How McGrath is Changing the Hunter Valley Vineyard Market
- Your Hunter Valley Magazine
- Oct 15
- 2 min read
Australian wine is back on the table in a big way. Exports have recently jumped 13% in value. That’s a whopping $2.48 billion. And they’ve lifted 3% in volume to 639 million litres, according to Wine Australia’s latest report.
That confidence is spilling into the Hunter Valley. Vineyards here aren’t just beautiful lifestyle properties; they’re working businesses with global potential, and buyers are taking notice. Some are investors seeking to diversify their portfolios by investing in international markets, while others are winemakers looking to expand their operations. Plenty are lifestyle buyers keen to snap up a slice of the Hunter’s prestige just a couple of hours from Sydney.
It creates a competitive market where the right connections and insights count more than ever. That’s where McGrath steps in. Local expertise. Global reach. Punchy partnerships. All working together to help clients make the most of the Hunter’s unique opportunities.
Highlights of the Wine Country market this month include…
• NEW TO MARKET - 1622 Wisemans Ferry Rd, Central
Mangrove – ‘Triple Crown Lodge’
• JUST SOLD - 587 Wollombi Rd, ‘Glen Eden’ Sold 22 Days on
Market – 100k Above the price guide
A member of the McGrath Rural team, Kaine Robinson, sponsored by McGrath Rural will compete in this year’s Postie Bike Grand Prix.
The event is deeply rooted in Cessnock’s identity and the Robinson family legacy. A little history: More than a decade ago, Dave Robinson—Kaine’s father and a senior local policeman— was watching sports on television when he saw scooters racing through an Italian town. Inspired, he thought, “Why not Cessnock?” After floating the idea with friends and the Cessnock Motorcycle Club, the concept evolved from scooters (which held little local appeal) to Postie bikes—affordable, iconic machines often picked up at auction for under $1000 after retiring from Australia Post service.
Launching the event was no easy feat. Despite Dave’s standing in the community, permissions were hard-won.
“The first answer was always ‘no’,” he recalled—whether from government departments, local businesses, or bureaucracies wary of closing public roads for fun. But Dave and his team were undeterred. They rerouted the race through Cessnock TAFE when main street closures were blocked, proving that persistence and community spirit could overcome resistance.
Today, the Postie Bike Grand Prix draws thousands to Cessnock, with local businesses thriving on race weekend. Kaine Robinson has entered the event many times, often riding alongside his father. This year, Kaine will fly solo—racing under the McGrath Rural banner and continuing the tradition his family helped ignite.
