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Visiting Penola (Petticoat Lane/Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse) State Heritage Area

Penola is a gateway to the renowned Coonawarra wine region, and so visitors to this area have many options for accommodation, dining and other tourist pursuits.

Courtyard, Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre, Penola
Courtyard
Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre, Penola

The State Heritage Area offers two different visitor experiences. The Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse and modern Interpretive Centre commemorate the lives and achievements of Blessed Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods. The centre contains interpretive displays, photographs and artefacts, as well as a souvenir shop and other facilities for tourists.

The Petticoat Lane experience, on the other hand, is a wander along a country lane. Visitors can appreciate the life-style and self-sufficiency of early residents, and are invited to view a number of well-maintained stone and timber cottages restored and interpreted by the Penola National Trust. One of these dwellings, the Rectory, is available for visitor accommodation.

View detailed information about the Penola (Petticoat Lane/Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse) State Heritage Area State Heritage Area.

Virtual Tour

  State Heritage Area boundary Penola (Petticoat Lane/Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse) State Heritage Area boundary
Arrow symbol Click on the arrows to see the photograph of each view or access links below

Map of Penola (Petticoat Lane/Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse) State Heritage Area Looking towards Petticoat Lane along the western boundary of the Penola State Heritage Area (Portland Street) Outbuildings of Gammon Cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola View from the rear yard of Gammon Cottage, looking across a lavender farm to Wilson's Cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola The Mary McKillop Schoolhouse, Petticoat Lane, Penola Interpretation panels on Portland Street, outside the Mary McKillop Interpretive Centre, Penola View along the south side of Petticoat Lane, Penola - note the red-gum kerbing School oval, behind the Mary McKillop Interpretive Centre, Petticoat Lane, Penola View along the northern side of Petticoat Lane (Penola) from near Gammon Cottage Gammon Cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola Wilson's Cottage and adjacent property, Petticoat Lane, Penola Sharam's second cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola The Rectory in Petticoat Lane, Penola Sharam's first and second cottages, Petticoat Lane, Penola Looking west along Petticoat Lane, Penola View along Roden Lane (part of the State Heritage Area eastern boundary), Petticoat Lane, Penola Mary McKillop Interpretive Centre and signage, Portland Street, Penola Verandah of the Mary McKillop Interpretive Centre (Penola) with Schoolhouse and Petticoat Lane behind Herb gardens and lemon tree behind Sharam's Cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola Rear garden of Sharam's first cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola St Joseph's Church, Portland Street, Penola 'Bawcoodalyn' behind St Joseph's Church, Penola

NB. This map is a diagrammatical representation of the Penola (Petticoat Lane/Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse) State Heritage Area.

  1. Looking towards Petticoat Lane along the western boundary of the Penola State Heritage Area (Portland Street)
  2. Outbuildings of Gammon Cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola
  3. View from the rear yard of Gammon Cottage, looking across a lavender farm to Wilson's Cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola
  4. The Mary McKillop Schoolhouse, Petticoat Lane, Penola
  5. Interpretation panels on Portland Street, outside the Mary McKillop Interpretive Centre, Penola
  6. View along the south side of Petticoat Lane, Penola - note the red-gum kerbing
  7. School oval, behind the Mary McKillop Interpretive Centre, Petticoat Lane, Penola
  8. View along the northern side of Petticoat Lane (Penola) from near Gammon Cottage
  9. Gammon Cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola
  10. Wilson's Cottage and adjacent property, Petticoat Lane, Penola
  11. Sharam's second cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola
  12. The Rectory in Petticoat Lane, Penola
  13. Sharam's first and second cottages, Petticoat Lane, Penola
  14. Looking west along Petticoat Lane, Penola
  15. View along Roden Lane (part of the State Heritage Area eastern boundary), Petticoat Lane, Penola
  16. Mary McKillop Interpretive Centre and signage, Portland Street, Penola
  17. Verandah of the Mary McKillop Interpretive Centre (Penola) with Schoolhouse and Petticoat Lane behind
  18. Herb gardens and lemon tree behind Sharam's Cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola
  19. Rear garden of Sharam's first cottage, Petticoat Lane, Penola
  20. St Joseph's Church, Portland Street, Penola
  21. 'Bawcoodalyn' behind St Joseph's Church, Penola