He was sixteen years of age when, after a voyage of several months in a sailing ship, he arrived at Sydney, and joined his uncle, J. Christian, a large pastoral proprietor in New South Wales, on his property on the Hunter River.

[2] In the 1870s Bassett also entered into business in Roma as a general storekeeper with Mr. Skinner, and he also acquired a considerable interest withRobert Douglas in the well-known pastoral property, Mount Maria, in the Morven district.

Bassett's wines held the premier place in the Queensland against all competitors, and won for their maker a very large number of valuable medals, some of which were secured at international exhibitions in Europe.

In this way he laid the foundation of viticulture in this district, which, being taken up by others as time went on, found a source of employment for a large number of men and families.

[2] Ill-health forced him to relinquish the active management of his winery, and, accompanied by his wife, he sought to recuperate by taking a trip to the Pacific Islands, Tasmania, the North Coast, and other places.