The Antiques Shop

Mintaro
Superbly preserved historic town on the eastern edge of the Clare Valley.
Located 126 km from Adelaide, Mintaro is a thoroughly charming and largely untouched historic town lying to the east of the Clare Valley. It has the great benefit of being removed from the Main North Road and consequently has missed the inevitable changes that occur on transportation routes.

Land in the region was advertised for sale in 1849. The district was called 'Mintara' in the advertisements and it was promoted as being ideal for carters because there was plenty of feed and water. The town site was laid out in 1854 by Joseph and Henry Gilbert. No one knows where the name comes from. Some sources claim it is a corruption of an Aboriginal word 'mintadloo' or 'Minta - Ngadlu' meaning 'netted water' and others claim it derives from a Spanish word meaning 'camp or resting place'. The latter argument is based on the fact that the Burra Mining Company imported Spanish-speaking mule drivers from Uruguay to transport copper from Burra to Port Wakefield. It is certainly true that the town's early history records that as many as 100 Spanish mule drivers were passing through the town each day.

At the same time there were dozens of bullock drivers (mostly Irish) bringing copper to Port Wakefield through the town. The mules were obviously faster as the bullocks were only capable of doing 9 miles (14.5 km) a day consequently a series of tiny towns grew up at 9 mile intervals along the route. These were the evening watering holes for the bullock drivers who took the copper ingots to Port Wakefield and then brought coal (much of it from Newcastle-on-Tyne) back to fuel the smelters at Burra. The route was Burra to Hanson. Hanson to Farrell Flat. Then Farrell Flat to Mintaro. Then to either Watervale or Leasingham and so on until it got to Port Wakefield.

The town's economy collapsed when the copper from Burra was moved by railway. The result was that Mintaro was held in aspic. Such is its charm that in 1984 it became the first entire township in South Australia to be classified as a 'State Heritage Area'.

Things to see:  

Magpie and Stump Hotel

Magpie & Stump Hotel
This hotel has been licensed since 1851 when, if the stories are correct, it was a wild pub catering for the needs of the itinerant bullock and mule drivers who passed through the town. Over the years it has changed name - it was once known simply as Mintaro Hotel - but in recent times it has been carefully revived as a typical English village pub. Its location at the centre of the town ensures it is a focal point.

Between the Magpie and Stump and the old Council chambers (now done up) are the historic bullock stables. If you go around the back and look at the wall which faces onto the street you can still see huge rings where the bullocks were tied up at night time, presumably so the bullock drivers had only a short walk to the pubs which existed on either side of the stable. You can buy a pizza cooked in the town's original baker's oven which is located out the back of the pub. The oven dates from the late 1850s. Beyond the baker's oven is a room in the pub devoted to the Mintaro Coursing Club which started in 1884. The last live hare was chased to its doom in 1986. The continued until 1997 with a drag lure when it closed.

Historic Buildings
There are literally dozens of domestic historic buildings in Mintaro. The only sensible thing to do is to park as close to the Magpie & Stump Hotel and start walking. Among the town's charming buildings are Reilly's Cottage Gallery and Wines (Hugh Reilly built the cottage in the 1870s - he was a cobbler and harness maker), Teapot Inn, The Old Manse, the Pay Office Cottage, The Mintaro Institute (1878), the old council chambers and Mintaro Mews. A symbol of the changing nature of the town is that the old General Store is now an Antiques Store.

The Olde Devonshire Arms
The Olde Devonshire Arms (which dates from 1856 and now used as a Bed and Breakfast destination) is located just along the road from the Magpie and Stump Hotel. It was originally called the Devonshire Arms. It was the second pub in town to entertain the bullockies and was so large (go down the side and you will see that it goes on forever) it had a shooting gallery and a skittles alley below and up top there was a huge open space which was 70 feet by 40 feet.

Devonshire Arms - now a Bed and Breakfast

Over the Road from the Devonshire Arms
Over the road are a run of shops (including the Teapot Inn which has attic accommodation) that provided the provisions for the bullock and mule drivers who passed through the town.

