What's New in Wallaroo

by Bowen Bowie-Woodham (subscribe)

If you haven't been to Wallaroo for a while, you may have missed some changes in recent years. The centre of town has been redeveloped. Gone are the old croquet and bowling greens in the main street. The old Foodland store on Hughes Street has closed. Let me walk you through town...

A walkway or mobility scooter pathway through town provides smooth-going with a minimum of dealing with traffic. Commencing at Mays Crossing (in front of the Old Foodland site on Hughes St), the pathway cuts through what we might generously call the parklands, running beside a storm-water aqua-duct. Flag poles reminding us of ANZAC Day fly perpetually along this stretch of the pathway.

There is a road to cross when you reach the Town Hall. The pathway continues, running between the aqua-duct and the exciting new children's playground. I'm assured kids love this playground.







The pathway then cuts between the New Foodland shopping complex and the Wallaroo branch of the District Council of the Copper Coast Library which inhabits the former Railway Station building. (Have I lost you yet?) The former railway sheds and railway line, etc, have been removed.





A lawned area with covered BBQ facilities has been established beside the Library, complete with doggie-bag dispensers. The walkway goes on to meet Wildman Street near the new Jetty Road roundabout. A small stretch then cuts across a barren corner and meets Jetty Road. Across Jetty Road is a park with a re-imagined wooden fishing boat picnic area. The Cutter Canberra was cut apart and assembled into a picnic shelter and seating.



Further along, the pathway as it slopes toward Heritage Drive is a remnant of a siding dating from the original smelters (1800s), a more conventional lawned picnic and covered BBQ area, and some modern art.



There is, of course, the ubiquitous Chimney Stack remaining from the original smelters. Information boards tell you what you're looking at, at these historic sites.

Crossing Heritage Drive, our walkway tour of What's New in Wallaroo terminates at the foreshore. Here we could turn right to visit the renewed and refreshed Wallaroo Sailing Club overlooking the Sailing Club beach. The Sailing Club is available for function hire, providing romantic sunset over the ocean views.

Or we could turn left to the new Shade Sails of Office Beach and the renewed and revamped foreshore, passing accommodation options, the Sea Rescue offices, and Cafe Mia, to the new sea swimming enclosure and the jetty. Accommodation options along the foreshore at this point include The Mac's Beachfront Villas, and The Smelters at 1 Heritage Drive.



Or we could cross Heritage Drive to the terminal for the Sea Star. Wallaroo to Lucky Bay ferry service, Sea SA, has provided interrupted service at best over a number of years. The latest ferry to be assigned this run, Sea Star, is in Wallaroo and operating regular Spencer Gulf Crossings at present.





There's more! The new Community Sports Club at the Golf Course on Cornish Tce is home to Indoor Bowling and Croquet. The Copper Cove Marina development, housing, hotel, dining, accommodation. Buildings in prime locations that had stood empty have been bought and renovated and operate successfully, including backpacker and group accommodation on the corner of Wildman St and John Tce.

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Why? Catch up with changes at Wallaroo

When: any day, any time, any holiday, any weekend

Where: Wallaroo, Yorke Peninsula, Spencer Gulf, South Australia

Cost: Bring your wallet, support small businesses

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