Watervale, South Australia

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Watervale
state = sa


caption =
lga = District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys
postcode = 5452
pop = 293 [Census 2006 AUS | id = SSC45246 | name = Watervale (State Suburb)|quick = on | accessdate=2008-05-17] (2006 Census)
est = 1847
region = Mid North
mayor = Allan Aughey
elevation=
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov = Frome
fedgov = Wakefield
dist1 = 120
dir1 = north
location1= Adelaide
dist2 = 15
dir2 = south
location2= Clare

Watervale (coord|33|57|S|138|38|E|region:AU-SA_type:city) is a town located in the Clare Valley, South Australia, approximately 9 kilometres north of Auburn and 15 kilometres south of Clare. It is surrounded by a number of small wineries and several B&Bs. The Riesling Trail runs past the town to the west, between the Main North Road and the Skilly Hills. The town has a number of 19th century heritage buildings, including the former Stanley Grammar School, which is now a private residence.

History

Watervale is located on a creek of the same name which is a tributary of the Wakefield River. The area on which the town was settled was originally granted to a pioneer named David Davies in 1847 by Governor Robe, and he named this section of land "Watervale".

The area was settled by a number of protestant families who founded a Bible Methodist Church in the township. The current Uniting Church and accompanying hall are examples of such colonial constructions in the area.

The town today

The townhship possesses a general store, hotel, state government primary school, CFS unit, Anglican and Uniting churches, a garage, a small number of local businesses (nursery, antique shop, pest control business) and a variety of recreational facilities (oval, tennis courts and a bowling green).

The hall for the town houses Agricultural Bureau meetings. There is a subsidiary of the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council library in the township but this is rarely utilised.

The area is renowned for its white wine growing prowess, particularly in its Riesling crop.

Governance

Watervale is in the District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys, the state electoral district of Frome, and the Australian House of Representatives Division of Wakefield.

References