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The Place
Like John Williamson s Home among the gum trees , Bellwether is set among the blonde, grassy plains of the Coonawarra wine region with the Limestone Coast s trademark ancient red gums (their sweeping branches said to protect the vines), with a sheep or two and a kangaroo. Central to the grounds is the shearing shed built by Chinese immigrants in 1868 en route to Victoria during the Gold Rush. It was a working shed until 2009 when it was converted into the boutique eco-winery you see today. With grapes selected from vineyards around Australia, owner Sue Bell creates exceptional wines on site, and with her friendly team manage a restaurant for guests and a rustic performance space. Its huge, socially-distanced grounds have glamping tents plus sites for regular campers.
YEAR ENDS ON HIGH: Coonawarra s Jack Estate accounts manager Melissa Ploenges (left) and cellar manager Justin Robbie (right) celebrate the funding windfall with Member for Barker Tony Pasin.
ONE of Coonawarra’s largest wineries will combat the impacts of energy costs by replacing 1000 light fittings around its Riddoch Highway estate with LED bulbs.
Jack Estate has received a $20,000 boost from the Federal Government’s Energy Efficient Communities Program to complete the work, improving on-site efficiencies while also boosting safety due to the brighter LED fittings.
While the project will improve energy costs for the business, it builds on its sustainability focus as well, having installed solar panels two years ago.
COVERAGE BOOST: Wattle Range Council chief executive Ben Gower, Member for Barker Tony Pasin, Telstra South Australian regional manager Mark Bolton and Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll celebrate the commissioning of the Tower Road base station south of Penola.
MOBILE phone coverage south of Penola was given a significant boost this week as the switch was flicked on the new Tower Road base station.
Jointly funded by the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program, the South Australian Government and Telstra, the new 3G and 4GX infrastructure is expected to provide over 17 square kilometres of improved coverage near and around the Riddoch Highway, Millers Lane and Tower Road.