🍂 5 things I love about Aldgate

Good morning, Hills lovers. This week we’re heading to Aldgate to explore the history of the town and I’m sharing five things I love about this beautiful pocket of the Hills. I’d love to hear what you love too, so send them my way and I’ll share them next time. There’s plenty happening across the Hills this week, including the Uraidla Country Show, a highlight of the year you definitely don’t want to miss.

Let’s get into it.

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ALDGATE MAIN STREET
A Window to 1905

The township of Aldgate, as it is known today, developed in the late 1800s on land that was once part of the dense stringybark forests of the Mount Lofty Ranges, historically known as the Tiers. Early European settlers followed timber routes from nearby Crafers and Stirling, clearing the western slopes to supply Adelaide with firewood and building timber.

As the forest gave way to open ground, small farms appeared around Aldgate and Stirling. In 1886, land to the south was released for Working Men’s Blocks, smallholdings designed to help labourers supplement their income through mixed farming. These ventures thrived in the Hills because of the region’s reliable rainfall, fertile soil and proximity to Adelaide’s markets.

Aldgate soon grew into a local service centre on the Great Eastern Road, supplying timber, produce and goods to residents and travellers. By the early 1900s it had a general store, refreshment rooms, post office and builder’s workshop, marking its transition from a timber stop to a thriving township.

The photograph below, taken in 1905, shows Aldgate Main Street with L.J. Milford’s General Store, Burnett’s Refreshment Rooms, and Thomas Burnett, Builder. The buildings reflect a period of steady growth supported by farming, quarrying and the extension of the railway to Aldgate in 1883, which made commuting to Adelaide possible.

FIVE THINGS I LOVE
The Aldgate Edition

Everyone’s got their own version of Aldgate (pronounced all-gate, the ‘d’ is silent). For me, it’s a blend of morning walks, good coffee, and that easy, familiar feeling of being part of a small town that looks after its own. Here are five of my favourite things.

1. Aldgate Valley Nature Walk
This trail links Aldgate and Mylor through seven kilometres of forest and bird calls. The path follows creeks and open fields, perfect for clearing your head or catching the late afternoon light.

2. Fred Eatery
Fred’s has been a favourite for years. I love the mix of flavours, from the Asian fusion dishes to the rich Wagyu burger. The space feels alive and welcoming, whether you’re tucked upstairs with a coffee or sitting in the buzz downstairs. FREDS

3. Aldgate Pump Hotel
The Pump is a proper family pub with heart. The food is always good, the service friendly, and the outdoor playground makes it a stress-free choice with kids in tow. The lamb shanks are legendary and easily the biggest I’ve seen.

4. Yuki in the Hills and Dirty Doris
Two neighbours that both serve great food. Yuki serves beautifully fresh Japanese in a space full of timber and calm energy. Next door, Dirty Doris does the best egg salad sando with curried mayo and soft rye bread.

5. The Everyday Details
The two op shops, the IGA that saves every late Sunday dash, the cyclists flying down Aldgate Valley Road, and The Hut Community Centre quietly supporting the Hills community. These are the small, steady things that make Aldgate feel like home.

What are your favourite things about Aldgate? Send them to me and I’ll share them with everyone next time. Email me here.

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The Uraidla & Summertown Country Show is set to return on Sunday, 2 November 2025, running from 9 AM to 9:30 PM at the Uraidla Show Grounds, just 20 minutes from Adelaide’s city centre. This much-loved Hills event promises a full day of entertainment and community spirit, featuring live music, food trucks, show rides, farm animals, local wineries, market stalls, sheepdog trials, and competitions, with plenty more for all ages to enjoy. It’s a true country celebration and tradition in a vibrant, family-friendly setting. For full details, visit ww.uraidlashow.com

Find your flow with a 60-minute slow flow Vinyasa class led by Ash Kalionis in some of the Hills’ most welcoming community halls. Focusing on reconnecting with your breath, these sessions offer a powerful practice for calming the fluctuations of the mind and moving with intention. Beginners are more than welcome. Join Ash on Thursday nights in Piccadilly (7–8pm, 23 Oct), Saturday mornings in Crafers (8.30–9.30am, 25 Oct) and Sunday mornings back in Piccadilly (8.30–9.30am, 2 and 9 Nov). Each class is $15 and spots fill quickly. To save your place, text your name and preferred date to Ash on 0421 122 287.

