Clarendon, South Australia

Day trips from Adelaide

The view from Chandler's Hill, the Happy Valley reservoir and Gulf St. Vincent beyond.

Having done a few day trips to regions south of Adelaide, I had driven through Clarendon but didn't have time to stop. With the weather warming up (slightly!) and a sunny day forecast I set off, and rather than taking the main roads to Clarendon, I went the 'back way' through the hills and was rewarded with this gorgeous view along the way.

The town of Clarendon was established after the land was subdivided for agricultural use in the 1840s. It still has a nice little colonial feel to the town and many of the heritage buildings have been restored. 

The Methodist Church built in 1875, now part of the Uniting Church and still being used.

A rustic little main street cottage.

The main street sloping down to the Onkaparinga river, with the General Store and Post Office. The red branding of Australia Post not quite in keeping with the more subtle colouring of the town!

The Clarendon Institute, with old style red telephone box. This looks as it's now a private home, but along with many other country towns, the local population built an Institute as a place of learning.

Picnic area with creek that flows into the Onkaparinga river, as it was a nice sunny days there were families picnicking nearby.

Just next to the creek was the kindergarten.

Just up the road from the kindergarten was the Clarendon Primary School. The campus does have modern buildings as well, but I really like old school houses. This was the original Clarendon School building, still being used by the school.

Houses in the main street.

I originally thought this had been a church with the residence attached, turns out it was the Courthouse. Beautiful, and shows the importance of the town that there was a courthouse with a local police station as well.

Next to the Old Courthouse, the building that had been a church, it was then the local council office. Which probably explains the flagpole and the stone plinth that has the name of the locals who died in World War I. A newer memorial has been build directly across the road. The old church is currently being used as a local history museum.

Like all good country towns there's a pub and I came for lunch so joined the crowd.

And next door there's a small gallery and coffee shop, so just the place for dessert.

Perfect little outing from Adelaide, going through the smaller back roads is nicer and it's quite well signposted. Clarendon is on the Onkaparinga River and there's a weir which is scenic but I was hungry and didn't make it that far down the road!