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Set in one of the most picturesque areas of the SA, and just under 3 hours from Adelaide. Come and stay in the Flinders Ranges and absorb Melrose's fascinating history and colourful past.
Nestled at the foot of Mount Remarkable on the edge of the Willochra Plain, it has an undeniable sense of beauty and for those looking for a nature experience it is literally right outside your door.
Melrose History
The town of Melrose is the oldest in the Flinders Ranges and is attractively nestled at the foot of Mount Remarkabe. Edward John Eyre named Mount Remarkable (955m) in 1840 and only 3 years later pastoralists had established themselves in the area. Naturally this was of concern to the Aborigines living in the area and the inevitable conflicts arose as white people invaded their traditional lands. This soon had the white residents calling for police protection and by 1848 a police outpost was established with a corporal, two troopers and an aboriginal constable.
By 1862 the present stone building was erected (now the museum) and visitors can enjoy a visit and read the old court cases that give a fascinating insight into what life must have been like at the Northern frontier. In an attempt to emulate the success of other copper mining venures such as in Burra, the mere sighting of copper traces had entrepeneurs scrambling for land surveys. This led to the establishment of a Special survey of 20,000 acres, the boundary of which is the Survey Road (part of Mawson Trail too).
The Surveyor was TF Nott and the Adelaide entrance to the town is named after him. The Survey Road is well worth a drive or ride and a stop at Bartagunyah Vineyard for a winetasting can be enjoyed along the way. Back to the history - unfortunately for the Mining Companies the copper mines were not profitable. However as pastoralists, miners and timber getters moved into the area other tradespeople soon moved in to service them. For twenty years as the farthest town north in SA, it became the 'Emporium of the North' supplying remote pastoral runs, mining camps and early settlers with goods communication and transport. Our store, Over The Edge Sports, was built in 1850 when it was Searle's General Store and in then in the 1860s, it became TB Marshall's Store. The present shop was built over the cellar on one side but the corrugated iron shop which houses the bike section is original. Melrose continued to thrive thanks to the success of agriculture and pastoral runs. In more recent years the town has evolved as farms become bigger and today approximately 200 people live in the town and surounding district.
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