Drew Henry and Rob Pelletier at Heritage Fruit Trees, Beaufort, April 2017
Drew Henry (1948–2017)
Pioneer of Australia's traditional cider revival.
Drew Henry was one of the pioneers of Australia's modern traditional cider movement and a passionate advocate for preserving heritage cider apple and perry pear varieties. After a successful career as a geologist, Drew and his wife Irene purchased an orchard at Harcourt in central Victoria in the 1990s. What began as a retirement project grew into Henry of Harcourt, one of Australia's most respected traditional cider producers.
Believing that great cider begins in the orchard, Drew travelled extensively through England and France, researching traditional cider-making and seeking out authentic cider apple and perry pear cultivars. Together with his family, he established an orchard of more than 40 heritage varieties, many of which were rarely grown in Australia at the time. His work helped reintroduce classic English and French cider fruit to Australian growers and laid important foundations for today's craft cider industry.
Drew was a tireless educator who generously shared his knowledge with commercial producers, hobby orchardists and home cider makers alike. An outspoken champion of "real cider" made entirely from fresh fruit, he encouraged a new generation of growers to understand the importance of cultivar selection, blending and traditional production methods. His willingness to mentor others and his insistence on quality earned him widespread respect throughout the industry.
Following his death in 2017, Drew was widely recognised as one of Australia's most influential cider makers. He was posthumously honoured with the inaugural Champion of the Industry Award at the Australian Cider Awards, acknowledging his lasting contribution to Australian cider culture and the conservation of heritage cider apples. His legacy continues through the orchards he established, the knowledge he shared, and the many growers inspired by his vision.
Several traditional cider apple (e.g. Henry's Red Longdon Perry Pear) and perry pear varieties in the Heritage Fruit Trees collection owe their reintroduction and continued availability in Australia to the pioneering work of growers such as Drew Henry, whose passion for preserving these remarkable cultivars continues to benefit orchardists today.
From 2016 to 2017, Heritage Fruit Trees had the privilege of working alongside Drew Henry to present advanced cider-making workshops. Drew generously shared his extensive knowledge of traditional cider apples, blending and cider production with workshop participants, and we remain deeply grateful for his friendship and mentorship.
Following Drew's passing in 2017, we continued our association with his son, Michael Henry, for several years through our shared interest in traditional cider fruit. We were saddened to see Henry of Harcourt suffer major losses in the January 2026 Harcourt bushfires. We wish Michael, Irene and the Henry family every success as they rebuild their orchard and carry forward the remarkable legacy that Drew established.
References incl:
The Shout (accessed 11/7/2026)
The Core (accessed 11/7/2026)
Max Allen, Australian Financial Review (accessed 11/7/2026)
Lisa Dennis, Castlemaine Mail (accessed 11/7/2026)