PENOLA
This small, pretty town has become famous for two very different reasons, and both can be traced to
Scottish settlers. Alexander Cameron founded the township of ‘Panoola’ in 1850; and John Riddoch, a wool grower, planted the first Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon vines that would make the region world-famous. Town founder Cameron also had a niece called Mary, whom he invited to Penola to work as a governess. She met Penola’s priest, Father Julian Woods, and established a sisterhood caring for poor children and the first Josephite schoolhouse. The schoolhouse is now part of the Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre, dedicated to the life and work of Australia’s first Catholic Saint.
FAST FACTS!