Waterton Hall
Waterton Hall Wines sprang to life in 2015 when brother and sister John Carter and Susan Shannon – along with their spouses Belinda Evans Carter and David Shannon – purchased Waterton Hall and its 2.5ha vineyard from local couple Jennifer Baird and Peter Cameron.
Baird and Cameron had devoted 13 years to restoring an 1850s bluestone homestead on the Rowella site. The couple combined full-time careers in geology and geophysics with the management and expansion of the vineyard's Riesling, Viognier and Shiraz plantings. They were first established on the site by its syndicate of founding owners in the 1990s.
The soils here are primarily derived from Jurassic dolerite and Permian mudstones/sandstones. The subsequent patchwork of loam over clays offers good water-holding capacity and moderate vineyard yields.
The Rowella site revealed its strengths very early on during its Baird and Cameron re-development. In 2011, the 2009 Waterton Estate Riesling won trophies for Best Tasmanian Riesling, Best Dry Riesling and Best Wine at the International Riesling Challenge held in Canberra.
Waterton's 2012 Shiraz and 2013 Riesling also produced trophy-winning wines.
New ownership also brought quick rewards. Cutting-edge labelling and packaging by design agency Denomination contributed to the Sydney company being named Design Agency of the Year 2017 at the prestigious Harpers Wine & Spirit Design Awards held in the UK.
Today, Waterton Hall is a Tamar Valley showpiece in its own right, thanks to the creative vision and professional expertise of owner/architect Dr Susan Shannon and owner/interior designer Belinda Evans Carter.
Waterton's sensitively restored convict-built barn is now a popular Tamar Valley wedding venue. More recent innovations from Shannon and Carter include the transformation of an 1850s garden cottage into modern, self-contained 'Nest' accommodation on the property.
Vineyard plantings have increased to 10 hectares during the current ownership. They've been supported by significant upgrading of trellising, irrigation and soil management. New Chardonnay and Pinot Noir joined expanded plantings of Riesling, Viognier and Shiraz.
In 2024, the Adelaide Hills company Bird in Hand Winery entered into long‑term leasing arrangements with the property owners. While the resident family label of Waterton Hall continues to operate from the same landscape, the Rowella vineyard and its heritage barn now act as Bird in Hand's Tasmanian base for premium functions and events, including weddings.
In February 2026, Waterton Hall was announced as a finalist in the Winery category at the 8th Annual Wedding Industry Awards. The national awards are conducted by the Sydney-based Wedding Marketing Group.
Management of Waterton's 'Nest' accommodation is being handled by the Adelaide Hills team.
The vineyard's four key varieties now provide the mainstay for Bird in Hand's evolving Tasmanian Series. These can be purchased online from the Bird in Hand website.
From May 2026, the wines can be tasted and purchased at the smart new tasting room, restaurant and kiosk facility currently being developed by Bird in Hand at Hobart's renowned Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
Watch this space.
Key details:
- John Carter: owner/operator
- Belinda Evans Carter: owner/operator
- Dr Susan Shannon: owner/operator
- David Shannon: owner/operator
- Mandy Ward: Bird in Hand Winery events manager
Vineyard/cellar door address:
61 Waterton Hall Road, Rowella TAS 7270
Visits and tastings by appointment only
Telephone:
- Dr Susan Shannon, Waterton Hall: +61 (0) 417 834 781
- Mandy Ward, Bird in Hand Winery: +61 (0) 427 650 262
Email:
- Sales and enquiries: info@watertonhall.com.au
- Events: tasevents@birdinhand.com.au
Website:
www.watertonhall.com.au
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Growing conditions in the Tamar Valley fall under the moderating influence of the river itself. Consider: Eversley Vines (MJT 17.7°C; 1065 GDD) and Evenfall (MJT 18.4°C; 1230 GDD). Coolest vs warmest sites.
Vineyard sites on the Australian mainland are far warmer than those in Tasmania.
South Australia's Piccadilly Valley* (MJT 20.4°C; 1730 GDD) and Macedon Ranges* (MJT 19.9°C; 1365 GDD) in Victoria are regarded as the coolest GIs in their respective states.
Climate data* for Waterton Hall Road, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 812mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 372mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 187mm
- Mean January temperature: 18.2°C
- Growing degree-days: 1239 GDD
- Average no of hot days (35°C or more) per year: 0
- Average no of cold days (minimum 4°C or less) Sept 1-April 30: 9
*Source: My Climate View, utilising past data from the Bureau of Meteorology and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Funded by the Australian Government.
Last page update: January 2026