Reynella, South Australia: Travel guide and things to do

Located only 21 km south of Adelaide and 120 metres above sea level, Reynella is now part of the outer suburbs of the state's capital. The sprawl of Adelaide is quite remarkable. To the south it stretches down Gulf St Vincent and there are literally wineries everywhere. There is the huge Hardy Wine Company and various small wine companies. Vineyards appear to be growing in the suburbs.

If there is an old Reynella it is well hidden in the new development of the area which is an unusual mix of new suburban project homes linked with wineries and fields of vines. Prior to European settlement the area was inhabited by the Peramangk group of Aborigines.

The first European settler was John Reynell after whom the township is named. He planted grapes as early as 1838 and laid out the township in 1854. It is said that Thomas Hardy, one of Australia's most famous winemakers, worked for John Reynell. It is worth remembering that Reynella Farm covered 450 acres and that only 15 acres were ever under vines.

The railway reached Reynella in 1916 and in the 1950s, as suburban Adelaide moved south, it became an important centre connected to Port Stanvac and Port Noarlunga.

Things to see

Chateau Reynella
The first winery in the Reynella district was established by John Reynell in 1838. He had received vine cuttings from William Macarthur in New South Wales. Chateau Reynella produced its first wine in 1842 and therefore makes claims to being the country's oldest winery. There is still evidence of the early history of the vineyard. The cellars date from 1842 and the stone homestead was built around 1854-1855.