THE TATIARA
The Tatiara region is ideally positioned on the main Adelaide to Melbourne Dukes Highway. Less than three hours drive from Adelaide and five hours from Melbourne, it is the gateway to South Australia and the Limestone Coast in the South East. Tatiara was the name given by the Aboriginals to this patch of good country which lies between the Bangham bushland north of Naracoorte and the low heath of the Ninety Mile Desert east of the Adelaide Hills. Having heard about “the good country” from the Aboriginals, pastoralists sought and first settled in the district in 1846. The district of Tatiara is one of the largest in South Australia with an area of 6,525 square kilometres. The Tatiara region today includes the highway towns of Bordertown and Keith plus the townships of Mundulla, Padthaway, Willalooka and Wolseley. You will experience this ‘good country’ as you turn off the Dukes Highway at Wirrega or Bordertown and find yourself in the Big Gum Country where the 200- 300 year old majestic red gums grow to great heights. These trees follow the meandering water courses and surround the swamps, whilst magnificent blue gums follow the roads.
You can reach this gum tree paradise from Keith by turning off the Riddoch Highway at Mount Monster and travelling to Bordertown along the route taken by the gold escorts of 1852-53. Admire the rural scenery and marvel at the varied and natural beauty of the giant gum trees. The bright yellow patchwork of canola paddocks in spring and the purple lucerne in summer add to the enjoyment of a drive along local roads. Golf courses, bowling greens, gliding club, swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), skate parks and tennis courts, boating and fishing lake, adventure playgrounds and canoeing venues all allow for a variety of activities. Libraries, museums, gardens, national parks, scenic historic drives, nature and art walks are available for visitors to enjoy at their leisure – check out the bike and wine trails. Motels, hotels, caravan parks, bed and breakfasts, holiday farms,
Padthaway House
The Tatiara Region was first settled by Europeans in 1846 when early Scottish pastoralists established three large sheep stations. John and Charles Scott established Cannawigra, John Binnie settled Wirrega and Loudon Macleod, Nalang. These stations covered over 200,000 hectares. Padthaway Station was established by Robert Lawson in 1847.
OUR HISTORY
RECENT HISTORY Alexander Tolmer established a half way stopover camp for the police troopers of his gold escort on the banks of the Tatiara Creek near Scott’s Woolshed in 1852. The gold escort was given the task of safely delivering the gold mined by South Australians at the Victorian goldfields back to Adelaide to rescue the State from bankruptcy. Call in at the Bordertown Visitor Information Centre for a copy of the Gold Escort Route which has the details.
The township of Bordertown was surveyed adjacent to this camp the same year. Development was slow until the wheat farmers arrived in 1872. This coincided with the establishment of Mundulla which was proclaimed a town in 1873.
DID YOU KNOW? The South Australian / Victorian border line was under dispute from the first surveys in 1846 until it was finally resolved in 1911.
restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops all provide excellent accommodation and eating facilities.
DID YOU KNOW? The Tatiara is the largest lucerne growing area in
the Southern Hemisphere.
Clayton Farm by Shirley Smedley
Cannawigra Hall by Jackie Hammond
Wiese’s Historic Horse Dip by Barrie Hayman
Wolseley General Store by Flying Ant
Wine House by Sara-Jayne Stuckey
Canola in full bloom by Rosalyn Farina
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