National Trust Museum   
   
 Willunga Slate & Courthouse Museums

Welcome to historic Willunga township:      Click on any photos to enlarge ...
 

Our picturesque town is about one hours drive [45km] south of Adelaide, South Australia. Nestled near the foothills, on the Fleurieu Peninsula and not far from the beaches, the town is surrounded by farmland, almond groves, olive trees and leafy vineyards in the McLaren Vale wine & tourism region. Willunga was established in 1839 when the Government Reserve was a tentage area & Depot for surveyors, Police & settlers, & the site of the district’s first Post Office.
Willunga was an important stop-over point for early travelers to Encounter Bay further south.

Courthouse Museum

 The Heritage-listed Courthouse complex (with cells, stable and police residence) was built from 1855 to 1872 and nestles in a picturesque setting in historic Willunga township. It was initially used as a female immigration depot in 1855 before the Police and Court moved in. After it closed in 1929 it gradually fell into disrepair before being restored by the National Trust and re-opened to the public in 1970.  Note the slate bridge in foreground.  Across the creek is a short walking trail to the top of the hill, through the grey box gum trees and grassy woodland where police horses once grazed.  

The Museum is an authentic Courtroom with displays, family and district history. Feel welcome to search family and district history records along with old photos and newspaper articles among other historic items on display.
It is a popular venue  for outdoor weddings and community events. Groups can enjoy a guided tour and possibly an entertaining courtroom re-enactment, as well as a township bus tour (bookings essential). 

Slate Museum

Stables (at rear of Courthouse) with square slate rainwater tank at front left. The new Slate Museum opened here in 2005..
This unique Museum tells of the discovery of slate, the subsequent development of the industry and the influence of the Cornish Quarrymen and their families on the social and cultural life of the district.

Slate display inside:

Inside the Slate Museum, in the Stables building.

This is one area of the (new)  showing a slab of slate hosted up by a block and tackle, with a worker mock- up to illustrate how it was done. There are historic items and references to families and their history too.
Several display boards show pictures and text about the industry.

The background of this photo shows the Willunga hills from which the slate was quarried, processed and then transported to the township or shipped out to other states or exported overseas.
 

Slate was used in dozens of ways to meet the needs of local people, workers, farmers, roofers, floors, rain water tanks, roads, paths, gutters, paving, even beautifully made headstones and carved mantel-pieces.

Entire houses and sheds were made from local slate, from the roof to the doors, rain water tanks [square] & paths, roadways gutters and drains, and road-base used the rubble.

Slate display inside:

Showing some of the slate workers tools for cutting, sawing, splitting, separating and working the slate for its many uses.  Even some fences were made with slate as in the foreground here. Much local gum tree timber was used for a variety of applications, seats, benches, tables, work stands and etc, note small wooden stool as used then by Cliff Reed..
Quarrying the slate was tedious work and involved careful selection of slabs, then extracting them so they could be split to different sizes for uses like roads, paths, water tanks, roof tiles etc.  The range of thicknesses was extensive and so there were many diverse sawing, splitting & cutting tools, only some are shown here. Often the Cornish quarryman would have his lamp and Cornish pasty for lunch, its in the centre of this photo by the stool. Note the wide range of slate tools adapted and modified shown on the pink board at left.

Location    61 High St, (main street) in the Old Courthouse and Police Station Reserve at the top end of High Street in Willunga,
                    past the Bush Inn, at the foot of the Old Willunga Hill.

 Open             Weekends and Public Holidays: 1 pm - 5 pm.
                      Tuesday: 11 am to 4 pm.  
                      Groups & weddings by arrangement (advance bookings required).  
                      Grounds  open during daylight hours.

Admission   Adults $5, Concession $4, children 'free' (when accompanied by an adult). Children (unaccompanied): $1-00.
                       National Trust members free. 

Phone              Bookings to warden on (08)  8556 2195 or Willunga National Trust enquiries to (08)  8556 2255

 Email           local contact  Faye

Historic slate and its uses:
 

There are many historic homes and buildings in the township. Many are built of local stone and slate and were often roofed and floored (paved) with slate which was quarried here in the Willunga foothills by Cornish and Irish immigrants.

This slate sign in Willunga High Street is from the local Bangor Slate Quarry (still operating).

Pallets of slate loaded and cut to various sizes ready to go at the slate quarry.

The slate was discovered in 1840 and was used for buildings, sheds, roofing, flooring, fireplaces, fences, tombstones, pathways, gutters and roads, and, when large slabs were sealed together as a box, made useful rainwater tanks too. Willunga slate is still quarried today and has been widely used all over South Australia and interstate as well.

Walking  in Willunga.

There are several options for strolling around the tree-lined streets to see the early pioneering cottages, churches and other heritage listed buildings. 
Brochures on these options are available from the Courthouse/Slate Museums, the McLaren Vale Visitors Centre and other outlets in Willunga township.

 The Willunga Slate Trail is a self-guided walk which highlights Willunga's heritage as the 'slate capital' of SA. The trail map & notes take visitors past quarrymen's cottages, early public buildings and highlights many examples of the use of slate, including cemetery headstones.

The Willunga Walk, is also a self guided walk which is a more extensive exploration of the town’s heritage passing many early homes, hotels, churches and cemeteries. Allow 3 hours.

Both walks start at the Courthouse Museum and can be undertaken in shorter sections or can be followed slowly by car.
We suggest you pause for a coffee break along the way.

Guided Walks with a local can also be arranged in advance by phoning the National Trust on 08 8556 2255

 
Bassett Boys schoolroom:
This local school house is the Bassett Boys schoolroom, opened in 1862 is built from local stone, roofed and floored with local slate. In the 1950's and 60's it was the meeting place for the Willunga District Council.

Willunga Attractions - most popular is the "Saturday farmers market" for excellent farm fresh produce, (some organic) vegetables, fruit, almonds, olives, wines cakes etc. Take a walk along the paved areas and there is always a cafe or 2 open for coffee or a cup of tea etc.

Other attractions in Willunga include the monthly "Willunga Quarry Market", selling produce, arts, crafts, also there are arts events & displays at Waverley Homestead, (near golf club) crafts, textiles, glass and ceramics, antiques, a variety of enjoyable eating options, there are
numerous Bed & Breakfasts in the district, three historic Hotels (pubs) and the annual Almond Blossom Festival in July.

The Bangor Slate Quarry, & Martini & Bastions quarry are open by appointment.

Visitors can also take a 7 km walk through the vineyards along the Railway Trail from Willunga to McLaren Vale on the linear park.

Nearby along the coast is the spectacular Port Willunga beach with its ruined jetty serving as a reminder of the port’s historical links to Willunga and the tragic shipwreck of the Star of Greece in 1888 with the loss of 17 lives. The beach is a great spot for photos.
Also nearby are over 45 wineries, open for tastings and sales and help is at the McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Visitor Centre with more information on local attractions and accommodation. See you soon!!

Links of interest:

National Trust  - South Australia

McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Visitors Centre :    08) 8323 9944
 

Revised and updated 2008 voluntarily by Laurie Day.   See My Web page: Internode