🍂History that keeps growing

You might’ve seen the sad news about vandalism at Karkoo Nursery recently. Coincidentally, I’ve been working on a story about how Karkoo began, so it feels right to share it today. Let’s show them some love.

A quick jigsaw puzzle update: Tess has completed the painting, and it’s now in the hands of a professional photographer to be beautifully photographed. Next, I’ll send everything to the manufacturer and open pre-orders. Only a limited number will be made. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. I’m so thrilled to see your excitement and can’t wait to share more soon.

Also, I have an important question for you! Adelaide Hills Pantry is all about helping you feel more connected to the people, places, and stories of the Adelaide Hills. It’s grown quickly, and I want to make sure it stays something you genuinely love reading. Just below is a quick one-question poll to help shape what comes next.

Thanks for that! Now…let’s get into it.

OAKBANK BREWERY LEGACY
From beer to soft drink, left a lasting mark.

In the heart of Oakbank, a cluster of stone buildings tells the story of one of South Australia’s earliest country breweries. Established in 1845 by brothers James and Andrew Johnston, the Oakbank Brewery began as a small-scale operation along the Onkaparinga River. The Johnston family had emigrated from Scotland and brought with them brewing expertise and business ambition.

Using local spring water and traditional British methods, the brewery quickly grew. By the 1860s, it was producing ale that was sold across the colony. The site was equipped with cellars, a malthouse, and a cooperage, making it one of the most self-contained brewing operations outside Adelaide.

In the early 1900s, as beer consumption habits shifted and larger city breweries dominated, the Johnston family made a bold move. They pivoted to soft drink production under the name “Johnston’s Cordials,” preserving the business and the site’s heritage. Their ginger beer, soda water, and lemonade became local staples, with production continuing until 1991.

Today, the building lives on in a new chapter as the home of Karkoo Nursery and Café—a fitting spot to carry the Oakbank spirit forward.

KARKOO NURSERY ROOTS
History, Plants and Purpose

Karkoo is not your average garden centre. You don’t just pop in for a pot and leave with soil on your hands. You linger. You wander. You stay for coffee. Maybe breakfast too.

Set across two of the most charming heritage buildings in the Hills — the historic Johnston Brewery in Oakbank and the old Mount Lofty Railway Station in Stirling — Karkoo is as much about place as it is about plants. Owners Jane and Peter Rowat have respectfully reimagined both sites, letting visitors explore not just garden beds and rare houseplants, but also blacksmith’s rooms, cobbled floors, soaring stone towers and railway platforms turned plant displays.

But this isn’t all nostalgia and charm. Karkoo is still a working nursery. Most of the plants are grown at their production nursery in Mount George, nurtured in recycled pots and raised to thrive in local conditions. No shortcuts. Just slow, steady growing. It’s a hands-on approach that means healthier, hardier plants ready for Hills gardens.

It all began in 2000, when the Rowat’s purchased a property to set up a wholesale garden centre, with a sign on the front gate reading “Karkoo”, after a bit of digging, they discovered had once been a nursery a century earlier called “Karkoo Specialty Plants and Seeds. It all began in 2000, when the Rowats discovered a sign on the gate of their Mount George property reading Karkoo Specialty Plants and Seeds. A bit of digging at the State Library revealed the land had once been a nursery a century earlier. They kept the name and kept growing.

Karkoo has felt the impact of recent droughts and frosts, but they continue to grow with care and purpose. It’s a great time to visit, whether Oakbank or Stirling. Enjoy a coffee and support a Hills nursery that’s quietly doing good things. You can even check out the menu on their website before you go.

June Café Ride – This Sunday!

Love cycling? Love coffee? Then you’ll love our Adelaide Hills Pantry Café Rides, held on the last Sunday of every month — a social loop through the hills, always bookended by good coffee and even better company.

The June ride is this Sunday 30 June, starting and finishing at the bike-friendly Woodside Providore, with a halfway stop at the Mt Torrens Hotel for a well-earned brew. Expect a scenic 50km route, a few decent climbs (this is the Hills), and a relaxed no-drop pace. Not up for the full ride? Join us at the halfway café stop! More details on the Facebook Event Page.

Want to share your event with the Adelaide Hills Pantry community?

