Historical Buildings in Old Reynella

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Old Reynella boasts numerous historical sites waiting to be discovered. These are places where the early settlers lived and worked back in the day.



Born in England, John Reynell moved to South Australia in 1838. He met the Lucas family during the voyage and bought land from Thomas Lucas. Expanding his land, John built Reynella Winery but went bankrupt a couple of years later. He then experimented with different crops and animals. By 1853, his position had improved. In 1854, he subdivided his land auctioning 40 acres for housing. This helped to form the township.



An acre of land was sold to Robert Hay for the purpose of constructing a hotel. A two-storey brick and stone building with a corrugated iron roof was therefore erected along Old South Road. Crown Inn became a popular rest stop for travellers between Adelaide and Willunga. Nowadays, you can grab a bite to eat (or a drink) from the bistro. There are, of course, hearty pub classics on the menu .



Religion played a significant role in the township at that time. In 1857, the congregation built a Victorian Gothic-style Wesleyan Chapel, and ministers travelled here to lead the service. Although now a private home, you're still able to admire the building's exterior from Peach Street. Nearby was the township's first school, which also served as the teacher's residence. In 1902, a second school was built to cater for growth in student numbers. This building was constructed using stone quarried at Hallett Cove.



When John died, the family wine business was passed to his son Walter and later his grandson Carew, who built the distillery house. After World War II, instead of a distillery, the building housed migrants working for the Reynell family. Today, it is St Francis Winery .



At 1 Reynell Road, you'll find a symmetrical single-storey limestone house that used to serve as the post office after its original Vine Street building burned down. The design was rather typical for that period of time. Opposite were the stationmaster's home as well as two other workers' cottages. Opened in 1915, a 45-kilometre railway line ran from Adelaide to Willunga, with the Reynella Railway Station located just behind these cottages. However, by 1969, the trains had stopped. The tracks were subsequently removed, making way for Coast to Vines Rail Trail, which can be enjoyed by both cyclists and walkers.



Lastly, Woolcock Reynella might be worth a mention too. It's not often that general supply stores become high-end clothing stores. James Gilbert Woolcock and his son Angus purchased the property at 184 Old South Road in 1948. They sold groceries, hardware, kitchenware, linen, clothing, petrol and more. As time goes on, Angus's wife Dulcie, focused on women's clothing, and the business grew successfully. It still operates as a fashion house today with collections from across the world, including Paris, Germany, Italy, London, America and New Zealand.

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