The Kies Estate Cellars (one of the many small cellars that dot the Barossa Valley) near Lyndoch

Lyndoch (including Rowland Flat)
First place sighted by Europeans in the Barossa Valley
Located only 58 km from Adelaide, Lyndoch is a substantial township at the southern end of the Barossa Valley. It is an ideal starting point for anyone wanting to explore the valley as their are a large number of wineries, most of which have cellar sales and tastings, within the immediate area.

Prior to European settlement a small number of Aborigines were well established in the district. They lived on a diet of grass seeds (made into a kind of damper), kangaroos, wallabies, possums, lizards and fish and protected themselves against the winter cold with possum skin rugs. Their life was simple but perfectly in tune with the climate, flora and fauna of the region.

Soon after the arrival of colonists in South Australia in July, 1836 expeditions were sent out to explore the hinterland. By December 1837 explorers, led by Colonel Light, had reached Lyndoch. On 13 December 1837 Light recorded 'At length about 5 p.m. we came to a beautiful valley which I named Lynedoch Vale after my much esteemed friend, Lord Lynedoch.'

Lyndoch Hotel

In 1838 other explorers (Hill, Wood and Wiles) passed through the area on their way to the Murray River. They noted: 'March 3 (1838) At 9 o'clock we arrived at Lynedoch Valley - a beautiful place, good land and plenty of grass, but no springs or running water. Saw many kangaroos during the morning.'

By 1839 Colonel Light, the Surveyor General of South Australia, was selling off large tracts of land in the valley. Edward Rowland took up land in the early 1840s at what was soon named Rowland Flat. The valley was named by Colonel Light after Barrosa (Hill of Roses) in Spain where he had fought against the French in 1811 in the Peninsula War. The spelling mistake was never corrected.

Lyndoch and the Lyndoch area can reasonably lay claim to being the first place in the Barossa Valley where grapes were grown. By 1847 a Mr Gilbert had planted an acre of grapes at Pewsey Vale. Similarly Johann Gramp planted grapes at Jacob's Creek and by 1850 he had produced his first wine.

Today Lyndoch is in the heart of the Barossa and is surrounded by a large number of both major and boutique wineries.

Things to see:  

A vineyard in the Barossa Valley (courtesy S. A. Tourism Commission)

Wineries - Lyndoch
Chateau Yaldara Estate
Located on the Barossa Valley Highway near Lyndoch, Chateau Yaldara was established in 1947 by the German winemaker, Hermann Thumm. It has grown into a huge complex which includes a motel, conference facilities, a chateau built in a baroque German style, a restaurant and a bistro. It specialises in red and white table wines, sparkling wine and port derived from cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, riesling, semillon, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, crouchen, Grenache and chardonnay grapes. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact 1800 088 300.

Keis Estate Cellars
Located on the Barossa Valley Way on the way to Gawler, it is a typical small family winery with cellar door sales. The stone building dates from the 1880s. It also boasts The Wheatsheaf Restaurant which serves wines with high class food. It specialises in red and white table wines, sparkling wine and fortified wines derived from muscadelle, chenin blanc, ondenc, traminer, pedro, cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, riesling, semillon, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay grapes. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8524 4110.

Burge Family Winemakers
Located on Barossa Highway this family winery was established in 1928. It specialises in premium red and white table wines and ports derived from cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, riesling, semillon, Grenache, Touriga, Frontignac, Merlot, cabernet franc and mourvedre. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8524 4644.

Twin Valley Estate
Located in the Hoffnungstahl Valley (in German this means the Valley of Hope - a suitable name for a place where people fleeing from religious persecution were to live) about halfway between Lyndoch and Williamstown (take the Hoffnungstahl Road) this winery was established in 1969 and specialises in both red and white table wines derived from cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and chardonnay grapes. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8524 4636

Wineries - Rowland Flat
Orlando Wines
On Barossa Valley Hwy at Rowland Flat, this famous winery is one of the oldest in the Barossa Valley having been started when Johann Gramp planted grapes at Jacob's Creek and by 1850 he had produced his first wine. It specialises in premium red and white table wines and sparkling wines derived from cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, riesling, semillon, Merlot, cabernet franc and chardonnay. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8521 3140.