Submit it here for a free listing. I include as many as I can each week.
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Let’s get the word out to thousands of people who love the Adelaide Hills.

Bright Night – Saturday, 5 July, 4-8pm at Stirling Village
Stirling's free winter celebration of connection and community warmth. Hot drinks, comfort food, live music, free face painting and other activities for the kids. Click here for all the info.

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

🎶 Blues at Marshi’s
| LIVE MUSIC | Stirling
📅 Friday, 27 June | 6:30 PM
Settle in for a cosy winter night with Steve Gower’s smooth blues and soulful originals, paired with bold Sri Lankan dishes and local wines. INFO

🫖 Beerenberg High Tea
| FOOD & WINE | Hahndorf
 📅 Friday, 27 June – Saturday, 28 June | Various Times
Savor a decadent country-style high tea featuring handmade sweet and savoury delights, heart-shaped scones, and Beerenberg’s signature jams in a charming Adelaide Hills setting. INFO

🎨 After School Drop-In: Make, Shape & Create
| FAMILY | Stirling
 📅 Friday, 27 June | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Unleash your creativity with badge-making and clay play in this fun after-school art session for kids aged 10 and up. INFO

🎬 Movie Morning at the Coventry Library
| FAMILY | Stirling
📅 Friday, 27 June | 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Enjoy a relaxed morning screening of a family-friendly film in the comfort of the library's cozy setting. INFO

🍕 Grunthal Brew All You Can Eat Pizza Nights
| FOOD & DRINK | Verdun
 📅 Friday, 27 June | 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Kick off the weekend with endless handmade pizzas, local brews, and a laid-back vibe at Grünthal Brew’s progressive Friday night pizza party. INFO

🥾 Lofty's Revenge
| SPORT | Crafers
 📅 Saturday, 28 June | 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tackle the inaugural Lofty's Revenge, a brand-new trail running event featuring 50km, 28km, and 10km courses that wind through some of Adelaide’s most scenic and lesser-known trails. End your adventure at the summit of Mount Lofty with epic views and a sense of triumph. INFO

🎆 Mylor Community Bonfireworks
| COMMUNITY | Mylor
📅 Saturday, 28 June | 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Gather for a night of family fun with live music, kids' activities, food, a massive bonfire, and a dazzling fireworks show. INFO

🧘 Wellness Weekender at The Woodhouse
| WELLNESS | Piccadilly
📅 Saturday, 28 June - Sunday, 29 June | All Day
Rejuvenate your body and mind with a full-day escape featuring yoga, forest bathing, nourishing food, and serene surrounds in the Adelaide Hills. INFO

🍾 Sparkling Winemaker for the Day at Sinclairs Gully
| EXPERIENCE | Norton Summit
 📅 Sundays, 29 June – 31 August | Various Times
Craft your own bottle of premium sparkling wine as you learn the art of hand disgorging and corking at this hands-on winemaking experience. INFO

🍕 Vista Pizza Sunday
| FOOD & DRINK | Macclesfield
 📅 Sunday, 29 June | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Endless wood-fired pizza, antipasto, live music, and vineyard views make for the perfect Sunday escape. INFO

✍️ Life Stories: Writing to Remember
| WORKSHOP | Stirling
📅 Sunday, 29 June | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Join writer Kathryn Pentecost for a hands-on adult workshop focused on memoir and life writing through practical exercises and feedback. INFO

🍽️ Beerenberg's Sunday Roast
| FOOD & WINE | Hahndorf
📅 Sundays, 29 June – 24 August | 12:00 PM
Gather ‘round the fireplace for a hearty, all-you-can-eat roast lunch at Grant’s Kitchen featuring tender meats, classic sides, and cosy countryside vibes. INFO

🚂 The Highlander Train Ride
| FAMILY | Mount Barker to Strathalbyn
📅 Sunday, 29 June | Various Times
Enjoy a scenic heritage train ride from Mt Barker to Strathalbyn with the option to explore the charming township before heading back. INFO

🎶 Social Singing at Gumeracha
| MUSIC | Gumeracha
📅 Monday, 30 June | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Lift your spirits with this fun, no-pressure sing-along session celebrating community, connection, and a love of music. INFO

