Farming Settlements
Callington
The discovery of green copper ore by a bullock driver in the 1840s led to the settlement of Callington in 1847. The second town to be surveyed in South Australia, Callington was named after a copper-mining town in Cornwall, England.
The town boomed during the 1850s and, at one stage, was home to five mines including Australia's first commercially successful copper smelter. Today, an historic powder hut is one of the few reminders of the copper-mining industry. Heritage buildings, including several churches and a flour mill, line the town's streets, and the Dog 'n' Ute Callington Hotel holds one of the state's oldest licenses.
Guides to the Callington Heritage Trail, which can be walked or driven, are available from the hotel. Another attraction is the old police station, which has been converted into Lavande, a three-acre lavender garden and tearooms. Visitors can explore the garden, have afternoon tea and inspect the old stables, cells and courtyards.
Cambrai
Originally known as 'Rhine Villa', Cambrai is a thriving farming district. The nearby Marne Weir marks the start of the Marne River Valley scenic tourist drive. An interesting detour is to Shell Hill, which has deposits of oyster shells that are believed to be over five million years old.
Keyneton
Home to the famous Henschke Winery and cellar door, Keyneton is nestled on the edge of the Murraylands region, just before Eden Valley and the Barossa.
Monarto
This town's claim to fame is the Monarto Zoological Park, an open-range park managed by the Adelaide Zoo that is renowned for its breeding programmes.
Visitors can take a one-hour guided bus safari and see Australian native wildlife in its natural habitat, as well as exotic animals from Asia and Africa, including giraffes, zebra, lions, cheetahs and the rare white rhinoceros. Several longer tour options, including a day-long expedition with the zoo-keepers, are also available.
Other facilities include a licensed bistro, gift shop, visitor centre
and viewing pavillion.
Palmer
A small yet busy community set in the foothills between Mannum and Tungkillo, Palmer is home to two pumping stations that ensure that water from the Murray River reaches Adelaide.
Sedan
Surrounded by dry-stone walls built by early settlers, the historic town of Sedan is home to many 19th century buildings that are in excellent condition.
The Sedan Heritage Trail - available from the Sedan Hotel - is a good way to discover the town. Once a busy railway town, complete with steam flour mill and agricultural machinery factory, Sedan was settled in the 1850s by German settlers who were fleeing religious persecution.
Truro
Truro was named by Cornish miners after the English town of the same name.
Although the land was originally surveyed and purchased by well-known pastoralist George Fife Angas in the 1840s, it wasn't until the copper mine was established that the town flourished.
There is a good park with picnic facilities and many well-preserved old buildings to admire. The Barossa wine region is close by.
Tungkillo
This pretty settlement sits on the border of the Murraylands and Adelaide Hills
regions. It has several bed and breakfasts and a pub, and is the end-point of the
Lavender Federation Trail, a 79 kilometre walking trail that begins in Murray Bridge.
MUST SEE, MUST DO
- Meet a cheetah or lion at Monarto Zoo - take a safari tour or guided walk to meet rare and endangered native and exotic animals
- Discover the mining history of Callington on the Callington Heritage Trail
- Get back to nature on the Federation Trail
- Sample some Marne River olives at Cambrai