who have three children Will, Nick and Caroline.  Today Will and Nick continue the family farming tradition with their families, while Caroline has chosen a teaching career, and lives with her husband Brad in the region in which she was raised.  Will and Jen have two boys Max and Sidney.  Nick and Michelle have a daughter Annabel and son George.

Jim and Rosemary have worked together with their sons in initiating the vineyard and are involved in managing, maintenance and decision making.  Jim and Rosie along with their family have spent many hundreds of hours in the vineyard tending with care to the vines from the rootling stage to the now well established 10 year old vines.
 

Nick and Will who both hold a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agriculture from Roseworthy Agricultural College work together with their father Jim in the operation of the farm business.  Will and Nick share a role in the operation of the vineyard and the broader farm enterprise, while Will has taken on managing the process of wine production and promotion.

Michelle Malone, after 5 years as a technical officer at Yalumba Wines together with her part time work in monitoring pest and disease as a vineyard consultant, has a primary role utilising her technical experience as the family’s viticulturist. Michelle’s main role is monitoring soil moisture levels and ensuring the plants remain pest and disease free.

Jen Malone plays a role in supporting the preparation of marketing materials, and communications.