Category: South Australia

A popular holiday town with good beaches, jetty and fishing, Moonta is located on the shores of Spencer Gulf 168 kilometres from Adelaide. Copper was discovered here in 1861 and led to the establishment of the Moonta Mining Company. An interesting way to take in the history of this mining region is on the tiny tourist train that runs on weekends. The train station is opposite the Moonta Mines National Trust Museum, in the former Moonta Mines School. There is a range of accommodation available, some of which is within walking distance of sandy beaches, jetties and cafes.

This Barossa Valley town is home to the renowned Jacob’s Creek wine. The famous creek itself is nearby and visitors can learn more at the Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre, which offers an interactive winemaking display, wine tastings and stylish dining at Jacob’s Restaurant. Rowland Flat rests in hills between Lyndoch and Tanunda. Here you will see a contrast between historical buildings and farmhouses and the modern facilities of Orlando Wyndham Winery. The stunning Novotal Barossa Valley Resort is also here. Rowland Flat had its beginnings in the 1840s and received a boost when the Gramp wine making operations were transferred there from Jacob’s Creek in 1877.

Penwortham sits within a picturesque valley and is an early settlement of the Clare Valley, one of South Australia’s prominent wine regions. It’s the perfect place to take a cosy holiday and recharge the batteries. Stay in a charming local cabin or cottage, and venture out to the welcoming wineries and cellar doors scattered throughout the area. Famous local wine labels include Stringy Brae, Skillogalee and, of course, Penwortham. Young explorer John Ainsworth Horrocks established his family property at Penwortham in 1840. His orginial cottage, Green’s Cottage, is administered by the Mount Horrocks Historical Society. Today a cairn in Horrocks’s honour marks the gateway into the secluded bushland of Penwortham cemetery where a number of those early settlers, including the explorer, are buried.

Milang is a peaceful coastal town offering a laid-back lifestyle that suits the many families, windsurfers, anglers or bird watchers who enjoy it today. The town has many charming old buildings, including heritage workmen’s shacks on the foreshore and other reminders of a bygone paddle steamer era. Milang was once an active river port of South Australia, where paddle steamers would unload their cargo for transport overland to Adelaide, Port Adelaide and the world, first by bullock dray then by steam train. The history of the town can be seen everywhere you look, and the local Progress Association and Historical Society are continually helping to preserve this aspect of Milang. You can visit the museum or browse through the Port Milang railway station complex.

Situated on the Willochra Plains adjacent to Lower Flinders Ranges, Hammond was surveyed in 1897 and named by Governor Jervois after his son. The town was planned in the vision of Colonel Light with four terraces surrounded by a belt of parklands. Unfortunately, it never grew big enough to spread to the parklands, but it did boast a population of 600 and had three churches, a butter factory and a farm implement factory. The great drought of the 1880s saw the town’s population reduce dramatically, and today it is a virtual ghost town. Most buildings are private holiday homes such as the hotel, post office, school and station cottages.

American River is a small town tucked into native bushland overlooking Eastern Cove and Pelican Lagoon. Its natural surroundings, lack of crowds or hustle and bustle make it a haven for wildlife and birdwatching. At night the town comes alive with nocturnal animals such as wallabies and possums. The town and surrounds are dotted with self guided walking trails that are the perfect setting for prolific birdlife and native flora. For those seeking peace and quiet amongst nature, American River is an ideal central location for touring Kangaroo Island .

Lyrup is a small horticultural settlement close to Berri. It offers a shady riverbank for picnics, community club and general store. The Lyrup village settlement was established on 22 February 1894. Lyrup was one of the first of 13 village settlements established during 1894 to provide relief for the vast number of unemployed in Adelaide and is the only surviving settlement.

Paskeville is famed as the host town for the Yorke Peninsula Field Days, held every September in odd numbered years. This event is the oldest in Australia and one of the biggest, exhibiting millions of dollars worth of farm machinery. Named Community Event of the Year 2006, the field days also offer fantastic food and entertainment and a chance to mix with the locals. This small town is 131 kilometres from Adelaide and a reception point for grain deliveries.