Archive for the 'Historic places' Category

Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage

Rose garden, Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage, Nuriootpa, South Australia

We often travel to the mid north of South Australia to visit family in Clare and Peterborough. We have a number of alternative routes we can take to get there, all of them going through various parts of the wine growing region of the Barossa Valley. Between the towns of Angaston and Nuriootpa is a small historic cottage now occupied by the Barossa Quilt and Craft shop (see photo below). My wife regularly likes to stop for a short break and look at what they have in stock. Meanwhile I admire their lovely rose garden out the front of the cottage.

A few months ago I was passing the cottage by myself, but actually stopped, turned around and went back to take photos of the rose bushes in full bloom. It was an intoxicating blend of colour and perfume in the bright summer sunshine. I just had to share it with my readers.

Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage, Nuriootpa, South Australia

Rose garden, Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage, Nuriootpa, South Australia

Rose garden, Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage, Nuriootpa, South Australia

Scenes of Angaston, Barossa Valley

Angaston, Barossa Valley, South Australia

When travelling to Clare in the mid north of South Australia we often drive through the lovely town of Angaston. This delightful mecca for tourists and locals alike is in the wine region of the Barossa Valley. On a recent drive through I stopped to take a few photos rather than just drive straight through.

Angaston, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Angaston, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Angaston, Barossa Valley, South Australia

A tribute to the Clydesdale Horse

Tribute to Clydesdale horses, Angaston, South Australia

When travelling from home through the famous wine region of the Barossa Valley here in South Australia we regularly go through the old town of Angaston. This region was settled by German settlers escaping religious persecution in their home lands and included my forebears in their number.

We often stop in the park at the western end of the main street to have a break or a cuppa and sometimes even lunch. The bakery in the main street is also a favourite stopover place. The park has a wonderful tribute to the Clydesdale Horses which provided essential help for the local farmers and businesses in the early days. I’ve featured this statute in the photos on this post. At the bottom of the post you can read more about these wonderful animals from the plaque next to the statue (click to enlarge).

Tribute to Clydesdale horses, Angaston, South Australia

Tribute to Clydesdale horses, Angaston, South Australia

Tribute to Clydesdale horses, Angaston, South Australia (click to enlarge)

Inneston, Yorke Peninsula

Inneston Lake, Yorke Peninsula

During our recent short holiday on Yorke Peninsula we visited the Innes National Park. It had been many years since our last visit to this scenic and rugged part of the South Australian coast. In the middle of the national park is the historic town of Inneston. The village was once the home to over 150 people and was a bustling, industrious town.

The town was established in 1913 to house the miners working in the nearby gypsum mines and production factory. Many of the local salt lakes were rich in the mineral which was transported mainly to Adelaide via Stenhouse Bay. In the state capital city it was used primarily in the building trade.

After the mine closed the town rapidly deteriorated as people moved away. In more recent times some of the original buildings have been restored and are used as accommodation in the national park.

You can read more about the history of this town on the Flinders Ranges Research site here.

Part of historic Inneston, Yorke Peninsula

Part of historic Inneston, Yorke Peninsula

Part of historic Inneston, Yorke Peninsula

Stenhouse Bay, Yorke Peninsula

Stenhouse Bay jetty, Yorke Peninsula

Stenhouse Bay on the southern end of Yorke Peninsula in South Australia was once a thriving port. It was established in 1913 when gypsum was mined in nearby Inneston. The rock, once treated, was used in the building industry as plaster of paris and cement. Many older homes in Adelaide have plaster ceilings made from gypsum mined in this area. The mining works closed in 1972 and many of the houses in Stenhouse Bay and Inneston were demolished. Some still remain and are used by the national park rangers, either for staff accommodation orĀ  for hire for tourists. I’ll show some photos of them in a few days.

Stenhouse Bay jetty, Yorke Peninsula