🍓 Head up to the Upper Sturt Soldiers Memorial Hall this Saturday, November 1, from 9am to 3pm, for a day that’s as sweet as it sounds. The Strawberry Fair is a community favourite, bringing together local businesses, live music, a silent auction, and plenty of delicious treats — from homemade cakes and jams to the juiciest fresh strawberries. You’ll also find plants, flowers, local produce, and a classic sausage sizzle. A perfect Hills day out!📍 Upper Sturt Soldiers Memorial Hall, 173 Upper Sturt Road, Upper Sturt. INFO🔗 

MARKETS

🎪 Bridgewater Community Fair
| COMMUNITY | Bridgewater
📅 Saturday, 1 November | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Enjoy local food, crafts, entertainment, and family fun at this vibrant community celebration bringing neighbours together in the heart of Bridgewater.

🛍️ Uraidla Market
| MARKET | Uraidla
📅 Sunday, 2 November | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Browse local produce, crafts, art, and plants while meeting the makers and enjoying the vibrant community spirit of this beloved Hills market.

🪴 Mylor Market
| MARKET | Mylor
📅 Sunday, 2 November | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Enjoy a relaxed morning exploring plants, homemade gifts, crafts, and local produce at this friendly community market in the heart of Mylor.

🌿 Macclesfield Market
| MARKET | Macclesfield
📅 Sunday, 2 November | 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Discover local sourdough, honey, organic produce, coffee, and handcrafted gifts at this vibrant country market brimming with community charm. 

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

☕ Grace Place
| COMMUNITY | Bridgewater
📅 Thursday, 30 October | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Enjoy coffee, morning tea, and great finds in clothing, books, and plants while supporting the Nanga Mai ministry for women in prison and beyond. INFO

🎻 Chamberfest 2025 at UKARIA
| CLASSICAL MUSIC FESTIVAL | Mount Barker Summit
📅 Friday, 31 October – Sunday, 2 November | Times vary
Brooklyn Rider curates five extraordinary concerts celebrating twenty years together, weaving Haydn, Beethoven, Bach, and Schoenberg with new commissions, Australian works, and collaborations with dancers, vocalists, and rising young quartets. INFO

🤝 Speed Networking
| BUSINESS | Mount Barker
📅 Friday, 31 October | 7:15 AM – 8:30 AM
Meet local professionals in a fast-paced, structured format designed to grow your business connections and spark new collaborations. INFO

 🎨 Flap. Stick. Print. Collagraph Printmaking at Its Best
| WORKSHOP | Houghton
📅 Saturday, 1 – Saturday, 29 November | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Create textured bird-inspired prints using collagraph techniques in this fun, low-toxicity workshop—perfect for all skill levels. INFO

🔮 Psychic Medium Development Group
| SPIRITUALITY | Mount Barker
📅 Saturday, 1 November | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Join intuitive medium Jackie Dene for a welcoming, supportive space to develop your psychic and healing abilities, connect with spirit, and share insights with like-minded souls. INFO

🥂 Sidewood’s Sparkling Spring
| FOOD & WINE | Hahndorf
📅 Saturday, 1 – Sunday, 2 November | Times Vary
Celebrate spring in the Hills with sparkling wines, wood-fired pizzas, and live music across a weekend of food, flavour, and good company. INFO

🌿 Fire Ready Gardens with Danielle Clode
| WORKSHOP | Norton Summit
📅 Saturday, 1 November | 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM
Learn practical ways to design fire-wise gardens that stay green, safe, and resilient with author and environmental expert Danielle Clode. INFO

🎶 Chamberfest | Concert Two: Chalk and Soot
| MUSIC | Mount Barker Summit
📅 Saturday, 1 November | From 4:00 PM (Duration - 2 hours)
Experience Brooklyn Rider’s vibrant exploration of music and art through Schoenberg, Kandinsky, and Colin Jacobsen’s evocative song cycle Chalk and Soot. INFO

