A Clare Valley History & Heritage Day
Slate villages, copper mines and grand colonial halls in one rewarding loop.
The Clare Valley is famous for riesling, but its stone towns and mining past are just as compelling. This day swaps tasting flights for slate cottages, copper-era relics and one of South Australia's grandest colonial mansions.
The plan
Begin in historic Auburn, the southern gateway township, with its handsome stone church and the birthplace credentials of poet C J Dennis. Drive north to Mintaro, a slate village so intact the whole town is heritage-listed, and lose an hour wandering its quiet streets. Nearby, the imposing Martindale Hall rewards a stop for its sheer colonial grandeur. From there, continue toward Penwortham to see the Horrocks monument and St Mark's churchyard, among the oldest European sites in the valley. Finish the day in Clare itself, tracing the township's railway heritage walk before a well-earned dinner.
Day 1
4 stops-
1
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2Mintaro
Martindale Hall Grounds
Take in the grandeur of the 1880s Martindale Hall and its grounds.
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3
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4Penwortham
Penwortham St Marks Church
Visit one of the valley’s oldest churchyards nearby.
On the map
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Guide
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The Best Lookouts in the Clare Valley
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Image credits
- Martindale Hall.JPG by Marionlad , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons