Childers is a multicultural town, just ask city-born Mary Byrne who married into an Australian-Irish-Sicilian family with their roots firmly in the Childers community. With her own Irish and German background, Mary took her love for languages and teaching to the Isis District in 1973 being appointed as a German/English/French and Modern History teacher after completing a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Education at the University of Queensland the previous year. It was here she met and fell in love with Terry, a young local electrician with a strong Sicilian-Irish heritage who shared an interest in gardening, old Queenslanders and old furniture.

(Credit: Paul Beutel)

Marrying into the close-knit Sicilian-Irish family meant the stories about risks, gambles, successes and challenges of the previous generations' business ventures heeded as warnings and as lessons to the young couple. Not ones to shy away from creating a story for themselves, a long-awaited trip to Europe to uncover their heritage lead them to establish a boutique winery, called Hill Of Promise Winery, in Childers in 2003.

Hill Of Promise is more than just a winery; it's a time capsule for the multicultural family with every glass holding a new story to be told. From stories of Mary and Terry's early days as electrical contractors to memories from times gone by you would find hard to believe in today's day and age. Mary and Terry are captivating and inspiring storytellers carving themselves and their family name into the pages of the history books of Childers. Make sure you stop in to listen to their stories on your next visit to Childers. Ask Terry about his family's Italian café and greengrocer The Valley Café and see what tales unfold.

(Credit: Paul Beutel)

Where Can I Try/Buy Hill Of Promise Wine?

Stop into the Hill Of Promise Winery Cellar Door and meet Maria The Little Cellar Rat and Terranzo The Winemaker at 8 Mango Hill Drive, Childers, open 10am – 4pm daily. If making a special trip, contact first to avoid disappointment.