[1] Expansion into the Western Australian South West and the Great Southern wine region led to the establishment of a winery, located at Nannup in the Blackwood Valley.

[2][failed verification] In 1836, a syndicate of three British Army Officers, Houghton, Lowie, and Yule (who had been serving together in India) purchased the northern half of Swan location II.

In 1859, Dr. John Ferguson purchased the Houghton property for the sum of 350 pounds and in that same year produced the first commercial vintage of wine from the vineyard a total of 25 imperial gallons (110 L).

[3][4] Moondyne Joe, Western Australia's most famous bushranger, was captured on the Houghton property in the act of stealing wine from the cellars on 25 February 1869.

[11][12] One feature of this era was the Houghton Show White Burgundy, just over 500 cases were selected by the winemakers from each vintage, aged for 5 years, it won countless Trophies and Gold medals and was released with a special label for about 3 times the price of the 1-year-old regular wine.