McLaren Vale, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids McLaren Vale South Australia
McLaren Vale Location in South Australia
Established	1838 13 July 1995 (locality)
Postcode(s)	5171
Area	3.9 km2 (1.5 sq mi)
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
• Summer (DST)	ACST (UTC+10:30)
Location	33 km (21 mi) S of Adelaide 9 km (6 mi) S of Noarlunga Centre
LGA(s)	City of Onkaparinga
Region	Southern Adelaide
County	Adelaide
State electorate(s)	Mawson
Federal Division(s)	Mayo
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 21.7 °C 71 °F 12.8 °C 55 °F 448.4 mm 17.7 in
Localities around McLaren Vale: Old Noarlunga Onkaparinga Hills Onkaparinga Hills Old Noarlunga Seaford Heights Seaford Rise Maslin Beach McLaren Vale Blewitt Springs McLaren Flat The Range Tatachilla Whites Valley Willunga Willunga
Footnotes	Locations Adjoining localities

McLaren Vale is a town and area in the Australian state of South Australia. It is located about 33 kilometers south of the main city of Adelaide. It is also about 9 kilometers south of Noarlunga Centre, which is a major local hub.

History of McLaren Vale

The town of McLaren Vale was officially formed in 1923. It came about when two older villages, Gloucester and Bellevue, joined together. These villages had been around since the 1840s. The exact borders for the McLaren Vale area were set in 1995 and then expanded in 1999 and 2000.

How McLaren Vale Got Its Name

Many people have wondered who McLaren Vale was named after. Some thought it was David McLaren from the South Australian Company. Others believed it was John McLaren from the government's Land Office. A historian named Geoff Manning looked into this. He found that the town was indeed named after John McLaren. He was the person who surveyed, or mapped, this area and many other southern districts.

South of Noarlunga the country along the coast (Aldinga Plains) is more thinly settled chiefly in consequence of a want of water. At two miles from the township, however, the traveller enters upon the extensive and rich valley of McLaren, named from Mr McLaren, Land Office, who surveyed it and most of the southern districts.

Life and Location in McLaren Vale

McLaren Vale is famous for being part of the McLaren Vale wine region. This area is known for its beautiful vineyards and delicious produce.

Famous People from McLaren Vale

Did you know that Peter Furler, the former lead singer of the popular band Newsboys, was born in McLaren Vale?

Exploring the Coast to Vines Trail

The Coast to Vines rail trail is a fun path that goes right through McLaren Vale. This trail follows the route of an old railway line. There used to be a train station in McLaren Vale on this line. Now, it's a great place for walking and cycling.

Road Safety Improvements

The main road intersection in McLaren Vale, where Victor Harbor Road meets Main Road, used to be a dangerous spot. There were many accidents because cars had to turn right across fast-moving traffic. To make it safer, construction began in 2011 to build an overpass. This overpass opened in 2012, making the roads much safer for everyone.

Population and Community

According to the 2016 census, about 3,842 people live in the McLaren Vale area. Most of these people, around 3,096, live right in the town center. The average age of people living here was 52 years old at that time.

Government and Local Area

McLaren Vale is part of several government areas. It is in the federal division of Mayo, which is how Australia divides its areas for national elections. For state elections, it is in the electoral district of Mawson. Locally, it is part of the City of Onkaparinga, which is the local council that manages services for the community.