Port Elliott: Arnella

If buildings could talk, this grand old lady would tell the story of European settlement at Port Elliott. As the name suggests, she's lead a leisurely life by the coast taking in the gradual expansion of a town which has played an important role in the development of South Australia. For Thomas Dodd, the man who built this beauty and the old real estate adage of location, location, location certainly proved correct. Initially built as a farmhouse in 1861, Dodd couldn't believe his luck when nearby Horseshoe Bay was declared a Port by the Governor of the time. And soon after the Riverboat trade on the Murray was in full swing with nearby Goolwa becoming a bustling commercial centre. From farmhouse to pub, there was a quick fortune to be made servicing the needs of those who built the Port Elliott jetty and the railway line connecting the town to Goolwa. "The gentleman who built it was about 71 years of age when he stated it in 1851 and was sure he could make something out of this." Arnella's had many lives once a pub and later a coffee palace. Now Gus Cattanach has brought her back to her former charm, as she continues to charm the growing tourist trade at historic Port Elliot. For more information you can email info@postcards-sa.com.au