Montacute, South Australia

Montacute South Australia
Montacute
Population:	338 (2006 Census) [1]
Established:	[2]
Postcode:	5134
Elevation:	291 m (955 ft)
Location:	14 km (9 mi) from Adelaide
LGA:	Adelaide Hills Council
State District:	Morialta
Federal Division:	Mayo

Montacute is a small town and suburb in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.^[3] The town is located on Fifth Creek, and the mostly-rural suburb extends from Rostrevor in the west to Lenswood in the east, bounded on the north by Castambul and on the south by Norton Summit and Cherryville.^[4] The small town of Montacute Heights is located on top of the ridge between Fifth and Sixth Creeks.

Copper was discovered in the area in 1843, and a mine was soon set up. One of the mine's financiers, Sir John Baker, named the area after Montacute, Somerset, which was near his birthplace. Gold was discovered in 1846 and the "Victoria Mine" became Australia's first commercially exploited gold deposit.^[3]

The main industries are now orchards and market gardens. The 200 hectare Montacute Conservation Park was founded in 1971.^[5]

Corkscrew Road, a small road linking Montacute Heights with Gorge Road via a precipitous route with many twists and turns, is a popular route for cyclists and day trippers.^[3]

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Montacute (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC44216&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2008-07-27. 
2. ^ http://www.bishopsadelaidehills.com.au/adelaidehills/history.aspx
3. ^ ^{a b c} Adelaide Hills Council - Historical Town Information
4. ^ PropertyAssist - "Montacute"
5. ^ http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/sanpr/montacute/index.html

Coordinates: 34°53′S 138°44′E / 34.883°S 138.733°E / -34.883; 138.733