🌊 Sea Country at Nepenthe Cellar Door
| COMMUNITY & CRAFT | Gumeracha
📅 Saturday, 1 November | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Enjoy fine wine, paella, films, and creative workshops in a night celebrating culture, connection, and ocean conservation at Nepenthe Wines. INFO

🎻 Chamberfest | Concert Three: Healing Modes
| MUSIC | Mount Barker Summit
📅 Saturday, 1 November | From 8:00 PM (Duration - 75 minutes)
Immerse yourself in Brooklyn Rider’s serene evening program exploring music’s power to heal through works by Beethoven, Glass, and contemporary visionaries. INFO

🎡 Uraidla Show 2025
|  COMMUNITY FESTIVAL | Uraidla
📅 Sunday, 2 November | 9:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Enjoy a full day of food, wine, rides, animals, competitions, and entertainment at this award-winning country show in the Adelaide Hills. INFO

🏍️ Lions Bike Show
| COMMUNITY | Macclesfield
📅 Sunday, 2 November | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Rev up for a day of bikes, music, food, and fun at this family-friendly showcase of classic and custom rides supporting local Lions Club charities. INFO

🎶Soundbath in the Gully
|  WELLNESS | Norton Summit
📅 Sunday, 2 November | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Immerse yourself in a serene soundbath beneath candlebark gums at Sinclair’s Gully Winery, where nature’s stillness and meditative tones create deep relaxation and calm. INFO

💃 Chamberfest | Concert Four: Morning Dances
| MUSIC | Mount Barker Summit
📅 Sunday, 2 November | From 11:30 AM (Duration - 1 hour)
Enjoy a unique fusion of music and dance as Brooklyn Rider joins visionary performers Melissa Toogood and Fiona Jopp for an inspiring morning of solos and movement. INFO

🎻 Chamberfest | Concert Five: Ever Yours
| MUSIC | Mount Barker Summit
📅 Sunday 02 Nov 2025 | From 2:30 PM (Duration - 2 hours)
Close Chamberfest on a soaring note with Brooklyn Rider and ANAM’s string quintet performing Golijov’s Ever Yours alongside works by Haydn, Adams, and Sollima. INFO

🖼️ The Art Hub
|  ART | Stirling
📅 Monday, 3 November | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Join a friendly, creative space to work on your art, share ideas, and connect with fellow artists of all skill levels in a relaxed setting. INFO

📚 Pride of The Hills: Meet the Author – The Lacemaker’s Son
|  COMMUNITY | Aldgate
📅 Monday, 3 November | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Join author Ted Setnikar for an inspiring conversation about his extraordinary true story of survival, resilience, and new beginnings in Australia. INFO

☕ EmpowHER Circle: Monthly Coffee Catch-Up (November 2025)
|  COMMUNITY & NETWORKING | Mount Barker
📅 Monday, 3 November | 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Connect with like-minded women at Oak & Iron Tavern for an empowering morning of conversation, connection and community, all while supporting a local charity. INFO

🎨 Watercolour and Pen Nature Sketching for Seniors
|  WORKSHOP | Norton Summit
📅 Tuesday, 4 November | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Join artist Rebecca Prince for a relaxing, creative session exploring nature-inspired sketching and watercolour techniques designed to support mindfulness and creativity. INFO

🧶 Tomens Wellbeing & Mindfulness: 4-Week Program with Craft Activities
|  WORKSHOP | Mount Barker
📅 Tuesday, 4 November | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Join a creative 4-week journey combining mindfulness and craft! Using colourful yarn and simple techniques, explore relaxation, connection, and creative self-expression in a supportive, beginner-friendly space. Leave each session with a handmade piece and a calmer mind. INFO

🏇 Melbourne Cup 2025 at The Stirling Hotel
|  FOOD & CELEBRATION | Stirling
📅 Tuesday, 4 November | From 12:00 PM
Celebrate the race that stops the nation with a three-course $85 set menu and a glass of Hentley Farm Blanc de Noir, or enjoy à la carte dining in the Bistro while watching all the action live. INFO

