The Paspaley Family

The Paspaley Family

Behind Bunnamagoo Estate Winery is not an individual, or corporate hospitality group, but rather a family with a real legacy. The Paspaley family endows Bunnamagoo Estate Winery with over 90 years of international travel and trade, global cultural experience, adventure, and refinement.

Paspaley’s business interests include pearl production, jewellery retail, agriculture, aviation, Australian and foreign property holdings and hospitality including the Pinctada in Broome, The Wall Street Hotel in New York and recently launched Pearl Expeditions.

How it began

It all started with a passion for pearls and an adventurous spirit. The Paspaley Group is an Australian family-owned-and-operated company with a heritage of over three generations. Recognised as pioneers of the Australian South Sea pearling industry, today the company has a diverse portfolio ranging from pearling to retail, aviation to agriculture. The Paspaley company was founded in 1935 with the collection of mother-of-pearl shells for the button trade.

Nicholas Paspaley MBE

Every great company can point to a source of inspiration that set it on course for success. For Paspaley, that inspiration was the late Nicholas Paspaley MBE. In the 1930s, with the bold vision of a young entrepreneur, 19-year-old Nicholas Paspaley MBE bought his very first pearling lugger. At the time, Broome, Cossack and Darwin were the world’s most significant pearling ports. At its peak, the 80 Mile Beach and Broome area accounted for 75% of the world’s mother-of-pearl production. Navigating the perils of hardhat diving, frequent cyclones, and other adversities, Paspaley embarked on a journey that would revolutionise pearling forever.

Generations of Passion

Fleeing the Greek island of Castellorizo during World War I, the Paspaley family arrived in Australia in 1919 in search of a new life. They decided to try their chances at their ship's first port of call, Cossack on the Indian Ocean coast of Western Australia. The Board of Directors is comprised wholly of family members including the children and grandchildren of Nicholas Paspaley MBE, founder of Paspaley. The Executive Chairman, Nicholas Paspaley AC – has been largely responsible for pioneering and revolutionising the Australian South Sea pearl industry and enabling pearls of the quality we see today to be produced.

Sustainability & The Environment

Paspaley is heavily involved in Australian agriculture. Our holdings include a number of historically significant properties in New South Wales and the Northern Territory. As with pearling, Paspaley’s agricultural endeavours are characterised by a quest for optimising efficiencies while never compromising quality. Respect for the environment and responsible management of precious natural resources are fundamental to our philosophy and farming practices.

Paspaley Pearling Company

Today, Paspaley is the world’s most important producer of cultured pearls. Although the gems remain in the South Sea pearl category, Paspaley’s pearls have become a category of their own, due to their superior and widely recognised quality. As a result, these gems are most commonly recognised simply as Paspaley Pearls.

Testimonials

Piret Gardiner

Delicious wines, spectacular setting and wonderfully friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Belinda Colwell

Great view, great service and best of all - great wine. If you only go to 1 winery in Mudgee, I highly recommend Bunnamagoo.

Nikki Andjazz

This is possibly the best Winery and Cellar Door in Mudgee. Visited from interstate and were really impressed by the quality of service from the lovely lady in attendance.