Overview
The city of Mount Barker in a perfect blend between country living and a suburban lifestyle. As the largest town in the Adelaide Hills, it is a major service centre for the regional areas surrounding.
While traditionally Mount Barker was a farming area, there are many new subdivisions, bringing young families into the area. In fact, Mount Barker is one of the fastest growing areas in the state.
The main street retains and showcases the rich history of the area. A visit to the old SteamRanger is a hit with young families.
There is much to see in the surrounding areas – it is easy to become engrossed in nature, with a short explore to the Mount Barker summit, the local wetlands, or one of the many nearby wineries.
Information current as of: June 2020. Data sourced from realestate.com.au, Google Maps & Australian Bureau of Statistics, based on 2016 census data
Postcode
Part of the Mount Barker District Council.
History
Named after Captain Collet Barker who first surveyed the area in 1831.
Township was surveyed in 1839 and dividing the land into farming lots.
Population
Median age 37
Facts & Figures
Dwelling Type
Tenure
Number of Bedrooms
Private Dwellings
Families
People per Household
Facts & Figures
What the Locals Love
Central hub
Within the city of Mount Barker there are a variety of local businesses: five shopping centres, four supermarkets, many restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets.
The shopping district services the surrounding areas, and provides everything one may need including a Homemaker centre.
Nature
The city of Mount Barker is surrounded by beautiful distant views of the hills and countryside. The local Laratinga Wetlands provide walking trails and are popular with local bird watchers for the abundant variety of species.
Mount Barker Summit is the perfect spot for panoramic views of the Adelaide Hills.
Gourmet food & drinks
With so many cellar doors in the region, there’s always somewhere delicious to spend an afternoon, from Ngeringa Vineyards, to Prancing Pony Breweries.
Historical Significance
The Mount Barker Heritage Walk showcases over 60 historic buildings in the centre of town. The journey highlights the early use of various building materials: brick dating back to 1856 and stone, on the Art Deco BankSA building, from 1939.
The Flour Mill, built in 1844 was vital to the prosperity of the area. This construction brought the farmers in to purchase local blocks of land, assuring that their wheat could be milled locally.
SteamRanger Heritage Railway
A tourist attraction run by volunteers, a visit to this historic site is popular with local and not-so-local visitors.
Opened in 1883, the service ran until 1987, when the trains were disconnected from the Adelaide Metropolitan Network due to their use of the broad gauge.
Now, you can take a scenic trip through the Adelaide Hills down to the coast.