LANGHORNE CREEK (South Australia)

Alfred Langhorne first overlanded cattle from Sydney in 1841, to a cattle station, where the town bearing his name now stands. It rests in a fertile area on the Bremer River and is the centre of renowned grape-growing and lucerne industries. This floodplain area supports large river red gums and the lush vineyards of Bleasdale Winery making it an oasis in summer, while winter floods make the area unpredictable.

Langhorne Creek has a number of historic buildings dating back to 1850; the Methodist church, the hotel, general store and Bleasdale Winery. The township became a popular watering hole for the many South Australians who sought gold on the Victorian fields.

Bleasdale Winery

Langhorne Creek was constructed in the mid 1850s. The original building is of timber construction with a split red gum floor comprising a cellar and ground floor. Additions have been incorporated with the original buildings over the years. A massive red gum lever wine-press, 13m long and weighing over 3 tonnes, along with red gum vats, the largest in the country 3.3m high, 3.6m diameter and holding over 30 000 litres, are on display. The press was replaced with newer equipment in the 1960s after being in use for 70 years. The winery’s cellars are now classified by the National Trust.

Other wineries in the Langhorne Creek area are Temple Bruer Wines, Lake Breeze Winery and Bremerton Lodge. All are family owned and operated.

Ferries-McDonald Conservation Park

Kangaroo Road, encompasses an area of 843ha. It has a wide variety of flora on mostly undulating mallee country. It is known to be home to the vunerable Mallee fowl which seeks protection there, hence it is also a popular birdwatching location. The park also has a number of walking tracks and has the earliest known road from Adelaide to Victoria running within its boundaries.

Tolderol Game Reserve

Turn off the Wellington-Langhorne Creek Road at Dog Lake Road (signposted Tolderol Game Reserve), 27km from Wellington. This reserve was established as a drought refuge for waterfowl. It encompasses an area of 230ha and was formed when lowlying land areas were flooded between man-made embankments. The shallow water attracts waterbirds, waterfowl and waders. Pacific black duck, musk duck, grey teal, Australian shoveller, sharp-tailed and curlew sandpiper and red-necked stint are but a few. Sacred kingfishers, marsh harriers and terns are also sighted.

Wellington | Tailem Bend | Murray Bridge (Upriver) - Goolwa | Coorong (Down River)