The 1938 Plantings Grenache: Clarence Hordacre
“Clarence Hordacre — son of the Penwortham Coachman — cultivated various sections throughout the 1920s to the 1950s and served as a steward at the prestigious annual Watervale Fruit, Flower & Produce Show.”
When tracing the historical land titles that now lie within the boundaries of the Watervale Gardeners Vineyard, we discovered numerous references to the Hordacre family — English immigrants who played a significant role in establishing and farming parcels of land throughout the Penwortham and Watervale region. One notable record is Certificate of Title Volume 638 Folio 82, dated 23 September 1898, which names Alice Mary Hordacre, wife of Edmund Hordacre, Penwortham Coachman, as the proprietor of an estate in fee simple comprising sixty-one acres within Portion of Section 28 in the Hundred of Clare, County of Stanley. This land was transferred to their son, Clarence, on 12 June 1928, following Edmund’s passing in 1923.
Yet the story held within this simple title extends far beyond legal documents. The Hordacre family’s journey embodies the pioneering spirit and agricultural heritage that have shaped the Clare Valley.
The Hordacre name itself likely stems from Middle English origins:Hord(meaning ‘hard’ or ‘firm’) andAker(meaning ‘field’ or ‘arable land’) — a fitting reflection of a family whose roots have always been firmly planted in working the land.
The story begins in the coastal village of Berrow, Somerset, southwest of Bristol, England. Joseph James Hordacre was born there on 16 August 1829, the son of William and Joan Hordacre, one of eleven children. Joseph married Mary Staples of nearby Kingston on 29 September 1856, and in search of new opportunity, they emigrated to South Australia aboard theHenry Moorein September 1857 as free settlers.
Settling in Penwortham, a farming village north of Adelaide founded in 1839 by explorer John Ainsworth Horrocks, Joseph and Mary began a new chapter amid a growing settlement complete with a flour mill, hotel, butcher and general store. They went on to have five children.
Their eldest son, Edmund Horace Hordacre, was born on 28 December 1858. In adulthood, Edmund became a coachman, driving horse-drawn passenger and mail coaches along South Australia’s expanding coaching routes, first under the Rounsevell family and later with Cobb & Co. By the 1860s, Penwortham, Watervale and Clare were well connected by these coaching services — vital links for settlers and farmers in the region.
Edmund married Alice Mary Brooks, a native of New South Wales, on 13 November 1879 at Watervale. They raised a family of eleven children and, in 1898, acquired the 61-acre parcel that would remain in the family for decades and become part of today’s Watervale Gardeners Vineyard.
One of their sons, Clarence Kimberly Hordacre, was born in Watervale on 11 February 1900 — very likely on the family’s own land. Following his father’s death, Clarence formally took ownership of the property in 1928 and expanded it in 1947 by purchasing an adjoining parcel from the Burgess family. At this time, Clarence is listed in records as a gardener by trade — a title befitting both his livelihood and his careful stewardship of the land.
Clarence was deeply involved in local community life. According to theNorthern Argus(15 March 1935), he served on the committee of the renowned Watervale Fruit, Flower & Produce Show — a prestigious annual event showcasing the region’s agricultural bounty. The show drew visitors from far and wide to celebrate and compete in categories spanning fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, fodder, preserves, and home crafts. It was a proud reflection of the region’s rich and diverse farming output and a testament to the dedication of growers like Clarence.
Clarence married Una Isobel Turner Miller on 8 July 1933 in Kent Town, Adelaide. Together they raised two children and maintained their deep ties to Watervale. Clarence passed away in 1982 at the age of 82 and is buried locally, leaving behind a legacy rooted in hard work, community, and the enduring care of the land.
The Hordacre family’s story — from a small coastal village in Somerset to the rolling hills of the Clare Valley — underpins the layers of history and generational commitment woven into the Watervale Gardeners Vineyard. It is this heritage that lives on in every bottle of our 1938 Plantings Grenache.