🧘‍♀️ Hatha Yoga with Flo Benattar
| WELLNESS | Norton Summit
📅 Wednesday, 2 July | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Relax, stretch, and connect mind and body in this gentle Hatha Yoga class suitable for all levels. INFO

🍲 Monthly Meals: Community Lunch at Gumeracha
| COMMUNITY | Gumeracha
📅 Wednesday, 2 July | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Share a hearty lunch and good company at this warm monthly gathering — everyone’s welcome to enjoy great food and friendly conversation. INFO

🎨 Life Drawing with Julia Wakefield
| ART | Norton Summit
📅 Thursday, 3 July | 9:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Explore figure drawing in a relaxed, guided session with artist Julia Wakefield, open to all skill levels. INFO

🃏 Cribbage and Company: Social Card Play Sessions
| GAMES | Gumeracha
📅 Thursday, 3 July | 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Enjoy friendly games of cribbage and connect with fellow card lovers in a welcoming social setting. INFO

ON LATER, BOOK NOW

🥩 Beef and Shiraz Evening
| FOOD & WINE | Lower Hermitage
 📅 Friday, 4 July – Friday, 29 August | Various Times
Savor a hearty winter meal paired with a glass of Gatehouse Shiraz at Glen Ewin's cozy Friday night series. Pre-payment is required.
INFO

🎩 Hat Burning & Highland Cows
| WORKSHOP + ANIMALS | Kuitpo
📅 Saturday, 5 July | 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Design your own hat or bag, burn it with flair, meet friendly Highland cows, and sip a local brew all in one quirky, fun-filled afternoon.
INFO

🧵 Candlewick Embroidery Workshop at Fabrik
| WORKSHOP | Lobethal
 📅 Saturday, 5 July | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Learn the traditional art of candlewick embroidery with Gay Toome as you explore its colonial roots and create your own stitched sampler.
INFO

🎭 Almost, Maine at Stirling Community Theatre
| THEATRE | Stirling
 📅 Friday, 11 July – Saturday, 19 July | Various Times
A heartwarming and whimsical romantic comedy exploring love, loss, and second chances under the northern lights in the town of Almost, Maine.
INFO

🎶 Lior with String Quartet at UKARIA
| MUSIC | Mount Barker Summit
 📅 Friday, 11 July – Saturday, 12 July | Various Times
ARIA-winner Lior returns to UKARIA with songs from The Blue Parade and reimagined favourites, joined by a bespoke string quartet from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
INFO

🧱 Lego Car Robotics
| FAMILY | Birdwood
📅 Tuesday, 15 July | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Kids aged 7–12 can build, code, and explore the world of robotics in this hands-on LEGO workshop, free with museum admission.
INFO

🎭 Shakespeare After Dark
| THEATRE | Lower Hermitage
📅 Saturday, 19 July | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Step into a moody night of Shakespearean drama, music, and magic in the historic Pulpshed with Butterfly Theatre.
INFO

🎉 Hills Collide Turns 1
| CELEBRATION | Summertown
📅 Saturday, 19 July | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Join the party as Hills Collide celebrates one year with beats, bites, and brews in the heart of Summertown.
INFO

🎶 Sjaella at UKARIA
| MUSIC | Mount Barker Summit
📅 Saturday, 19 July | 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Experience the soul-stirring harmony of vocal sextet Sjaella as they explore the timeless tension between head and heart through music.
INFO

🍷 Winter Reds 2025
| FOOD + WINE | Various Adelaide Hills Locations
📅 Friday, 25 July –Sunday, 27 July | Various times
Celebrate the Hills’ iconic cool-climate reds at South Australia’s biggest winter wine festival, featuring 50+ events and special guest Matt Preston.
INFO

MARKETS

🛍️ Gumeracha Fifth Sunday Market
📅 Sunday, 29 June | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Stroll through leafy Federation Park and discover handmade treasures, local art, and community charm at this vibrant artisan market.

_{Thanks for reading Adelaide Hills Pantry. I hope it added a moment of enjoyment to your day.}

P.S. Adelaide Hills Pantry is growing, and we’re inviting a small number of Foundational Partners to come on the journey with us.
If you love what we’re about — connecting people who love the Hills with the stories, places, and happenings that make it special — and you want to be part of that in a meaningful way, let’s chat! Email me at: [email protected]

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.