Barossa Settlers
Located on Trial Hill Road this boutique winery was established in 1983. The shiraz grapes were planted in 1887 and the owners can date their origins back to the valley's first settlers. It specialises in premium red and white table wines, sparkling wines and ports derived from cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, riesling, semillon, Grenache, Mataro and chardonnay. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8524 4017.

Jenke Vineyards
Located on Barossa Highway this family winery was established in 1989 although the vineyards date from 1926 and the Jenke family have been in the valley since the 1850s. It specialises in premium regional varietals derived from cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, riesling, semillon, Grenache, Merlot and cabernet franc. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8524 4154.

Miranda Wines
Located on Barossa Highway this winery was established in 1919. It specialises in red and white table wines, fortified and sparkling wines derived from chardonnay, cabernet, shiraz, Grenache and Merlot. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8524 4537.

Liebich Wein
Located on Steingarten Road, Rowland Flat this family winery was established in 1992. It specialises in red and white table wines and fortified wines derived from cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, chardonnay, Merlot and pinot noir. It is open on weekends and by appointment for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8524 4543.

South Australian Museum of Mechanical Music
Located on the Barossa Valley Highway and open daily from 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. the museum is a fascinating collection of music machines including cylinder and disk machines, old gramophones, jukeboxes and musical devices including a musical Christmas tree and singing birds. For details contact (08) 8524 4014.

Lyndoch Hotel
A prominent two-storey building at the centre of town. It dates from 1869 when it was known as the Lord Lynedoch Hotel and is an important part of the town's streetscape.

Holy Trinity Church
Located 1 km north of Lyndoch on the Tanunda Road, it was consecrated in 1861 and has a particularly attractive interior with an impressive beamed roof.

Barossa Reservoir and Whispering Wall
The Whispering Wall is located about 7 km south-east of Lyndoch off Yettie Road and is an acoustic miracle. It is the huge curved retaining wall of the Barossa Reservoir and is about 140 metres long. The acoustics are such that you can speak in a normal voice and people at the other end of the wall can hear you clearly.

	Tourist Information
	Lyndoch Tourist Information Centre Kies Estate Cellars Barossa Valley Way Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 4110 Facsimile: (08) 8524 4110
	Motels
	Chateau Yaldara Barossa Motel Barossa Valley Hwy Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 4268 Rating: ***
	Hotels
	Lyndoch Hotel Gilbert St Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 4211
	Cottages & Cabins
	Barossa Country Cottages 55 Gilbert St Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 4426 Facsimile: (08) 8524 4931
	Belle Cottages P.O. Box 481 Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 4825 Facsimile: (08) 8524 4046
	Shiraz Cottage P.O. Box 430 Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 5353, 1800 227 677 Facsimile: (08) 8524 4993
	Applecroft Cottages Box 928, Rowland Flat SA 5352 Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8563 2106, 0412 238 175 Facsimile: (08) 8563 2138
	Barossa Country Cottages 55 Gilbert St P.O. Box 291 Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 4426 Facsimile: (08) 8524 4931 Rating: ****
	Christabelle Cottage 8 King St P.O. Box 481 Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 4825 Facsimile: (08) 8524 4825 Rating: ****
	The Miners Cottage Goldfields Rd Cockatoo Valley Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 6213, 1800 646 213 Facsimile: (08) 8524 6650
	Farm & Eco Holidays
	Enerby Farm Cottage Goldfields Rd Cockatoo Valley Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 6297, 0408 829 481
	Caravan Parks
	Barossa Caravan Park Barossa Valley Hwy Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 4262 Facsimile: (08) 8524 5499 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Chateau Yaldara Barossa Motel Barossa Valley Hwy Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 4268
	Lyndoch Bakery & Restaurant Barossa Valley Way Lyndoch SA 5351 Telephone: (08) 8524 4422