NARACOORTE Naracoorte is a town that is a bit of a surprise. Not that far from Penola (sleepy) to Naracoorte to what is a very vibrant town. Lots of hustle and bustle at this community. For the traveler Naracoorte is a crossroads town. Mount Gambier to the south, Bordertown to the north a, Kingston to the west and Horsham to the east. Be sure to have a stopover at Naracoorte. Naracoorte was formed from the merger of two towns, Kincraig, founded in 1845 by Scottish explorer William Macintosh, and Naracoorte, established as a government settlement in 1847. The name has gone through a number of spellings, and is believed to be derived from the Aboriginal words for place of running water or large waterhole. It grew during the 1850s as a service town for people going to and from the Victorian Gold Rush. The Post Office opened on 22 March 1853 and interestingly was known as Mosquito Plains until 1861. The town has historically relied largely on sheep, cattle and wheat farming. In recent decades, tourism has become a major industry with the promotion of the Caves National Park. Clearly heritage factors are important Naracoorte with many a number of ‘old’ buildings listed. The Presbyterian, Catholic and Anglican Churches are heritage listed 150 plus buildings. The United and others more modern. The hotels likewise a 100 year plus design classics that addressed the needs that earlier traveler. The Naracoorte Merino Museum is a must visit. The story of the yarn is well told. The Naracoorte War Memorial is acknowledged within the ANZAC Gardens on the central median strip. Naracoorte is a great South Australian town that for most will a bit of a surprise. Heritage diary