You have spent a lot of time in the Scenic Rim, what made you fall in love with the place? What makes it so special for you?

The Scenic Rim is a volcanic crater with an enormous diameter (several hundred kilometres). The soil is fertile, the rivers are clean and rich, the forests are sparkling and the people are all equally attractive.  We found our ideal property here which was about 4,000 acres (about the size that we were looking for) and that it was easily accessible for us to get to on the weekend.  

What was your vision when you created The Overflow 1895?

Blinkered! 

My wife Noeleen and I first planted the vineyard in 2012. We did so following a visit to friends of ours in the north of Spain. They had a vineyard/bodega which was extremely successful. It occurred to us that if they could do it, so could we. How foolish we were! 

We took advice from a Master of Wine (Peter Scudamore-Smith) and planted 2,500 vines with four separate varieties. There were two Italian white, one Italian red and one Spanish red. This started as a hobby and we had given no proper thought at all as to how we would ever distribute the wine if we produced something of value. 

To our great surprise, the varieties that we chose were absolutely perfect for the region and the wine that resulted was equally excellent. We have been awarded national Gold Medals already. 

Therefore, what began as a hobby (possibly a folly) has burgeoned into something vastly better. We now make 10,000 bottles per year, sell every one of them through our cellar door and have an exceedingly loyal following. We are so proud of our Vermentino, the Fiano, the Montepulciano and the Tempranillo. We also blend the two whites (the Vermentino and Fiano) to make a sparkling white and we blend the two reds (the Montepulciano and Tempranillo) to make a sparkling red. In the middle, we make a rosé. This is a blend of our Gold Medal winning Vermentino and the bleedings from the skins of our Montepulciano. 

Who has been your biggest supporter?

The people. 

We have received exceptional support at all levels from all occupants of the Scenic Rim. Fellow residents, trades people, purveyors of goods, administrators and even regulators have all been very supportive and hospitable. 

What makes you particularly proud about being part of the Scenic Rim community?  Who are your local heroes?

The ethos, the general philosophy and the daily rituals within the Scenic Rim make us particularly proud. It is a stellar part of the world in which to reside. 

Our local heroes are the fellow small businessmen who have crafted a living from nature’s essentials and created exceptional produce, outlets and tourism facilities. 

What’s your one piece of advice for an out of towner? What is something they must try?

We have a favourite saying … you could be dead tomorrow. Therefore, our advice is to make sure you visit today because you never know, tomorrow you may be dead! Try everything. Visit all of the local farms, the produce sellers, the vineyards, the wineries and the general stores. Breathe the fresh air, enjoy the rural setting and allow your battery to recharge. 

What do most people not know about you that you can share?

Before thrusting ourselves into the agribusiness at The Overflow Estate 1895, Noeleen and I ran a busy orthopaedic practice in the centre of Brisbane. We specialised in hip and knee replacements and have been active in the medical sphere for almost four decades. 

Serendipitously, this has been a marvellous transition into retirement. Medicine relies heavily upon biochemistry, and so does the vineyard. As an orthopaedic surgeon, tools are often in use and similarly, so they are used frequently in the vineyard. Orthopaedic surgeons also rely heavily upon teams (nurses, physiotherapists and the like) and we have some marvellous teams established at The Overflow Estate 1895, caring for the property in general, the sand mining, the sandstone quarrying, the cattle and the vineyard. Finally, the similarities in social scenes are inescapable. We thoroughly loved dealing with our patients and so do we derive enormous pleasure from dealing with our guests visiting the vineyard. 

Can you tell us a bit about where you get your inspiration from?

God knows! There is always something to do on the farm. Whereas people our age sometimes spend their time reading, sleeping, eating and drinking, we are almost always hard at work. It keeps us young, vital, cognisant, connected and happy. 

What are your dreams for the future?

We are extremely excited about Wander joining us with the luxury eco cabins that are truly self-sustaining in our forest environment. This will be a marvellous opportunity to attract further bees to honeypot in the Scenic Rim and allow people from all walks of life to enjoy the lustre of the region. 

How have you recently changed anything in your business or home life to become more sustainable?

We have made extraordinary efforts to ensure that we recycle all products, that we avoid degradation of the environment in which we live, that we provide unqualified support to our staff and that we constantly give back more than we take. 

What do you think about the future of travel?

Travel is one of the most nourishing facets of a modern lifestyle. The distance travelled does not have to be far. Instead, it is the warmth of being received, the differences that can be visualised during the course of travel, the comfort that can be derived and the excitement that ensues which makes it all worthwhile. 

Travel is here to stay and we are determined to be part of this marvellous industry.