The wheat silos at Bordertown

Bordertown
Substantial service town famous as birthplace of Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke.
Located 275 km east of Adelaide and 82 metres above sea level on the border between South Australia and Victoria, Bordertown has become a kind of symbolic point of difference between the two states. When Victorians fear an invasion (usually during the football season) they refer to South Australians massing at Bordertown.

The area was first settled in the 1840s when grazing leases were taken out by Loudon McLeod (Nalang Station), John and Charles Scott (Cannawigara Station) and John Binnie (Wirrega Station). Around this time the area was known as 'tatiara' which was supposedly a local Aboriginal name for 'good country'.

Like its name (which is unambiguously descriptive although the town is 19 km from the border) Bordertown was a very conscious creation. In July, 1852 120 allotments were sold (the cost was 50 shillings for a quarter acre block) 'near Scott's wool shed and on the overland route from Adelaide to Mount Alexander' as part of a plan to establish a town/depot where the gold escorts could rest on their journey from the west Victorian goldfields to the port of Adelaide. The problem was that the only route at the time from Adelaide to Victoria was around the coast. Captain Alexander Tolmer surveyed a route through the 90 Mile Desert and it was on the basis of this survey that he suggested that a depot be established on the border. He was apparently very upset when, even though the town was not on the border, the authorities still decided to call it Bordertown. He thought it should be called Tolmer.

After the goldrushes the town continued to prosper as a major service centre. The surrounding area is ideal wool and wheat country which is sufficiently rich to extend its produce to vineyards, cattle and a variety of seeds and cereals. The town's future as a transport centre was assured when the railway arrived in 1886.

Today Bordertown is a substantial and prosperous service centre.

Things to see:  

Hawke House, the birthplace of RJL Hawke

Bob Hawke's Family Home and other Memorabilia
This quite pleasant sandstone house was once the home of Australia's longest serving Labor Prime Minister. RJL (Bob) Hawke was born here on 9 December, 1929. It has been renovated and while it is used by the Tatiara Employment Support Service it does contain a number of photographs of the Bordertown's most famous resident. Located on Farquhar Street (it is just half a block away from the Westpac Bank in the main street) it is open Mon - Fri. For details contact (08) 8752 2569.

There is a bronze bust of RJL Hawke outside the Council Chambers. Unfortunately it is really a travesty. It doesn't even vaguely look like the subject.

Bordertown Railway Station
A particularly impressive building indicating the importance of the town. It was completed in 1914. The railway arrived in the town in 1886.

Bordertown Wildlife Park
Located on Western (Dukes) Highway this unusual wildlife park allows people to view the animals from outside the fences. There seems to be no access point although it is easy to see the kangaroos in the shade and the interesting collection of native birds. For details contact (08) 8754 2074.

Environs

The pig sty and silage pits at Clayton Farm Agricultural Museum

Clayton Farm Historic Site and Agricultural Museum
Located only 3km south of Bordertown on the Naracoorte Road this is one of the most interesting historic farms in the country. The farm was owned and operated by the family of Mr August Gottfried Wiese (who took up the land in 1872) from 1872-1985. Today it has an extraordinary collection of historic farm buildings (all built either by the owners or by local tradesmen) made from traditional materials - limestone, grasses and a variety of gums - and some outstanding and very significant historic farm machinery. There is a Vintage Field Day on the October long weekend. There is an excellent brochure which outlines the history of each of the buildings on the site. For details of opening times contact (08) 8752 2548.

	Tourist Information
	Bordertown Visitor Information Centre 81 North Terrace Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 0700 Facsimile: (08) 8752 0644 Email: btowninfo@lm.net.au
	Motels
	Bordertown Dukes Motor Inn Dukes Hwy P.O. Box 77 Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 1177 Rating: ***
	Bordertown Motel 25 Dukes Hwy Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 1444 Rating: **
	Parklands Motel 105 Park Tce Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 1622 Rating: **
	Hotels
	Bordertown Hotel 79 East Tce Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 1016 Rating: *
	Woolshed Inn Hotel 101 Woolshed St Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 1144 Rating: **
	Cottages & Cabins
	Bordertown Caravan Park Penny Tce Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 1752
	Farm & Eco Holidays
	Dunalan Host Farm Dukes Hwy 18km east Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8753 2323
	Caravan Parks
	Bordertown Caravan Park Penny Tce Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 1752 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Bordertown Dukes Motor Inn Dukes Hwy Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 1177
	Bordertown Hotel 79 East Tce Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 1016
	Bordertown Motel 25 Dukes Hwy Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 1444
	Woolshed Inn Hotel 101 Woolshed St Bordertown SA 5268 Telephone: (08) 8752 1144