Martindale Hall, Mintaro, SA, Australia
Posted by: 
RoadRoach58
S 33° 56.270 E 138° 43.766
54H E 290144 N 6242415
Historical site with museum
Waymark Code: WMC56K
Location: South Australia, Australia
Date Posted: 07/26/2011
Views: 17
I've never seen the movie "Picnic at Hanging Rock" but, I have been to Martindale. On one of numerous trips to South Australia, in 2003 I visited Martindale Hall on a day-trip. Unfortunately, we were not permitted to take photos inside, but inside and out, this place was stunning.
The house was built in 1879, as well as the nearby stables, for 21 year old pastoralist Edmund Bowman, Jr. basically as a party house. By the time it was finished, however, the Bowman family was facing financial troubles, and sold their holdings to William Tennant Mortlock. The Mortlock family bequeathed the Hall and surrounding 45 acres of land to Adelaide University in 1965. One of the most impressive displays I remember seeing in the Hall was a 16th century Samurai Warrior's armor. If I remember what I read correctly, at that time, there were only 8 such armor sets in existence, worldwide.
The nearby stable is enormous, and designed for large draught animals to work the station on which the mansion was built, and to store massive quantities of feed for the livestock. I think this is perhaps the first stable I've ever seen with fireplaces.
While not quite as remote as the Living Desert Sculpture trail near Broken Hill, this is off the beaten path, and certainly overlooked by many foreign travelers that think they're seeing Australia when they go to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or even Adelaide.
A very short drive out of Mintaro, maybe 5km or so, it's well worth the trip out here to see this place. Both times I've been, have been in winter, which is more or less off-season for tourism in SA. July/August are the coldest and wettest part of the year in SA, yet, the temperatures can be quite mild.
The mansion and it's surrounding 45 acre preserve is located on the original 11,000 hectare sheep station, which is still in operation.
If you like, you can actually stay there as a guest. The Hall offeres themed "Whodunnit" stays, B&B accommodations, and a very unique experience. I won't quote prices, as I'm sure anything I put in here will be dated in no time. That's what the URL's are for.
I highly recommend visiting, and taking the stroll down to the stables. Magpies and crows will keep you company at the stables.
The only drawback is that no photography is permitted inside, which is not uncommon for many museums worldwide. A small inconvenience for one of the best museum experiences I've ever had.
The "Official Tourism" URL link to the attraction: [Web Link]
The attraction’s own URL: [Web Link]
Hours of Operation:
Mon - Fri: 11am to 4pm
Sat: 12pm to 4pm
Sun: 12pm to 4pm
Public Holiday: 11am to 4pm
Christmas Day: Closed
Good Friday: Closed
Admission Prices:
Group: $7.50
(Per person, group must be pre-booked. Minimum of 10 people.)
Adult: $10.00
Child: $2.50
Concession: $7.50
(students/pensioners/seniors)
Approximate amount of time needed to fully experience the attraction: Half of a day (2-5 hours)
Transportation options to the attraction: Personal Vehicle Only
|
Visit Instructions:As a suggestion for your visit log, please make every effort to supply a brief-to-detailed note about your experience at the Waymark. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures.