The Eleventh National Heritage Rose Conference with the Theme "Heritage Roses- True Survivors" was held in November 2012 at the Barn Palais, Nelson Road, Mt. Gambier. These conferences are held biennially in different parts of Australia. The conveners for this conference were Sue & John Zwar of Camawald Cottage, Coonawarra. The photo is of a painting  by Penola artist Jill Eckermann and t… [more]

Penola is where Australia's first saint began her teaching career in 1867 and the original schoolhouse is now set up as  it is likely to have been when Mary taught  her students in it. The acclaimed Interpretive Centre houses comprehensive  displays of the work of both Mary MacKillop and Father Tenison Woods For more information visit      http://www.mackilloppenola.org.au … [more]

The Penola Racecourse is the stunning backdrop for South Australia's "best country race meeting", a day not to be missed! With over 3,000 visitors each year, come and experience a fun-filled day with fabulous local food, fine wine, fashion and friends.… [more]

 Penola High School is situated at the Eastern end of Cameron Street.  Its 50th anniversary was celebrated on the long weekend in March    2012.  Saturday March 10 was an Open Day at the School from 11.00 am - 4.00 pm with a range of activities and events such as a roll call, Reunion cake cutting, self guided tours & bus runs, sausage sizzle lunch etc. On Saturday night, 300 attended the … [more]

The South East Field Days are held in March each year in Yacca Park at Lucindale in South Australia. An average of 22,000 people attend from all over Australia to experience the wide range of activities, displays and features of agricultural, environmental, technological and general interest. Lucindale is an easy drive of about 60 kms from Camawald Cottage. For more information go to the websit… [more]

A fun day for the entire family, locals and tourists or those just passing through. Come and enjoy an outing at the Annual Penola Country Show. Experience the power and agility of horses in action, prime livestock at their best, animal nurseries, beautiful roses, the arts and crafts, competitions and of course the obligatory sideshow alley with rides, fairy floss and toffee apples (for both bi… [more]

Coonawarra is very event orientated, so travellers and locals alike, have the opportunity to experience the spirit and tradition of wine making in the region. The Coonawarra Vignerons Association plays host to several exciting events throughout the year. The year starts off with a bang at the Coonawarra Vignerons Cup racing meet. It is on the second Thursday of January; so if you are a love… [more]

The Coonawarra Wine Region is particularly well known for producing world class red wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. Coonawarra’s secret lies in the combination of the rich red terra rossa soil, limestone, pure underground water and a long cool ripening season for the grapes. Coonawarra lies within South Australia's Limestone Coast Zone (south-east South Australia) is named from a lo… [more]

Take a trip to Coonawarra during the month of July and explore the Cellar Dweller Festival. The Cellar Dwellers festival is a month long wine festival and the only event of its kind where the visitors get the rare chance to taste and buy the back vintages and old treasures,  many of which are hard to find, aged Coonawarra wines. Indeed some of these wines may never be seen on the shelves of s… [more]

Each year in April, in one of South Australia's most celebrated wine regions,  it is the time of the year when Coonawarra vintage (grape harvest), is celebrated. The Annual Coonawarra After Dark festival involves Coonawarra wineries opening their doors to visitors at the peak of the vintage. It is your chance to take a tour of a working winery and experience the thrills, aromas, excitem… [more]