Meander around Mitcham Historical Village
A good way to really discover communities within Adelaide is to venture out into the fresh air and wander around - a part of the "smell the roses" philosophy advocated these days.
Mitcham historical village is one of the older areas of Adelaide and many discoveries can be made about the suburb, which is located just over 7 kms or 13 minutes drive south of the city of Adelaide.
Old Mitcham Hotel
A good way to discover Mitchum is to download a self-guided walking tour around the historical precinct, which is available on the Mitcham City Council's
website.
The brochure outlines 3 walks which can be made around the area, the first being the main walk around the historical village, which is approximately 2 kms in length, easy grading and takes between one and two hours to complete.
The main walk takes in 26 different sites including the historic Edinburgh Hotel and Cellars, the Mitcham Memorial Reserve, the old Post Office in Welbourne Street, the old Bakery also in Welbourne Street and the old Mitcham Hotel.
Interpretive Signage
The Mitcham Historical Society together with Mitcham Council have done a great job in providing signage and interpretation for the historic areas of Mitcham with stories which help bring the past to life.
The second walk visits Upper Mitcham, and yes, the word upper means walking up steep hills, so this walk will take you around 45 minutes for 2 km distance. If you decide to visit historic Carrick Hill, you will obviously need to allow even more time to truly appreciate the house and grounds.
This particular walk features 10 note-worthy sites along the journey including Carrick Hill, St Michael's Anglican Church and Taylors Road which features a group of Tudor style homes built around 1924.
The third and final walk covers Mitcham Cemeteries again with a steep hill and rough paths to traverse. The distance is only, however 1.5 kms and covers not only the Anglican Cemetery but also the Catholic cemetery as well as the General Cemetery.
Several noted South Australians are buried in these cemeteries including Sir Thomas Elder, Robert Barr-Smith and Peter Waite in the Anglican Cemetery and Sir Sidney Kidman in the General Cemetery.
The East Lodge
The village of Mitcham was originally laid out in 1840 named after the manager's home town in Surrey, England and it was established very much along the lines of an English village, including a village green which became as it is currently, Mitcham Memorial Reserve.
Shepherds originally tended flocks of sheep at nearby Brownhill Creek. Gradually a thriving commercial district ensued, with Mitcham able to retain its village identity until after World War One, when a population explosion and building boom saw great sub-divisions occurring, eventually being swallowed up into suburbia.
Location
The great thing about Mitcham is its nearness to the city of Adelaide but also being nestled in the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges allows residents the best of both worlds.
Most of the old buildings have been well preserved as is seen in the historic hotels, institute building as well as several old businesses that have been renovated and updated for trendy cafes and other shops including homewares, picture framers and antiques.
Antique Store
Wandering around can make you both thirsty as well as increasing your appetite and a great place to stop off for a break and refreshments is the Edinburgh Hotel.
Classified by the National Trust, the Ed as it is known as, especially to locals provides some great summer tasting plates as well as an extensive menu catering for all options.
The place has been upgraded over the years and has a great blend of historic and modern facilities - on a nice day you can sit out under the umbrellas in the garden. More information can be obtained on their
website.
If you are looking for some cuisine in an historic building, try Stamps Restaurant on Welbourne Street adjacent to the old Post Office, which seats around 45 people and offers modern fare and has been rated quite highly in several Australian Good Food and Travel Guide Awards over the years.
With main courses for lunch between $35 and $40, it is not necessarily a cheap option, however the food is well prepared and well worth the outlay in general. The entire dining options can be perused on their
website.
If you like the idea of experiencing the great outdoors with either your family or friends, what about packing up a picnic lunch and heading to the Mitcham Memorial Reserve.
The reserve today on Old Belair Road is spacious and provides park benches, BBQ facilities, toilets and a great kid's playground.
The Edinburgh Hotel Garden
It is very easy to wile away a few hours in your visit to Mitcham and you'll certainly want to return and explore further.
Mitcham Memorial Reserve
