Polish Hill River, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Polish Hill River is a locality in the Clare Valley
region of South Australia
, between the towns of Sevenhill
and Mintaro
. Running northward through the locality is the Hill River itself, which was discovered by William Hill in 1838 and named after him by Edward John Eyre
in 1839.
The first pastoralist was William Robinson (1814–1889), an overlander, who established Hill River Station in 1844. Closer settlement began in the early 1850s, with the arrival of Irish
Catholic
migrants, including the Barry, Sullivan, Erwin, and Rochford families who were all from Glendalough, Wicklow
. The first white child born at Hill River was James Erwin, in 1853. Following the lead of Dr Anton Sokolowsky (d.1862), later settlers, through the mid 1850's into the 1860s, included Polish migrants, hence the locality's current name.
The region is now recognised as a super-premium wine-growing district. A small museum exists as a testament to the early settlers of the region (see External links); turn down Annie's Lane, off the Sevenhill-Mintaro Road. Several well-known wineries exist in the Polish Hill River region, including Pikes, Pauletts, Wilson Vineyard and Little Brampton Wines. Grossett Wines also source grapes from this area. A circuit from the renowned Riesling Trail
, the Father Rogoski Loop, provides a beautiful walking/ cycling entry to the Polish Hill River region.
Clare Valley
The Clare Valley is one of Australia's oldest wine regions, best known for Riesling wines. It lies in the Mid North of South Australia, approximately 120 km north of Adelaide. The valley runs north-south, with Main North Road as the main thoroughfare....
region of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, between the towns of Sevenhill
Sevenhill, South Australia
The town of Sevenhill is in the Clare Valley region of South Australia, approximately 130 km north of Adelaide. It was settled by the Austrian Jesuit Fathers and Brothers in 1848...
and Mintaro
Mintaro, South Australia
' is an historic town in the eastern Clare Valley, about 128 km north of Adelaide, South Australia. The town lies at the south-eastern corner of the Hundred of Clare.-History:...
. Running northward through the locality is the Hill River itself, which was discovered by William Hill in 1838 and named after him by Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre was an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and a controversial Governor of Jamaica....
in 1839.
The first pastoralist was William Robinson (1814–1889), an overlander, who established Hill River Station in 1844. Closer settlement began in the early 1850s, with the arrival of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
migrants, including the Barry, Sullivan, Erwin, and Rochford families who were all from Glendalough, Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
. The first white child born at Hill River was James Erwin, in 1853. Following the lead of Dr Anton Sokolowsky (d.1862), later settlers, through the mid 1850's into the 1860s, included Polish migrants, hence the locality's current name.
The region is now recognised as a super-premium wine-growing district. A small museum exists as a testament to the early settlers of the region (see External links); turn down Annie's Lane, off the Sevenhill-Mintaro Road. Several well-known wineries exist in the Polish Hill River region, including Pikes, Pauletts, Wilson Vineyard and Little Brampton Wines. Grossett Wines also source grapes from this area. A circuit from the renowned Riesling Trail
Riesling Trail
The Riesling Trail is a 35 kilometre walking and cycling track located in the Clare Valley, South Australia. It runs between Auburn and Clare, passing through several towns and villages along the way, including Leasingham, Watervale, Penwortham and Sevenhill. A recent extension now extends 8km...
, the Father Rogoski Loop, provides a beautiful walking/ cycling entry to the Polish Hill River region.