🍷 MELBOURNE CUP at THE OAK & IRON TAVERN
|  FOOD & WINE | Mount Barker
📅 Tuesday, 4 November | From 11:30 AM
Celebrate Melbourne Cup in style with bubbles on arrival, live music, fashion parades, sweeps, and prizes for the best dressed at this vibrant day of racing and revelry. INFO

🍾 MELBOURNE CUP at The Barker Hotel
| FOOD & WINE | Mount Barker
📅 Tuesday, 4 November | From 11:00 AM
Savor a two-course menu, live entertainment, sweeps, and fashion fun as The Barker Hotel brings the thrill and elegance of Melbourne Cup Day to the Hills. INFO

📸 Mount Barker Photography Interest Group
| COMMUNITY & PHOTOGRAPHY | Mount Barker
📅 Tuesday, 4 November | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Join the inaugural meetup to shape the group’s focus and schedule, connect with fellow photographers, and plan creative projects and outings. INFO

📘 Author Talk: The Nature of Pandemics with Dr. Jake M. Robinson
| TALK | Mount Barker
📅 Tuesday, 4 November | 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Join ecologist and author Dr. Jake Robinson for an evening exploring how pandemics are deeply connected to nature, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. Enjoy wine and cheese while gaining fresh insight into how protecting nature could be key to preventing future pandemics. INFO

🎶 Songbirds Singalong
|  MUSIC | Glenalta
📅 Tuesday, 4 November | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Join a relaxed and joyful community singalong where all ages and abilities are welcome to unwind, connect, and sing just for fun. INFO

🍽️ Monthly Meal with Aged Rights Advocacy Service
|  COMMUNITY | Gumeracha
📅 Wednesday, 5 November | 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Enjoy a low-cost lunch, connect with others, and hear from the Aged Rights Advocacy Service about supporting older South Australians, with proceeds going to Beyond Blue. INFO

🍲 Lunch at The Hut: Community Lunch
|  COMMUNITY | Aldgate
📅 Wednesday, 5 November | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Enjoy a hearty two-course home-cooked meal and friendly conversation at The Hut’s monthly community lunch, prepared with love by local volunteers. INFO

🌕 Super Full Moon Sister Circle
| WELLNESS | Mylor
📅 Wednesday, 5 November | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Gather under the radiant Super Full Moon for a nurturing evening of meditation, reflection, and sisterhood to release, realign, and renew your spirit. INFO

ON LATER, BOOK NOW

🍋 Portuguese and Moroccan Adventure Cooking Class
| FOOD & EXPERIENCE | Stirling
📅 Saturday, 29 November | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Join Chef Mark McNamara for a hands-on culinary journey through North Africa and Southern Europe, exploring vibrant spices, rustic breads, and authentic regional dishes. INFO

🪚 Women’s Shed Workshop
| COMMUNITY & SKILLS | Laratinga Community Shed, Mount Barker
📅 Monday, 24 November | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Learn hands-on skills in a welcoming environment with instructor Jocelyn Grant at the Women’s Shed, proudly supported by Carbatec Australia. INFO

🌿 Farewell Spring with Adelaide Hills Outdoor Playgroup
| FAMILY & NATURE | Stirling
📅 Monday, 24 November | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Celebrate the end of spring with a joyful morning of outdoor play, art, and exploration for families and little ones at The Old School Community Garden. INFO

🚐 Mt Barker Outdoor Living and Caravan Expo
| EXPO & LIFESTYLE | Mount Barker
📅 Friday, 14 – Sunday, 16 November | Times Vary
Explore the latest in caravans, 4×4 accessories, boats, and outdoor gear, plus expert advice and show specials at this inaugural Hills expo. Tickets on sale soon. INFO

🏺 National Australian Ceramics Open Studio with Simone Linder-Patton
| ART | Birdwood
📅 Saturday, 8 – Sunday, 9 November | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Meet local ceramic artist Simone Linder-Patton, watch pottery demonstrations, and explore handcrafted works at her welcoming open studio in Birdwood. INFO

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the traditional custodians of our land. We recognise Peramangk and Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the place where the content in this newsletter is featured and where the newsletter is created. We pay respect to Elders past, present and future and to the cultural authority of First Nations Peoples from other areas of this country.