Padthaway is a small town on the Riddoch Highway in the Limestone Coast region of south-eastern South Australia, halfway from Keith to Naracoorte. The name is derived from the Potawurutj, the Aboriginal name for Good Water. Padthaway is in the Tatiara District Council, the state electorate of MacKillop and the federal Division of Barker.
Wine region
Padthaway is also the name of a wine region surrounding the town. It is home to several large commercial vineyards. The oldest vineyard was established in 1964 by Seppelts, with Lindeman's, Hardys and Wynns also establishing vineyards in the 1960s. The wine region is 62 kilometres (39 miles) long and 8 kilometres (5 miles) wide with over 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) of vineyards. There are only a few cellar doors operating in the region.
History
Padthaway was the name of the original pastoral station which was established near here in 1847 by a successful Scottish businessman, Robert Lawson. In 1882 the Padthaway Estate Homestead was built by Eliza and Robert Lawson. A notable legend about Padthaway is the ghost at Padthaway Estate, her name is Eliza Lawson but she is not the Eliza Lawson who settled and built the Padthaway Estate in the 1800s.
In 1952 Padthaway became the centre of a soldier settlement scheme. The first vineyards were planted here in 1964 and quickly transformed marginal grazing land into a top wine-producing region. White wines, especially, from the region are regular winners of major awards. These wines may be purchased at the local cellar door sales and at wine retailers around Australia. Agriculture is also strong in Padthaway with onion, olives and seeds being grown along with sheep and cattle which are reared for sale.
Padthaway has a cluster of businesses located in the heart of town including a deli, general store, two rural service centres, an auto and engineering centre, a caravan park, and a park with a playground in the main street, Memorial Drive.
Other public amenities include netball and tennis courts, football oval, town hall, sports complex, medical clinic, playground, skate park and rotunda. The toilets are right near the playground. In 2010 was a new medical clinic was built.
The 984 hectares Padthaway Conservation Park that is situated on a former coastal dune is close to Padthaway. The park has stands of yellow gum, ribbon gum, brown stringybark, manna gums, many acacias and banksias. It is also home to a variety of animals including koalas, birds, rabbits, kangaroos and lots of small insects and bugs. Sometimes a rare orchid called the fire orchid may be viewed in flower.
Sports
Records for lawn bowls being played in Padthaway go back to 1963. Lawn bowls is play in Padthaway on Saturday during the summer time. Padthaway bowling club plays in is the Upper South East association.
The last A grade cricket premiership Padthaway won was in 1993. Padthaway has had a B Grade side most years since. Padthaway came fifth in the competition in 2010-2011. In 2011 there is only one competition which is an A grade side.
Netball has been played in Padthaway since the mid-late 1960s. In 2011 the Padthaway Netball Club, also called the Lions, has more than seven different teams for netball.
The Padthaway Football Club which commenced in 1967 is known as the Lions is the main club of the town, competing in the Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League. The football club won an A grade premiership grand final in 1993 against Bordertown.
The Padthaway Tennis Club dates back to 1962 and 1972 when the club laid new concrete courts. The Padthaway Tennis club won many premierships between the mid-1970s and into the late 1980s.Tennis is currently played as a social competition on Wednesday nights for a six-eight-week season in the summer before Christmas.
The Padthaway golf course is carved out of scrubland, this tight course is a challenge even for the most professional of golfers. The Padthaway golf club was opened in 1988 and has 9 holes with scrapes.
Climate
Apex is a community group which operates in Padthaway composed of men between the ages of 18 and 45 who work together to promote social justice and raise awareness of charity causes by fundraising in interesting and creative ways.
Padthaway has an active Women in Agricultural Business group. WAB is a statewide network with branches throughout SA. WAB is an organisation for women interested in rural, agricultural and business issues. WAB provides the opportunity for self-development and friendship.