Watervale  South Australia

Watervale might have been established by David Davies in 1848, but this small town in the Clare Valley 118km north of Adelaide, owes much more to a pioneer winemaker named Francis Treloar.

One of the original settlers on the land at the base of Mt Horrocks just north of Watervale, Treloar planted the foundation vines of the famous Springvale vineyard which was to anchor Quelltaler Wines.

Today Watervale remains at the centre of an important wine-making region which embraces Crabtree Watervale Wines, Rosenberg Cellars, Mount Horrocks Winery and the Quelltaler Wine Museum. The town is also on the Riesling Trail, a walking and cycling track that skirts the old railway line between Auburn and Clare.

Watervale is also distinguished by some historic stone buildings. Pride of the set is the lovely Old Stanley Grammar School, boarding home to children of the landed gentry in the 1870s. The National Trust has also listed the Watervale Primary School, the Uniting Church and the Methodist Church Hall.