Penola: Heritage, Landscapes and the Rail Trail

Penola combines fascinating insights into the town’s history with nature experiences and the Coonawarra Rail Trail. Culture enthusiasts can explore exhibitions and heritage-protected precincts; those who prefer exploring landscapes can visit nearby Penola Conservation Park and the Greenrise Arboretum Trail. The Rail Trail runs from the historic town of Penola through the Coonawarra wine region. This gives you a choice of different themes for your trip, without limiting Penola to just one way of exploring it.

Cultural history in Penola

The Mary MacKillop Penola Centre houses exhibitions in its Interpretive Centre about Mary MacKillop’s years in Penola and Julian Tenison Woods’ time in the Penola district. This brings the focus both to individual life stories and to their connection with the town and its district. Anyone interested in these people will find a distinct cultural focus for their stay here.

The John Riddoch Centre offers another perspective. It is located in the Penola Mechanics Institute and Public Library, which is protected as State Heritage and was originally built in 1869. The local history exhibition invites visitors to trace the stories of people who lived and worked in the Penola area and its various districts from the 1850s onwards. The centre also includes the Penola and Coonawarra Information Centre.

The Penola State Heritage Area includes the two adjoining heritage precincts of Petticoat Lane and Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse. Together with the exhibitions, they offer a multifaceted picture: history is told not only through individual people, but also through the people and places of the area. If you would like to combine different historical themes on your trip, you can include these distinct points of interest in your plans.

Nature and trails as a counterpoint

In the area around Penola, Penola Conservation Park offers wetlands, woodland and open heathland for visitors to explore. These landscapes provide a different focus from the town’s exhibitions and heritage precincts. If you like to complement your trip with nature, the park offers another way to experience Penola and its surroundings.

The Greenrise Arboretum Trail also offers specific natural features: it has 6,000 trees, 1,200 metres of paths and 110 tree species. These figures give a vivid impression of the variety that defines this place. When planning your trip, consider whether you would prefer to focus on local history, diverse landscapes or the variety of trees.

The Coonawarra Rail Trail offers another perspective on the area. It runs from the historic town of Penola through the Coonawarra wine region. The Penola–Coonawarra Railway Siding section starts in Penola’s south-western district and is also accessible at the crossings at Robe Road and Jessie Street.

Which trip suits your interests?

If your travel group has different interests, these themes offer a range of ways to explore: the exhibitions tell the stories of Mary MacKillop, Julian Tenison Woods and the people of the area, while Penola Conservation Park, the Arboretum Trail and the Rail Trail offer other points of focus. This lets you consider which experiences matter most on your trip, rather than centring your stay on just one attraction.

When choosing a holiday rental in Penola, you can use these interests as a starting point: is cultural history and heritage your priority, or would you like to include more nature and trails in your trip? The themes described here have different characters and can help you clarify what you want from your holiday. If you have several interests, you can also consider which experiences to fit into different days.

More destinations: Millicent, Beachport, Coonawarra, Southend.

View the broader travel guide: Wattle Range Council.