AGL manager Mike Moraza said the company had bought Poole’s Rock, at 229 Wollombi Road, and a neighbouring property, Yellow Rock Estate, at 121 Wollombi Road.

Poole’s Rock had been owned by former Macquarie Bank chairman David Clarke, a leading critic of coal seam gas who died of cancer in April this year.

Mr Moraza said AGL had promised the Clarke family that 35hectares on Poole’s Rock would remain a working vineyard.

He said Yellow Rock had historical associations with the famous 19th century artist Conrad Martens, who painted Yellow Rock in the 1870s.

AGL had committed to protecting any buildings of heritage value and to maintaining a historic family cemetery on the property.

Broke resident and editor of the Gas Watch newsletter Graeme Gibson said the more property AGL bought, the more united the community became against it.