Portrait of J. Gilbert from Pewsey Vale from the S.A. Northern Pioneers' composite, 1850-1859 (shown in position on B 6912/3).

Joseph Gilbert was born in Puckshipton in the Vale of Pewsey, Wiltshire, England in May 1800. Gilbert arrived in South Australia 21 March 1839 on the Buckinghamshire (ship). He was married 21 January 1848 at Wongalere, South Australia to Anna Browne, sister of Drs J H and W J Browne, who were pastoralists. Gilbert took up land in the Barossa, naming his property, Pewsey Vale after his birthplace. He soon won repute for his fine wool, careful breeding of imported thoroughbreds and Shorthorn cattle. He planted his first vines in 1847 and was licensed to distil spirits in 1849. His wines would later win awards at the colonial exhibitions. He constructed a reservoir at Pewsey Vale and built a school for resident families and in 1861 a chapel, designed by the architect Edward Hamilton, and named in memory of his brother Thomas of Marden, Wiltshire. He also acquired property at Mount Bryan and McVittie's Flat, now called Cappeedee. Later he had property on Yorke Peninsula and at Owen Springs in the Northern Territory, as well as properties in Hallet, Kingston, Upper Wakefield and Hill River. Gilberton, a suburb of Adelaide and Point Gilbert, Yorke Peninsula, were named after him.

Pewsey Vale is today a well-known wine growing district.

Joseph Gilbert died 23 December 1881, aged 81.

G. C. Morphett, The Gilberts of Pewsey Vale Adelaide: Pioneers' Association of S.A., 1949

Cockburn, R Pastoral pioneers of South Australia Adelaide : Publishers Limited, 1925-1927 ("Reprinted from the Adelaide Stock and Station Journal.") vol. 1 pp. 24-5

Death of Mr. Joseph Gilbert Adelaide observer, 31 December 1881, p. 37, col. c

Gilbert family PRG 266