Cradock Hotel

At a spot called Cradock on a lonely road between Ororoo and Hawker in the Southern Flinders Ranges, there's a local which has played host to weary travellers for well over a century. The Cradock Hotel was built in the early 1880's when farmers first opened up this country for cropping. Out here they hoped the rain would follow the plough but they were wrong. Within a few dry years many cockies had gone to the wall but not before they'd be left a lasting legacy. Saint Gabriel's Catholic Church built a year after the pub is a stunning reminder of how the early pioneers to this unforgiving country were determined to leave their mark. "The town was built here mainly for the local people to supply those who lived in close proximity to the town. Of course the good years only lasted maybe five years and everything sort of went to doom and gloom. People moved out but one of the interesting things about Cradock is even though you see a lot of ruined towns in the Flinders Ranges it has survived though that time and the pub's still operating." "A certain tenacity about the place?" "I think so. And that offers some people, they can sort of see the history, but it's still something that you can come and enjoy." David Frost and his partner Julie Taddeo purchased the Cradock Hotel about 14 months ago and are gradually putting their own stamp on this out-of-the-way watering hole. The overhanging vine provides cool hideaways from the summer sun. A number of bedrooms fan off from the central courtyard which gives this out back pub a distinctly Mediterranean feel. But in the front bar the look is classically Australian. The Cradock Hotel offered a chance for the new owners to extend their entrepreneurial skills while at the same time extending the culinary tastes of the locals. Not many pubs around here offer a lentil soup followed by a home-made brandy pate and baguettes. And you can often find Julie out the back working on a veal scallopine for the hungry locals. It's a combination of interesting food and location which has also intrigued overseas visitors.

"Sometimes the bus group will stop and there will be a mixture of English, German and French people on board and they sort of can't believe that there's a hotel here. They seem to think, where are the customers and what do you do all day, you know, do you just sit here and wait for a customer. But once there here and had a couple of drinks and had a talk about it they love the place." And little wonder what overseas tourist wouldn't be fascinated by the next door neighbour's accommodation. Back at the turn of the century this was the local police station, complete with cells. They've now been renovated and offer something a little different for the intrepid traveller on the run. It's great having a building that's so close, that's been lovingly renovated, which Lois and Wayne have done over there. And the old police cells have created a lot of history and people love the idea of ëoh we spent a night in the old police cell at Cradock. We got locked up. We got locked up for the night." "In luxury." "That's right. In fact Lois and Wayne's place has been quite an inspiration for us with what they have done over there especially with the garden and the building." A night in the Cradock Police Cells costs $40 per couple. Bookings can be made through Lois Harvey on (08) 8648 4212 and the dining room is open daily. For bookings contact David Frost or Julie Taddeo on (08) 8648 4212.

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