Morphett Vale | McLaren Vale

Morphett Vale is an interesting suburb, complete with excellent shopping opportunities,ample sporting facilities and a charming history. One of the states largestsuburbs, Morphett Vale wasnamed after John Morphett an explorer and pioneer. Within a short time aftersettlement, the town boasted a numberof churches and chapels, a brewery, windflour mill, courthouse and police station. Primarily a district of cereal farms, mixedfarms and vineyards, Morphett Vale wasknown as a strong community and this isstill present today.

Shopping

Main South Road is a major retail corridor,with supermarkets, banks, newsagenciesand specialty retailers lining the maintransport thoroughfare, along wih a numberof dining and take-away options. Just offMain South Road is the Southgate Plazashopping complex.

Heritage trail

Morphett Vale enjoys a long history andwhile is now largely suburban/commercial,a small precinct on William Street (just offMain South Road) still stands as a windowinto these early days. The street showcasesa labourers cottage; the Morphett ValeInstitute, which was built in 1878; JohnKnox Presbyterian Church ruins, whichwas a gothic-style church built in 1856;the former John Knox School; and the oldpolice station/courthouse and stable, builtin 1855 the cells and courtyard remain inoriginal condition.

Miniature train rides

The kids will love taking a ride on theseminiature steam or diesel trains thatfollow a two-kilometre track through thenatural bushland of Wilfred Taylor Reserve. Morphett Vale Rail is open the second andfourth Sundays of the month 1pm to 4:30pm.