Wellness resort planned for South Australia's historic Martindale Hall

Clare Valley’s historic Martindale Hall - which featured in the classic film Picnic at Hanging Rock - could be turned into a wellness retreat and luxury resort under an proposal put to the South Australian Government.

The Georgian-style sandstone mansion, built around 1880 and consisting of 32 rooms plus a large cellar, has been run by caretaker operators since the previous long-term lease expired at the end of last year.

The Government has been exploring options for its future, and has announced the recent receipt of an unsolicited proposal from Seppeltsfield Wines Managing Director Warren Randall and Kilikanoon Wines Managing Director Warrick Duthy – operating under the name Martindale Hall Partnership.

The partnership aims to either purchase the heritage-listed property or secure a long-term lease to develop what they describe as a 'wellness retreat and luxury resort' that would attract visitors from interstate and overseas.

Their proposal suggests that "subject to research and validation, we intend to position Martindale Hall with a promise of becoming South Australia’s centre of life enrichment, competing with the Golden Door (Hunter Valley and Gold Coast), Gaia (Byron Bay), and resorts of Daylesford and Hepburn Spa (Victoria), as well as providing a luxury accommodation option to compliment Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, Appellation in the Barossa, and Longitude 131 at Uluru."

It says the development would include upgrading Martindale Hall’s upstairs accommodation into luxury suites, building additional accommodation and facilities on the surrounding property, developing the coach house and stables into a “global-standard wellness retreat”, and rejuvenating the gardens and orchard.

The Martindale Hall Partnership say their plans would be in keeping with the heritage value of the property and also allow continued public access to the hall through scheduled tours.

South Australia's Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources is leading the evaluation of the proposal, which it says will be subject to “rigorous assessment”.

South Australian Tourism Minister Leon Bignell stated "we want to ensure that - if this proposal is to proceed - the local tourism industry benefits and the site’s heritage values are maintained, and members of the public have access to the site."

Martindale Hall – which in its heyday was surrounded by a polo ground, boating lake and racecourse, and reputedly had 14 servants – was gifted to the South Australian Government by its previous owner. Concerns have been expressed in the past that it could be sold.

A caretaker was appointed to manage Martindale Hall late last year, after an Expression of Interest process failed to identify any suitable long-term operators.

For further details go to www.environment.sa.gov.au/martindale-hall-unsolicited-proposal

18th March 2015 - SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COUNCILS PUSH AHEAD WITH $21 MILLION FLEURIEU REGIONAL AQUATIC CENTRE PLAN