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When the borough of Albury was incorporated as a municipality, Fallon was elected as an alderman and on 27 July 1859 he was chosen as the first mayor of Albury, a position to which he was re-elected in the following two years.<ref name=obitAB/>

When the borough of Albury was incorporated as a municipality, Fallon was elected as an alderman and on 27 July 1859 he was chosen as the first mayor of Albury, a position to which he was re-elected in the following two years.<ref name=obitAB/>

Acquired a vineyard as a sole owner c.1861. Became a vigneron and a wine merchant.<ref name=nsw/>

sole owner a vigneron and wine merchant.<ref name=/>

In August 1866 Fallon formed a partnership with the Albury businessmen William M. N. Edmondson, [[George Day (Australian politician)|George Day]] and Kenneth McLennan, [[Thomas Mate|Thomas H. Mate]] of Tarcutta, John Dight of ‘Bungowamah’ station and John Hore of ‘Cumberoona’ station. The partnership, trading as ‘W. M. N. Edmondson and others’, operated as a steam navigation company for the purpose of carrying passengers and goods on the inland rivers (principally the Murray, Murumbidgee and Darling rivers).<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225470455 Private Advertisements], ”New South Wales Government Gazette” (Sydney), 14 August 1866 (Issue No. 156), page 1915.</ref>

In August 1866 Fallon formed a partnership with the Albury businessmen William M. N. Edmondson, [[George Day (Australian politician)|George Day]] and Kenneth McLennan, [[Thomas Mate|Thomas H. Mate]] of Tarcutta, John Dight of ‘Bungowamah’ station and John Hore of ‘Cumberoona’ station. The partnership, trading as ‘W. M. N. Edmondson and others’, operated as a steam navigation company for the purpose of carrying passengers and goods on the inland rivers (principally the Murray, Murumbidgee and Darling rivers).<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225470455 Private Advertisements], ”New South Wales Government Gazette” (Sydney), 14 August 1866 (Issue No. 156), page 1915.</ref>

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Irish-born Australian vigneron and politician

James Thomas Fallon
In office 23 December 1869 – 3 February 1872
Born	1819-23
Died	26 May 1886(1886-05-26) (aged 67)
Parents	James Fallon (father) Margaret (née Norton) (mother)

James Thomas Fallon (1823 – 26 May 1886) was an Irish-born winemaker who was a pioneer of the industry in Australia.

Biography

Early life

James Thomas Fallon was born in about 1819-23 in Athlone in central Ireland, on the border of counties Roscommon and Westmeath, the son of James Fallon and Margaret (née Norton or Naughton). His father was a farmer.^[1][2]

Young James “received a good liberal education” at the Athlone Grammar School.^[3]

New South Wales

Fallon emigrated to Australia, arriving at Sydney aboard the John Renwick on 31 August 1841 under the bounty immigration scheme.^[1]

Fallon was described as “an Irishman of good position and attainments, but without any means”.^[4] Fallon, in partnership with J. Plumb, leased ‘Brisbane Meadows’ in the Shoalhaven district near Bungonia township.^[5]

After a while Fallon opened a school at Bungonia.^[4]

In September 1851 alluvial gold was discovered in the Araluen Valley, in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, south of Braidwood. By the end of October many of the miners attracted to the area began moving to nearby Upper Bell’s Creek, north of Araluen township, after gold was found there.^[6]

Shortly after the discovery of gold in 1851 Fallon commenced the business of storekeeper on the Braidwood goldfields.^[3] By May 1852 Fallon had established a store at Major’s Creek (or Bell’s Creek), near Araluen.^[7][8] In November 1852 it was reported that “Fallon has put up a new store” at Bell’s Creek.^[9]

From the Araluen goldfields Fallon went to “the Ovens” gold field, before finally settling at Albury.^[4]

Albury

Fallon’s younger brother, Patrick Edwin Fallon, had remained in Ireland where he experienced “the horrors of the famine years” of 1847 and 1848. In 1852 he emigrated to the United States. After two years in New York Patrick Fallon emigrated to Melbourne to join his brother, arriving there in October 1854. The two brothers purchased “a quantity of goods” which they transported to the gold diggings at Yackandandah.^[10][11]

The Fallon brothers established “large stores” at Albury and on the diggings at Yackandandah and Indigo.^[10]

In 1854 Fallon relocated to Albury and established a general store in Kiewa Street. Soon afterwards he formed a partnership “for the growth of grapes and the production of wine”. It was initially unsuccessful but Fallon and his brother had confidence in the business. Messrs. Fallon Brothers acquired ownership. Winemaking on their Murray Valley vineyard (the Fallon property) proved to be very successful. Selling Australian wines in the European market.^[12]

Opened a general store in Kiewa Street and became a part-owner of the river steamer Cumberoona.^[1]

