PENOLA
Penola is a great small town encounted
when heading north from Mount Gambier heading to Narracorte. A really
nice town it is. The place has been made more famous with its early
association with Saint Mary MacKillop. Be sure to stay over when
visiting Penola. Heritage factors in Penola are presented really well.   
The first Europeans to the area were the Austin brothers who arrived
in 1840 and established a run of 109 square miles (282 kmē). The first
settlers were Scottish -born Alexander Cameron and his wife Margaret
in January 1844 after obtaining an occupation license. In April 1850
Cameron obtained 80 acres (0.3 kmē) of freehold land, his station was
on a pastoral lease, and established the private town of Panoola,
later known as Penola.
By 1850, Brad had built the Royal Oak Hotel and was doing extremely
well financially supplying liquor to the many travelers passing
through to the Victorian goldfields. Penola Post Office opened around
1852.
From a Mary MacKillop perspective the
town has really made something out of that past association and will
increasingly become a destination. There is a museum dedicated to
Saint Mary.  
The Penola War Memorial is on the
northern fringe of the town.
The Heywards Royal Oak Hotel
 is
a really great holiday hotel and a classic building. The Penola Hotel
is at the other end of the town.
The Penola Churches are all over 100
years old.   
Penola is a bit of a surprise packet
and the traveler will delight in the town.   
Heritage diary 
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