Padthaway, South Australia

Padthaway South Australia
Main street of Padthaway.
Padthaway
Coordinates	36°36′S 140°29′E / 36.600°S 140.483°E / -36.600; 140.483Coordinates: 36°36′S 140°29′E / 36.600°S 140.483°E / -36.600; 140.483
Population	336 (2006 census)
Established	1952
Postcode(s)	5271
Elevation	40 m (131 ft)
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
• Summer (DST)	ACDT (UTC+10:30)
Location	20 km (12 mi) S of Keith 190 km (118 mi) SE of Adelaide
LGA(s)	Tatiara District Council
Region	Limestone Coast
State electorate(s)	MacKillop
Federal Division(s)	Barker
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 21.4 °C 71 °F 8.5 °C 47 °F 474.2 mm 18.7 in
Localities around Padthaway: Marcollat Swede Flat Mundulla West Western Flat Marcollat Padthaway Western Flat The Gap Woolumbool Keppoch The Gap
Footnotes	Adjoining localities

Padthaway is a small town on the Riddoch Highway in the Limestone Coast region of south-eastern South Australia, halfway from Keith to Naracoorte. The name is derived from the Potawurutj, the Aboriginal name for Good Water. Padthaway is in the Tatiara District Council, the state electorate of MacKillop and the federal Division of Barker.

Padthaway is also the name of a wine region surrounding the town. It is home to several large commercial vineyards. The oldest vineyard was established in 1964 by Seppelts, with Lindeman's, Hardys and Wynns also establishing vineyards in the 1960s. The wine region is 62 kilometres (39 miles) long and 8 kilometres (5 miles) wide with over 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) of vineyards. There are only a few cellar doors operating in the region.

Padthaway was the name of the original pastoral station which was established near here in 1847 by a successful Scottish businessman, Robert Lawson. In 1882 the Padthaway Estate Homestead was built by Eliza and Robert Lawson. The historic Padthaway Estate complex is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.

In 1952 Padthaway became the centre of a soldier settlement scheme. The first vineyards were planted here in 1964 and quickly transformed marginal grazing land into a top wine-producing region. White wines, especially, from the region are regular winners of major awards. These wines may be purchased at the local cellar door sales and at wine retailers around Australia. Agriculture is also strong in Padthaway with onion, olives and seeds being grown along with sheep and cattle which are reared for sale.