Kelly and Todd Rowett had budding careers in Adelaide, Todd in Advertising with Network Ten and Kelly in Sales within 5 star hotels and the Festival Centre. Both were on the fast track for interstate and international careers, until a romantic holiday in Tasmania resulted in, as Todd puts it “a penny dropping moment, realising that we were both connected to the land and really could not see ourselves spending decades away in cities “. In 2005, Kelly and Todd at just 27 and 28 respectively, moved out of corporate life and relocated to Williamstown to work with Kelly’s parents, Barb and Trevor on their TeAro Estate wine label. They focused firstly on rebranding and then marketing TeAro Estate as a dynamic family owned wine business. The TeAro Estate Tasting Room, a converted 1850’s barn is the newest business in the main street of Williamstown, opening in April 2010.
Nardia Munt, originally an SA girl, had after 13 years of working for multinational firms overseas decided in 2006 to retire early at just 33 and buy a B&B in the Barossa. With the B&B up and running she started looking for a new business venture, accidently stumbling across an 1880’s iron stone building in Williamstown, which encompassed a house and three store front. Nardia saw the opportunity to use the new building as a store front to showcase antiquities and unique homewares. Launching, the now award winning, Dragonfly Antiques in late 2007, Nardia says “I get so many comments from people shocked to find such an international collection outside of the city. I always get asked ‘why here?’ I say why not! It is a gorgeous location, less than an hour to Adelaide and if you have something unique people will travel. The bonus is that I can walk to work!”
Rebecca and Stuart Tappert had been searching for 2 years for the perfect location to start a bakery. In 2006, at just 29 and 31 respectively, they found the Corner Bakery in Williamstown. Rebecca, who had spent the previous decade in banking and finance, hung up the power suit to join her Patisserie Chef husband, Stuart, in a move from Adelaide to Williamstown in early 2007. “We have made the true ‘tree change’ moving our whole lives to Williamstown with our 2 young sons but have never looked back. The lifestyle is fantastic and we have now forged a state wide reputation for our produce. We differentiate ourselves by providing a whole experience for those that visit us at the bakery; top quality produce, coffee, service and tourist information have proved the right mix.”
Growing up on the Linfield Road family vineyard, Daniel Wilson, a 5th generation vigneron, was more focused on basketball than vines. Nevertheless he still spent plenty of time in the vineyard as a teenager, recalling that “when Dad and Grandpa are both out pruning in the rain it’s pretty hard finding an excuse to stay indoors!.” After graduating with a Bachelor of Media from the University of Adelaide, Daniel decided to pursue basketball, moving to Mount Gambier for two years to play in the South East Australian Basketball League, while also securing a role as a commercial producer for WIN TV. It wasn’t long before Daniel heard the call of the land though; returning to the family estate aged 23 to help launch the cellar door which opened in February 2009. Daniel now combines day to day work in the cellar door with regular overseas travel to promote Linfield Road Wines.
Jimmy Day, ex-IT geek and trained chef, opened the Domain Day cellar door in Williamstown at the ripe old age of 27. Jimmy’s father, Robin (ex-Orlando Chief Winemaker) planted the Domain Day vineyard in 1999 with the first vintage of cool climate and emerging varieties produced in 2002. Jimmy says "being in the back room in IT wasn’t really my thing, and as a chef I was still in the back room! Studying cookery however, did reinvigorate my passion for wine, so I hung up the apron and went on the road talking about what I love." After promoting the brand in the eastern states, Jimmy returned to renovate the old Williamstown Institute, transforming it into a charming cellar door which opened in 2008. With Robin needing no help to produce great wines, Jimmy focuses on the business and is particularly passionate about promoting harmonious food-wine matching.
So, next time you are driving through Williamstown don’t assume that you are driving through a quiet little SA town without much going in. Park, walk, browse and enjoy what the under 40’s can do when they put their mind to it.
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