Click here for the history of the famous Coonawarra wine region....
 Petticoat Lane, the
oldest residential part of Penola, allows you to wander through historic
timber and stone cottages, which retain much of the charm and character of
yesteryear. Red gum kerbing as well as rose and lavender plantings enhance
the lane’s character as an example of days gone by. Petticoat Lane is a
State Heritage Area.
Yallum Park -
a Victorian mansion was built by John Riddoch in the 1880s. It was
purchased by the Clifford family in 1910. The building still has
original wallpapers and furniture and is open to the public by
appointment at the Tourist Information Centre. John Riddoch's other
claims to fame in our area is the Coonawarra Fruit Colony. He recognized
the abundance of under ground water, Mediterranean type climate and
Terra Rossa soil all combined to provide excellent fruit growing
conditions.
Two thousand acres of Yallum Estate were surveyed and cut into blocks of
10 to 30 acres. Blockers were charged 10 pounds an acre and were given
10 years to pay at 5% interest. Riddoch planted about 250 acres of his
own with both vines and fruit trees.
In 1891 Riddoch commenced building his own cellars. Today these are a
landmark known to us all as Wynn's Coonawarra Estate.
It wasn't until the mid 60s that other companies like Penfolds, Mildara
and Rouge Homme recognized Riddoch's acumen. This gave new confidence to
small growers and from 200 hectares of vines in 1964 Coonawarra has
grown to 4,450 hectares in 1999. When Owen Redman opened his new winery
in 1969 his was the first Cellar Door in Coonawarra there are now 21
with more on the drawing board.
Penola is centrally situated - being 50km from Mt Gambier, Naracoorte and
Millicent and only 61kms from Casterton, making it an ideal destination
for visitors who wish to explore and discover the many diverse
attractions our region has to offer.
 The Penola & District Local History Collection is housed in the Old
Mechanics Institute and provides an extensive collection of Penola’s early
history, offering both professional and amateur historians the opportunity
to research the many interesting facets of Penola’s early days.
The People...
 Scottish born
Alexander Cameron, a pastoral pioneer who squatted the area
in 1845, founded Penola in 1850. Paving the way for future generations he
built the first timber dwellings and was known by his contemporaries as
the “King of Penola”. A John Dowie bronze statue of Alexander Cameron in
Church Street commemorates his achievements and
those of his fellow
pioneers.
 Blessed Mary MacKillop,
anticipated to be Australia’s first Saint, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods founded the religious order, The Sisters of St. Joseph, in
Penola on the 19th March 1866. In 1867 the Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse was
established for the children of the district. Mary MacKillop taught in
this historic building. The Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre was opened
in 1998.
Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre
Portland Street,
Penola. Phone (08) 8737 2092
Historic displays
including Father Julian Tenison Woods.
web
www.mackillop-penola.com
 Another prominent
figure in Penola’s history was Scottish born John Riddoch. Settling in the
area in 1861, he had a profound impact on the district. His crowning
achievement was the establishment of the Penola Fruit Growing Colony in
1890, renamed Coonawarra in 1897, signalling the birth of Coonawarra’s
internationally renowned quality wine. The two-story mansion “Yallum Park”
was completed for John Riddoch in 1880 and many of the early buildings in
the district were opened or had their foundation stones laid by the man of
vision. He was a local Member of Parliament for many years and the Riddoch
Highway is so named to acknowledge his contributions.
Famous colonial poets, Adam Lindsay Gordon, William Ogilvie, and Penola
born John Shaw Neilson, left behind a legacy of poetry inspired by their
experiences of rural life in this district.
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