Horrick's Cottage: Lisa explores some of the history of the Mid North region of South Australia
Head a little over an hour north of Adelaide into the Clare Valley and at Penwortham you come across a roadside monument that tells the story of a young bloke who helped open up this country - but didn't live long to tell the tale.
The story of John Ainsworth Horrocks is one of the more tragic tales of South Australian exploration. At just 28 years of age he set off from his home at Penwortham in search of pastoral country further north. But it was a search that would ultimately cost him his life.
John Horrocks and his party found a way through to the Flinders Ranges along what's now called Horrock's Pass. Looking for good grazing country, Horrock's journey in 1846 took him well beyond the limits of previous exploration. But as Gypsey Sandow, of the Mt Horrocks Historical Society explained his choice of transport - the solitary camel in the expedition proved fatal.
"He was loading his gun to shoot a bird," she said. "The camel had to kneel down so he could get the gun out of the pack - the gun went off and shot through his finger and through his jaw."
One of the men in the party, Bernard Kilroy went back for help. Incredibly he covered the 120 kilometres in just three days. Horrocks was nursed back to Penwortham but he died of his injuries a few days later.
John Horrocks is buried in a cemetery in the grounds of Penwortham's Saint Mark's Church - one of the lesser-known treasures of the Clare Valley. You may hear its bell as you walk or ride along the nearby Riesling Trail.
Saint Marks is a lasting legacy of the wealthy philanthropist and explorer whose time here was cut all too short. But not before an earlier trip to the Mother Country had secured much needed funding for the church.
On the main road through Penwortham, the little community he named after his English home in Lancashire, is another of Horrocks' legacies - his stone cottage.
"This was the first property that was built north of Gawler," explained Lionel Bullen. "He lived here for a short time but he found it was very uncomfortable with the low doorways. He was a tall man - over six feet tall so getting through the low doorways was quite an effort."
It's said Horrocks didn't last long in the cottage because he'd already taken to the rough and tumble ways of his adopted home - preferring a hollowed out tree down the road.
The Valley's accommodation has come a long way since then but you can still find places with a close connection to the Horrocks saga. A little further north of Penwortham you come across Mundawora Mews. Set amongst rows and rows of vines, it was once a dairy farm. It is now home to John Barry, son of Jim Barry the legendary Clare Valley winemaker. John continues the winemaking tradition and his wife Gayle maintains the converted stables and manager's house as a very comfortable bed and breakfast.
"Mundawora is the name of the property," said Gayle. "It's an indigenous name which means place of plenty of water."
That explains why John Horrocks agisted his horses here and THAT dreaded camel.
Mundawora Mews is seven kilometres north of Clare. Four one and two bedroom cottages are available.
John Horrocks cottage is on the corner of main North Road and Surrey Lane in Penwortham and is open between 2 and 4 on the first Sunday of each month. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
John Horrocks Cottage
Main North Road
Penwortham
Open 1st Sunday of each month 2pm-4pmMundawora Mews
7km north of Clare
Ph 8842 3762Published 10th August 2008