First mayor of Albury from 1859 to 1862.^[12][1]

He became a vigneron, being director of a Murray Valley-based company from 1858. In 1858 the Murray Valley Vineyard was established by a company of which Fallon was a director, but border customs caused a losses of about seven thousand pounds. The property was 640 acres (259 ha), of which 150 acres (61 ha) was under vine.^[1]

When the borough of Albury was incorporated as a municipality, Fallon was elected as an alderman and on 27 July 1859 he was chosen as the first mayor of Albury, a position to which he was re-elected in the following two years.^[2]

In about 1861 Fallon acquired the Murray Valley Vineyard, becoming the sole owner, and soon became a successful vigneron and wine merchant as well as storekeeper. His well-known cellars in Kiewa Street were the scene of many local celebrations.^[1]

In August 1866 Fallon formed a partnership with the Albury businessmen William M. N. Edmondson, George Day and Kenneth McLennan, Thomas H. Mate of Tarcutta, John Dight of ‘Bungowamah’ station and John Hore of ‘Cumberoona’ station. The partnership, trading as ‘W. M. N. Edmondson and others’, operated as a steam navigation company for the purpose of carrying passengers and goods on the inland rivers (principally the Murray, Murumbidgee and Darling rivers).^[13]

After the Melbourne railway reached Echuca in 1865, there was a busy steamer trade linking Albury, Howlong, Wahgunyah and Corowa to the rail head. The original Cumberoona was a vessel built at Echuca in 1866 for James Fallon.

Fallon recognised the value of “a proper and systematic development” of winemaking. In 1868 Fallon purchased the Murray Valley Vineyard. He enlarged the property and erected the largest cellars in the colony, giving practical proof “pf the sincerity of his conviction that some day the wines of Australia would constitute the largest item on the list of Australian exports”.^[2]

For many years he carried on “a very large and flourishing trade, acquiring a considerable amount of freehold property”.^[2] His winery manufactured the first champagne from Australian grapes in 1876.^[14]

Member for Hume

At the general election held in December 1869 and January 1870 there were two nominations to represent the Hume electorate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. Fallon was opposed to the sitting member, Thomas H. Mate, who had held the seat since December 1860. Fallon topped the poll with 513 votes (or 57.8 percent).^[15][16]

He also became Albury’s representative in the NSW Colonial Parliament, was a strong advocate for public education and was instrumental in the founding of the Albury Model School (now part of Albury Primary School).

In 1872 Fallon declined to offer himself for re-election.^[12]

Later

In about 1871 Fallon gave up his business in Albury and relocated to Sydney “for the purpose of entirely devoting himself to the development of the wine trade” and “of forthering the interests of winegrowers”.^[2]

Fallon visited England on two occasions, “with a view to bring Australian wines more prominently before the British public”.^[2] In 1872-73 Fallon visited overseas vineyards and in December 1873 addressed the London Society of Arts on Australian vines and wines.

Fallon presented a paper before “the leading Scientific Association in England” where he pointed out the unjust operation of British tariffs, which “virtually excluded Australian wines on the erroneous assumption that their alcoholic strength was due to the presence of spirit artificially introduced”. He maintained that the strength of Australian wines “was due to natural causes”. Dr. Thudichum argued that “no wine could naturally contain so high a spirit strength”. The Chief Inspectors of Distilleries of both Victoria and New South Wales visited the Albury vineyards and Fallon had the grapes plucked and fermented under their personal supervision, resulting in Fallon’s contention being justified.^[2]

Fallon showed that “first-class champagne” could be made in Australia “by engaging a French gentleman of large experience to come to Albury and superintend the manufacture”.^[2]

Exported wine to England, America, India, Ceylon and New Zealand. Prizes included Vienna in 1873 and London in 1875, Bordeaux in 1882.^[14]

President of the Albury and Murray River Agricultural and Horticultural Society. Member of the Royal Colonial Institute.^[14]

By 1892 had a distillery and central depot in Sydney cellars in Melbourne.^[14]

Last years

James Thomas Fallon died “after a short illness” on 26 May 1886 at his residence, ‘Riverstone Cottage’ at Manly, aged 67.^[17]

Fallon’s remains were buried at Albury after a funeral held there on 29 May. The funeral was “the largest that has taken place there for many years”, with all the places of business being closed for the afternoon. The mayor and aldermen attended in a body.^[12]

Fallon was described in The Albury Banner newspaper as “a kindhearted man, of liberal views, generous disposition, and genial manner, he was a general favourite with all eho enjoyed the pleasure of his acquaintance”.^[2]

The editorial in The Albury Banner foresaw a time when the wine industry in Australia attained great importance to the nation, “and when tbe time arrives, it must perforce be admitted that the foundations of tbe prosperity attained were in no small measure the work of J. T. Fallon of Albury”.^[2]

References

Sources