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Historic Katnook Estate wins SA Government funding - 06/07/2009

Katnook Estate has just received a $50,000 grant from the South Australian government to restore several historic buildings at Katnook dating from the 1800s. These will be converted into a new Katnook Estate cellardoor and conference centre.

Katnook Estate's winemaking history stretches back to 1896, when Coonawarra's second vintage was made in the Katnook woolshed by Scottish immigrant John Riddoch. His woolshed is now Katnook Estate's barrel shed and some mornings you can still smell the lanolin from the original timber beams.

Riddoch established the Coonawarra Fruit Colony at Katnook in a stone building which will now be converted into Katnook Estate's cellar door and Riddoch's original stables (pictured above) will be converted into a conference centre.

The funding is part of the government's annual $2m assistance towards tourism operators throughout South Australia. Katnook Estate, Arkaba Station in the Flinders Rangers and the Spirit of the Port cruise (Port Adelaide) were the only three projects to receive funding in the state.

SA Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said the funds support operators who are building new and innovative tourism accommodation, attractions and tours or updating exiting facilities.

"Tourism is a highly competitive industry and if South Australia is to compete on the world stage as a sought-after holiday destination we must couple our strengths as a tourism destination, including accessible nature and wildlife, food and wine and the enviable lifestyle with the best in accomodation, transport and tours," Dr Lomax-Smith said.