The National Australia Bank

Jamestown
Interesting service centre on the banks of the Belalie River.
Jamestown is located 209 km north of Adelaide, and 456 metres above sea level, in the heart of some of South Australia's most productive agricultural land. The traveller's first site of Jamestown are the grain bulk handling facilities at the railhead which stand out against the nearby low lying hills. The town itself is characterised by wide tree-lined streets with the main street being so wide that it seems like a town square. It has parking in the centre of the street. On either side of the street are a number of prominent buildings including the National Australia Bank (1885), the Belalie Hotel (1877) and the Commercial Hotel (1877).

It is likely that the Ngadjuri Aborigines lived in the district before European settlement which began to occur with the granting of the first pastoral lease in 1841 to a man named John Bristow Hughes who named his property 'Bundaleer'. Jamestown, as a town, came into existence around the beautiful Belalie Creek in 1870 as a service centre for the surrounding wheat properties. In spite of the attractive Belalie used by the local Aborigines it was named Jamestown after the first name of Governor James Fergusson, who was the Governor of South Australia at the time.

The Memorial of Sir John Cockburn, the local doctor who became the local Mayor and ended up the Premier of South Australia

By 1878 it was incorporated as a town and in that year Dr John Cockburn became the town's first mayor. He was to go on and become Premier of South Australia, be active in the Federation of the states, and eventually become Agent-General for South Australia in London. He stayed on in England where he died in 1929.

The collapse of wheat in the late 19th century had little effect on the town. It has continued to prosper and is now the major service centre for an area which relies on wool, a range of cereal crops and the timber from Bundaleer Forest for its prosperity.

Things to see:  

Jamestown Railway Station Museum
Located on the northern side of town (over the Belalie Creek and next to the grain silo) the Museum is in the old Railway Station (1878). It is part of the National Trust and contains local memorabilia and lots of agricultural equipment including an old Furphy water carrier. There is also a railway carriage, a crop stripper and memorabilia from a local emu factory (now long gone). It is located on Mannanarie Road, Open Monday to Saturday 10.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.; Sundays 2.00 p.m to 4.00 p.m. Contact (08) 8665 2036 for additional information.

Bundaleer Forest Reserve
Bundaleer Forest Reserve is located 9 km south of Jamestown. It was the state's first pinus radiata plantation. It dates back to 1875 when the state declared 9000 hectares a forest reserve. The reserve as a pleasant picnic location and a number of attractive and interesting walks including:

(i) the 'Maple Walk' (1.5 km) through groves of deciduous trees including English elm, ash, poplars, maples, and sycamores. This walk passes through country inhabited by echidnas, possums, kangaroos and euros although it is the lucky walker who sees them.

(ii) the 'Scenic Walk' (4.6 km) which offers views across the countryside from Campbells Hill. This walk takes about 1.5 hours and passes through stands of red river gum and forest red gum. This walk passes through country inhabited by echidnas, possums, kangaroos and euros although it is the lucky walker who sees them.

(iii) Conservator's Walk (4.6 km) which takes about 1.5 hours. On this section of the trail 'Curnow's Hut', an old timber cutters hut, has been restored for weary walkers.

There is a useful brochure available.

War Memorial, gun and Balalie Hotel

Town Walk
There is a brochure available titled 'A Tour of Jamestown' which includes 27 things in the town including the caravan park, the swimming pool and the council offices. It is particularly interesting and informative about Sir John Cockburn, the local doctor who became the local Mayor and ended up the Premier of South Australia. It was Cockburn who planted the trees in the town's main street. He also laid the foundation stone for the local Anglican Church (1880) and his house (1876) is still well preserved on the corner of Cockburn and Clifton Streets. It is no longer a doctor's surgery. There is also a statue to the good doctor in the town's main street.

The view up the main street

Magnetic Hill
Now here's a novelty. At the museum in Jamestown get a copy of the brochure titled 'Take A Drive to Magnetic Hill'. It is a 50 km round trip and Magnetic Hill is off the main road from Jamestown to Orroroo. The locals claim that Magnetic Hill has some strange energy force and that if you park your car at the bottom of the hill, turn off the engine and place the gears in neutral, you will feel the car being pulled up the hill. If nothing else, it's a very pleasant drive.

	Tourist Information
	Jamestown Country Retreat Caravan Park 103 Ayr St Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 0077
	Hotels
	Belalie Hotel/Motel 36 Ayr St Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 1065 Rating: *
	Commercial Hotel/Motel 35 Ayr St Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 1013 Rating: *
	Jamestown Hotel 79 Ayr St Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 1387
	Railway Hotel/Motel 32 Alexander Tce Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 1035 Rating: **
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	North Bundaleer Bundaleer Forest Bundaleer Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8665 4024 Facsimile: (08) 8665 4080
	Apartments
	Jamestown Country Retreat Holiday Apartments 103 Ayr St Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 0077 Rating: ***
	Cottages & Cabins
	Bundaleer Heights Bundaleer Forest Bundaleer Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 0029
	Jamestown Country Retreat Caravan Park Cnr Ayr & Bute Sts Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 0077 Facsimile: (08) 8664 0077 Rating: ***
	Caravan Parks
	Jamestown Country Retreat Caravan Park Cnr Ayr & Bute Sts Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 0077 Facsimile: (08) 8664 0077 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Belalie Brook Restaurant 100 Irvine St Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 1777
	Belalie Hotel/Motel 36 Ayr St Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 1065
	Commercial Hotel/Motel 35 Ayr St Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 1013
	Jamestown Hotel Ayr St Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 1387
	Railway Hotel/Motel 32 Alexander Tce Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 1035
	Cafés
	Black & White Cafe 52 Ayr St Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 1312
	Flannery's Bakery & Cafe 32 Ayre St Jamestown SA 5491 Telephone: (08) 8664 1344