Frank and Margaretha Prendergast come from a background of running highly successful childcare and building businesses on the Sunshine Coast.
One of Margaretha's friends had a South Burnett vineyard, and the Prendergasts with their two children Joe and Molly would often leave the beaches of the coast to spend the weekend in the countryside on the shores of Lake Barambah. Being both keen still water rowers, the Prendergasts knew that they had found their slice of heaven when they saw the Dusty Hill property.
They fell in love with the idea of having a rural property and developing a quality vineyard producing premium Queensland wines in what is some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery in Queensland. Coupled with the Macarthur Report that identified the South Burnett region as an area having great potential as a serious wine region (with significant similarities in soil and climate to the Hunter and various famous wine regions in Europe), they were convinced that this was the place for them to escape the hustle and bustle of the Sunshine Coast. They purchased the property in 1996.
Frank and son Joe moved to the property first. Initially living in a tent in the middle of winter (and the property gets around 22 frosts a year), Frank began constructing the first of the property's buildings and Joe started his vocation as vigneron by planting the vines. The property was in the seventh year of a drought and the name "Dusty Hill" was an appropriate way to celebrate the vineyard's beginnings. The varieties planted were Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Verdelho, Semillon and Muscat, primarily because these were the varieties that the Prendergasts liked to drink and also because they believed they would do well in the region. Their aim is to make great Queensland wines that are up there with the best in Australia.
The property now has 17 acres planted and a homestead for the family, Tasting Room, Molly's Café, Jacaranda Cottage for guests on a knoll overlooking Lake Barambah, and a restored barn for banquets. Six vintages later, all of Dusty Hill's red wines have won medals in the Melbourne Wine Show, and they are looking forward to seeing the wines continue to improve with vine age.