Martindale Hall
Located on the road between Mintaro and Manoora, Martindale Hall is a superbly preserved Georgian style mansion which was built in 1879-1880 for Edmund Bowman who lived in the house until 1891. In recent times it has been used as the mansion in the movie Picnic at Hanging Rock and been converted into an excellent guest house. For more information contact (08) 8843 9088

Mintaro Slate Quarries
Mintaro has a world reputation for its Cambrian era slate which has been used internationally for the production of billiard tables. Such was the fame and quality of the slate that Walter Lindrum, the great Australian billiards champion, wrote to the Quarry to congratulate them on the quality of their slate. Slate has been mined in the area since the 1860s. It is possible to inspect the quarry although the owners are not happy about people wandering around the site as there are obvious safety issues. Contact (08) 8843 9077 for details.

Reillys Restaurant and Cellar Door Sales

Wineries
Reillys Cottage
Located on the corner of Burra and Hill Streets in Mintaro this small vineyard and winery was established in 1994 and specialises in red and white table wines and port derived from cabernet sauvignon, riesling, Grenache and shiraz grapes. It is open on weekends for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8843 9013.

Mintaro Cellars
Located on Leasingham Road in Mintaro this small vineyard and winery was established in 1984 and specialises in red and white table wines and tawny port derived from cabernet sauvignon, riesling, shiraz and cabernet franc grapes. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8843 9046.

Pikes Polish Hill River Estate
Located on Polish Hill River Road north-west of Mintaro this small vineyard and winery was established in 1984 and specialises in red and white table wines derived from cabernet sauvignon, riesling, shiraz, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, Merlot, cabernet franc and sangiovese grapes. It is located next door to the Old Polish Hill River Church which dates from the 1870s. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8843 4370.

Vineyards near Mintaro in autumn

Paulett Wines
Located on Polish Hill River Road north-west of Mintaro this small, family-owned vineyard and winery was established in 1983 and specialises in dry red and white table wines and sparkling wines derived from cabernet sauvignon, riesling, shiraz, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and Merlot grapes. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8843 4328.

The Wilson Vineyard
Located on Polish Hill River Road north-west of Mintaro this small, family-owned vineyard and winery was established in 1974 and specialises in red and white table wines and fortified wines derived from cabernet sauvignon, riesling, shiraz, zinfandel, semillon, chardonnay, Malbec and traminer grapes. It is open on weekends for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8843 4310.

	Hotels
	Magpie & Stump Hotel Main St Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9014
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Blenheim Bed & Breakfast Leasingham-Mintaro Rd Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 0187 Facsimile: (08) 8843 0177 Rating: ****
	Mintaro Heritage Accommodation The Old Manse Cnr Hill & Stein Sts P.O. Box 101 Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9021 Facsimile: (08) 8843 9292 Rating: ****
	Mintaro Mews Guesthouse Burra St P.O. Box 30 Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9001 Rating: ***1/2
	The Old Post Office Residence 2 Burra St P.O. Box 101 Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9021 Rating: ***
	Apartments
	Devonshire House Burra St Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9058 Facsimile: (08) 8269 2876 Rating: ****1/2
	Mintaro Hideaway Burra St Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9011 Facsimile: (08) 8843 8362 Rating: ***1/2
	Cottages & Cabins
	Millers Cottage Cnr Young & Church Sts Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8271 6601
	Mintaro Cottage Accommodation Mintaro Rd P.O. Box 7 Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9017 Rating: ****
	Mintaro Hideaway Cottage Burra St P.O. Box 41 Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9011 Rating: ***
	Nykiels Cottage Polish Hill Rd P.O.Box 51 Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 4292
	Oldfields Colonial Accommodation Cnr Young & Stein St P.O. Box 544 Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9038 Rating: ***
	Pay Office Cottages Hill St Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9026 Rating: ***
	The Loft Cottage Burra St Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8382 3352 or 0412 128 248
	Restaurants
	Magpie & Stump Hotel Main St Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9014
	Martindale Hall Bed & Breakfast Manoora Rd P.O. Box 21 Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9088 Facsimile: (08) 8843 9082
	Mintaro Mews Guesthouse Burra St P.O. Box 30 Mintaro SA 5415 Telephone: (08) 8843 9001