History

By the end of February 1854, the construction of a water driven flour mill was completed on the banks of Lyndoch Creek. In the coming years the mill was upgraded from water power to steam power to help in the dry months. The mill had multiple owners up until 1878 when operations ceased due to the owners passing.

In 1880, the Barossa Flax Company took over the old flour mill site and built 8 retting tanks, each one measuring 9x1x5.5 metres. In 1881, flax production began but was short lived as their flax crops did not grow well in the area.

Production ceased in 1884 due to insufficient crops. The mill was forced to close once more.

In 1891, The Adelaide Wine Company purchased the site and began converting it into a winery. By 1900, approximately 113,650 litres of wine had been produced. It was a quick 15 year burst of winemaking. in 1916 the company decided to close the winery and sell off its assets as they had completed building the brand new custom Chateau Tanunda site.

The estate fell into disrepair and the land surrounding it was used for mixed farming.

In 1941 a gentleman named Hermann Thumm was sent to Australia as a result of WW2 and placed in a working camp on the Murray River. At then end of the war Hermann was released and offered work in a winery near Lyndoch, this was his introduction to the area he later would call home.

Driving past the old mill with his boss one afternoon Hermann's imagination and passion were sparked and after many visits to the current land owners, he managed to convince them to sell him a portion of the land with the old ruins.

Hermann worked tirelessly for months to prepare the estate for its first vintage. Wine making began in 1947, he relied on local grape growers from the area for his first vintages.

In 1950 Hermann married, he had two sons. In the early years they lived in rooms of the old mill until a home was built further up the hill.

In 1954 Hermann purchased the remaining land which included the rest of the flax facility and then in 1960 bought the adjoining 79 acres of land which now makes up the majority of the estate.

Work continued, building and digging out the lake, rebuilding storage sheds and the new sheds for Champagne bottling.

Over a period of about 18 months Hermann had the infamous Chateau Built. The original purpose was to display his collections of furniture and fine china. The building was constructed around some of the original retting tanks on the property.

Herman continued to thrive and produce some of the Barossa's exquisite wines over the coming years making many people laugh and making many good friends.

After many years of hard work, Hermann sold the estate and settled into a well deserved retirement.

Chateau Yaldara still stands as an icon in the Southern Barossa, with its success came the need to convert the Chateau into a tasting room.

Public are welcomed by a fantastic and friendly team for many a laugh, just like Hermann would have wanted.