| Niriootpa |
| Just
7km from Tanunda you find the small town of Nuriootpa.
Nuriootpa means 'meeting place,' which stems from its use as a place of barter by
Aboriginal tribes before white settlement. Today it is the commercial
centre of the Barossa Valley. Founder William Coulthard's name is
commemorated in several spots - his house today is the Barossa Information
Centre, Coulthard Reserve is a beautiful place for a picnic. The North
Para River meanders through the town, and offers several pretty spots for
recreation or a picnic - stock up on traditional German fare at the town's
butcher and baker. |
|
|
| NURIOOTPA
is not the most attractive of towns, dominated as it is by Penfolds,
the Barossa’s largest winery; it churns out mass-produced wines, not all
of which are made from local grapes. The finest building here is Coulthard
House, a gracious, two-storey edifice commissioned by the area’s
first settler, William Coulthard. The town grew around his red-gum slab
hotel, now the site of the Vine Inn community hotel. Together with
the community store (where co-op members purchase shares and share in the
profits), this finances many developments in the town such as the
excellent swimming centre in Coulthard Reserve by the shady,
gum-lined North Para River.
Attractions
|
- LUHRS
PIONEER GERMAN COTTAGE This is a
genuine, heritage-listed German cottage built in 1848 by the Barossa
Valley's first German school-teacher, JH Luhrs. Each of the rooms is
filled with German artefacts which depict a part of German heritage,
there is also an old school house with school memorabilia.
- STRAIGHT
GATE LUTHERAN CHURCH Built in 1851, Straight Gate Lutheran
Church is one of South Australia's oldest Lutheran Churches. Its
bell tower and an 1871 German-made bell are still in use.
- SANDY
CREEK WOOD DOLL WORLD This interesting display features the
unique Carter-Wood Dolls. All dolls on display are made on the
premises and appear quite life-like. A special feature is the world
famous two metre carousel with twenty five dancing horses. Visitors
can inspect the workshop.
|
|