WINE MUSEUM PROPOSAL
I fully support Assid Corban’s clarion call for a dedicated wine museum on the Corban Estate site. Our unique city was built on the backs of Austrian [Dalmatian] migrants, who first grafted a living from digging kauri gum out of an inhospitable environment before moving into horticulture and viticulture.
As Keith Stewart said in his chapter The Immigrants in West – The History of Waitakere: ‘‘… it was the Dalmatian community that did more than anything to define the West for the whole region. They became key players in creating Waitakere’s fruit industry ... . ’’ Then came viticulture.
The Corban family were at the forefront of this winemaking experiment – arriving in 1892 with a dream to establish a vineyard using skills honed in their native Lebanon. Mt Lebanon Vineyards was born. The Babichs, Selaks, Yukichs, Nobilos, Delegates and many others followed.
We all know their names. Every time we raise a glass, we do so on the backs of these hard grafters – a dedicated museum would be a fitting tribute to them. RUTH KERR
Managing Editor - ‘WEST – The History of Waitakere’
I attended the HendersonMassey Local Board on February 20 where I heard a passionate plea from Assid Corban to utilize the Corban Winery Estate, to include the history of wine making, with memorabilia. Assid and his family are prepared to contribute to a Vintners Museum. This was supported by John Newick.
West Auckland (Waita¯ kere) has a colourful past in the wine industry and it would be a pity to see Assid Coran send the memorabilia to the tip, as he indicated he would do.
I would like to ask the Henderson-Massey Local Board and the Corban Estate Trust to get involved in the establishment of a Vintners Museum and approach wine companies to contribute both with additional memorabilia and financially.
STEVE MCDONALD Henderson