Christies and O'Sullivan's Beaches | McLaren Vale

Both suburban seaside suburbs are populated with holiday homes, good services and abundant natural beauty but its the first-rate swimming, surfing and fishing that draws the crowd.

Christies Beach

Once a base for whalers, Christies Beach boasts an interesting commercial striprunning the length of Beach Road, where you can find a fuel station, pharmacy, supermarkets, take-away shops, banks and cafs, among other retail outlets.Theres also a sunny grassed foreshore area alongside the esplanade, called Rotary Park, which overlooks the beach and has a playground perfect for a picnic lunch. The cliffs that stretch down to the beach provide a panoramic view of the area, coastline and beyond, and no more so than Witton Bluff, which is a favourite haunt for photographers.

OSullivan Beach

OSullivan Beach is named after farmer and industrialist Ignatius OSullivan, who arrived in South Australia in 1840 and purchased sections of land near Morphett Vale, which he used for cereal production and mixed farming. During the 19th century the OSullivan family were renowned for their farming expertise and their contribution to local and civic affairs in the area.

Lonsdale

A major commercial and manufacturing area, Lonsdale took its name from the English place Kirkby Lonsdale. The area isxxlargely industrial, with manufacturing having monopolised the area in the late 1950s. By the 1980s there were few farms, if any, left, which had become unprofitable due to the onset of industry and suburban development. Today, a wide variety of service industries dominate the area providing a range of services to the wider community.