Towns in Australia

Exploring Australia, town by town

McLaren Flat SA

McLaren Flat

Postcode: 5171

McLaren Flat is a township in the McLaren Vale/Willunga basin south of Adelaide. McLaren Flat is on the sprawling flat land to the east of the town of McLaren Vale on the road to Kangarilla. McLaren Flat is part of the McLaren Vale wine region. The area surrounding the town is planted to vineyards and several wineries are located in the immediate area. It has a population of 600. It shares the same post code as McLaren Vale but has a different telephone exchange (8383…). McLaren Flat has its own primary school, however all of the town’s sports teams are joined with the neighbouring town of McLaren Vale and known as McLaren Districts.

McLaren Flat is in the City of Onkaparinga. It is partly in both the state electorates of Heysen and Mawson. It is also on the boundary of the federal electorates of Kingston and Mayo.

The journey to the Southern Vales begins with a drive through Adelaide’s urban sprawl until you reach Morphett Vale where the ribbon development gives way to rolling green hills sprinkled with soaring blue gums. After crossing the delightfully-named Onkaparinga River, you enter the town of McLaren Vale, centre of the southern valleys wine-growing region. Two years after the proclamation of the state of South Australia, John Reynell planted the first vines at McLaren Vale to launch an industry that continues to thrive today. Good wine, food and art are traditional companions and a number of fine artists and chefs have been drawn to the area – the artists by the beauty of the surrounding hills, pristine beaches and singular coastal scenery, the chefs on the trail of the epicureans restocking their cellars. In short, this is a region unashamedly given over to the enjoyment of the better things in life and more than 40 cellar doors are open daily to make certain that visitors get to share in the good life.