Our Story
Family roots. Historic soil. Award-winning vines.
Coolangatta Estate is a historic, family-owned and operated winery on the New South Wales South Coast, proudly producing estate-grown wines on one of the region’s most historically significant sites. Set on land first established in 1822 as the earliest European settlement on the South Coast, Coolangatta Estate has been owned and cared for by the Bishop family since 1947, making it one of the longest-running family-owned wine estates in the Shoalhaven.
Home to 25 acres of vineyard, a carefully restored convict-built village, and generations of hands-on dedication, Coolangatta Estate is a place where history, family, and wine come together — not as a backdrop, but as part of everyday life.
A Legacy that began in 1947
In 1947, Colin Bishop purchased the Coolangatta property, beginning a new chapter for a site already rich in history. By the time Colin arrived, the estate had been left vacant for years. Buildings were derelict and deteriorating, the grounds were overgrown, and squatters had occupied parts of the property. It was not a functioning estate — it was a place most people would have walked away from.
Colin didn’t.
What he needed first was not a grand vision or a long-term plan, but a way to support his family. The most practical path forward was agriculture, and Coolangatta was rebuilt as a working dairy farm. Through long days, physical labour, and steady persistence, Colin brought the land back into use and gave the property purpose again.
As the years passed, Colin’s children — including his son Greg — grew up working on the dairy, contributing to the daily routines that kept the farm running. From an early age, they learned responsibility, resilience, and the realities of working land. That foundation would later shape every major decision made at Coolangatta Estate..
Restoring a Forgotten Village
As the dairy operation stabilised the property and supported the family, attention gradually turned to the condition of the estate itself. Many of the buildings dated back to the early colonial period and had suffered decades of neglect long before the Bishop family arrived. Roofs were failing, walls were unstable, and much of the original village was at risk of being lost altogether.
In 1969, the Bishop family began the process of restoring the historic buildings. The restoration was led by Colin Bishop and his wife, Norma, and was undertaken steadily and largely by hand, alongside the demands of running a working farm and raising a family. Original bricks, timber, and sandstone were salvaged and reused wherever possible, with buildings stabilised and rebuilt to retain their original character while making them fit for use once again.
It was practical, physical work carried out over several years — focused on preservation rather than polish — and driven by a belief that Coolangatta’s history was worth saving.
Reopening Coolangatta Estate
In June 1972, Coolangatta Estate reached a significant milestone. The property was officially reopened as an historic village resort, marking the 150th anniversary of the property’s establishment in 1822. The reopening recognised both the historical importance of the site and the years of restoration work that had brought the village back to life.
Following the reopening, Coolangatta operated as a restaurant and motel, welcoming guests to stay within the restored buildings and experience the estate as a living, working place rather than a preserved relic. This period provided a sustainable future for the property, allowing the ongoing maintenance of the village while opening it to the public.
Each building today — from the cellar door to the accommodation suites — stands as a direct result of that restoration period. It’s history you can walk through, sip in, and sleep in — and a legacy we’re proud to preserve.
With the village restored, reopened, and operating successfully, Coolangatta Estate was once again a place with a future.
Sowing the Seeds of Shoalhaven Wine
With the estate stable and active, Greg Bishop began to look ahead. While dairy farming and tourism had sustained the property, Greg believed the land itself was capable of more.
In the late 1980s, he began exploring the idea of planting vines — a move that was far from conventional at the time. Commercial viticulture on the South Coast was virtually unheard of, and many questioned whether grape growing could succeed in the region’s coastal climate.
After years of discussion, Colin agreed to allow Greg two acres on the eastern slopes of Mount Coolangatta. In 1987, those blocks were planted with Sauvignon Blanc — the first vines at Coolangatta Estate and among the earliest commercial plantings in the Shoalhaven.
The first harvest in 1990 produced Coolangatta Estate’s inaugural vintage, marking not only a turning point for the property, but the beginning of the South Coast wine industry.
A Longstanding Winemaking Partnership
During the years when Coolangatta Estate operated as a restaurant and motel, the Bishop family developed a strong working relationship with Tyrrell’s Wines in the Hunter Valley. Tyrrell’s wines were a mainstay on the restaurant wine list, and Colin Bishop regularly purchased truckloads of wine to support the growing business.
What began as a straightforward supplier relationship was built on trust, consistency, and a shared approach to winemaking. Over time, it became clear that this existing relationship made sense beyond the restaurant.
When Coolangatta Estate later began producing its own estate-grown fruit, working with Tyrrell’s was a natural progression. Their experience, facilities, and understanding of Coolangatta’s style meant the transition from customer to winemaking partner felt seamless rather than forced.
Today, Tyrrell’s continues to vinify all of Coolangatta Estate’s estate-grown fruit, forming one of the longest-running and most stable partnerships in the Estate’s history. It is a collaboration grounded in practicality and longevity — built the same way Coolangatta Estate itself has grown.
The Story Continues
Today, Coolangatta Estate remains family-owned and operated, now cared for by the third and fourth generations of the Bishop family. Ben and Natalie Bishop live and work on the property with their children, Harry and Katy, continuing a tradition that began more than 75 years ago.
The vines are still hand-picked. The cellar door still welcomes visitors daily. And the historic buildings — with their creaky floorboards and weathered walls — remain very much alive.
Coolangatta Estate has never stood still. From a colonial township to a dairy farm, from restoration project to award-winning winery, it has always been shaped by belief — belief in the land, in family, and in what’s possible with patience and hard work.
This is more than a winery.
It’s our family home.
And we’re proud to share it with you.
— The Bishop Family