ARDROSSAN
Ardrossan is the first town heading
south after Port Wakefield down the Yorke Peninsular; a really nice
spot this and should be planned to be an overnighter. Garden like
settings, a Jetty and a number of heritage buildings give Ardrossan
lots of character. Not the least the magnificent Royal Hotel.
The
town was named by Governor Fergusson after the Ardrossan seaport in
Scotland and it was proclaimed on 5 November 1873.
The
town was largely initiated by wheat farmers and wheat transporters in
the late 19th century who needed infrastructure to ship their produce
across the Gulf St. Vincent to Port Adelaide. The site was chosen near
an old boat landing at Parara. To this day wheat and barley are
exported.
A jetty was
constructed in 1878 to accommodate the steamships and windjammers used
to ship grain.
It is famous as
the location of Clarence Smith's factory where he manufactured the
Stump-jump plough between 1880 and 1935, one of South Australia's
first and most important inventions. 
The two hotels
in Ardrossan are over 100 years old.
The Ardrossan
Museum is located near the main street.
The Ardrossan
War Memorial is in the centre of the town.
The Anglican
and United Churches
are old and classic church design and buildings. The Catholic Church
is atypical modern disappoint.
Ardrossan is a
really nice spot, coastal and a recreational centre.
A minimum of a day is recommended.

Heritage diary 
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