Gumeracha, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gumeracha South Australia
Gumeracha Bridge circa 1869.
Gumeracha Location in South Australia
Established	1839
Postcode(s)	5233
Elevation	322 m (1,056 ft)
Location	37 km (23 mi) from Adelaide
LGA(s)	Adelaide Hills Council
State electorate(s)	Morialta
Federal Division(s)	Mayo
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 19.0 °C 66 °F 9.7 °C 49 °F 662.7 mm 26.1 in
Localities around Gumeracha: Kersbrook Kersbrook Forreston Forreston Chain of Ponds Cudlee Creek Gumeracha Birdwood Mount Torrens Cudlee Creek Cudlee Creek Kenton Valley Mount Torrens Mount Torrens
Footnotes	Adjoining localities

Gumeracha is a small town in the beautiful Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. You can find it along the Adelaide-Mannum Road. The town sits on the south side of the upper River Torrens. It's part of the Adelaide Hills Council area.

The Gumeracha region is known for its farms. People here raise animals, produce milk, grow grapes for wine, and tend to fruit orchards. They also grow fresh vegetables for markets. One of the most famous sights in Gumeracha is the huge Big Rocking Horse.

History of Gumeracha

The land where Gumeracha now stands was first home to the Peramangk people. The name "Gumeracha" comes from an Aboriginal word. It means "fine waterhole," which tells us how important water was here.

Early European Settlement

Gumeracha was one of the first places in South Australia to be settled by Europeans. Explorers Dr George Imlay and John Hill visited the area in January 1838. In 1839, the South Australia Company bought a large piece of land. This land later became the towns of Gumeracha, Kenton Valley, and Forreston. The company set up a main office and started raising sheep.

In 1841, the South Australian Company built a house called "Ludlow House." This was for William Beavis Randell, the first manager of their sheep station. The company also built a flour mill in the 1840s. Randell's large family and many workers lived on the estate. In 1846, Randell gave land and money to build a church. This church, the Salem Baptist Church, is the oldest Baptist church still used in South Australia today. The area around Gumeracha became a busy farming hub. The Gumeracha Farmers' Society even held yearly shows.

Town Development

In 1853, the District Council of Talunga was created. This council helped manage the area, including the growing community of Gumeracha. In 1855, William Beavis Randell set aside land for a proper town. By 1860, the town was planned out. Many shops and businesses opened on the main street, Albert Street. Important buildings were built, like the post office, police station, and courthouse in 1864. The Gumeracha Institute, library, and town hall were built in 1909. There was also a butter factory, a school, a hospital, and hotels. Many of these old buildings are still standing today.

William Beavis Randell's son, William Richard Randell, built the first Murray River paddlesteamer in Gumeracha in 1852. This was a big achievement for the town. Later, in 1935, the District Council of Gumeracha took over from the Talunga Council. This new council managed a larger area around Gumeracha, which was the main town.

Where is Gumeracha?

Gumeracha is located between Inglewood and Birdwood. You can reach it by driving on the Adelaide-Mannum Road. It's also north of Lobethal along the Gumeracha-Lobethal Road.

In 2021, a count of the population showed that 721 people lived in Gumeracha.

What Can You Find in Gumeracha?

The Giant rocking horse outside the toy factory

Gumeracha is an important local center for the area. It has a primary school, a hospital, and a community center. There are also sports facilities. The Adelaide Hills Council has an office here, though its main office is in Woodside. If you like golf, there's a golf course nearby in Kenton Valley.

Several wineries are located in Gumeracha and the surrounding areas. They make delicious wines from local grapes.

The Big Rocking Horse

The most famous attraction in Gumeracha is the "biggest rocking horse in the world"! This huge horse stands about 18.3 meters (which is about 60 feet) tall. That's as tall as a six-story building! You can find it just east of town on Main Road. It's a giant advertisement for a toy factory and a wildlife park.

Applewood Distillery

Gumeracha is also home to Applewood Distillery. This is Australia's highest distillery, meaning it's located at the highest altitude. They make special gins and a drink called Amaro. They use unique Australian plants like finger limes and strawberry gum in their drinks.

Getting Around Gumeracha

Gumeracha is not part of Adelaide's city public transport system. However, as of 2010, LinkSA runs a coach service. This bus service connects Tea Tree Plaza Interchange in Modbury to Gumeracha and Mount Pleasant.