Nuriootpa is situated at the north end of the Barossa Valley, near the Sturt Highway. It has a population of over 6,500 people, making it the largest town in the area. There are vineyards surrounding the town. It is home to wineries including Penfolds, Elderton Wines and Wolf Blass.
History
The first recorded Europeans to visit the area, on 3 March 1838, were the exploration party of John Hill, John Oakden, William Wood, and Charles Willis, en route to the Murray River from Adelaide.[5]
Since the 1930s, Nuriootpa has been cited as an example of inspired community development.[citation needed] The town's community owned and operated retail businesses have funded public facilities, including the Senior Citizens' Club, the swimming pool, the kindergarten and recreation areas. The short-lived progressive Adelaide movement, the Common Cause Movement, arranged a visit by future Prime Minister Ben Chifley to Nuriootpa in 1944 which led him, inspired by its approach, to promote the town as a model for community co-operation. The Adelaide architect Louis Laybourne-Smith prepared a plan for the town's recreation and education area, known as its 'War Memorial Community Centre' at that time. Much of this plan has been realised, including Laybourne-Smith's unusual 'fan-shaped' Olympic-sized pool.
The 1950 Australian Grand Prix, which was Australia's premier motor race of that year, was held in January 1950 using the Nuriootpa Road Circuit,[6] a temporary course utilising roads in and around the town of Nuriootpa. The race was won by Doug Whiteford driving a Ford V8 Special.[7][8] The first race meeting to use the circuit had been held in April 1949.[9]
Nuriootpa High School (NHS), established in 1935, is a state high school catering for students in years 7 to 12. As of 2023[update] more than 1300 students are enrolled at the school. Its motto is "PER ASPERA AD ASTRA - Through Adversity to the Stars".[12] The principal is Gerri Walker.[13]
Media
The main local newspaper covering the town is The Leader, published in Angaston.
Nuriootpa was home to the short-lived Nuriootpa and District Community Diary (November 1955 – November 1956), a monthly magazine subtitled ": monthly news bulletin of the Nuriootpa War Memorial Community Centre Inc".[14]
Climate
Nuriootpa has a hot-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa), with very warm, dry summers and cool, relatively wet winters. Average maxima range from 30.2 °C (86.4 °F) in January to 13.6 °C (56.5 °F) in July. Mean average annual rainfall is 474.8 mm (18.69 in), with a winter maximum. There are 65.9 clear days and 144.2 cloudy days annually.[15] Extreme temperatures have ranged from −5.4 °C (22.3 °F) on the 17th of June 1959 to 46.0 °C (114.8 °F) on the 24th of January 2019.[16]
Climate data for Nuriootpa (34º28'48"S, 139º00'36"E, 275 m AMSL) (1996-2024 normals, extremes 1957-1999)
^Programme, Australian Grand Prix Carnival, 2 January 1950, Nuriootpa Road Circuit, South Australia
^Howard, Graham (1986). "1950". In Howard, Graham (ed.). The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix. Gordon, NSW: R & T Publishing. pp. 148–157. ISBN0-9588464-0-5.
