Callington Nursery

Several years ago Postcards visited Callington in the Adelaide Hills, a sleepy hideaway named after a copper mining town in Cornwall. They'd found copper here too and soon there were no less than five mines in a district they once called "The Cornwall of the Colony".

The Bremer River was named after one of the major mining companies which sank a series of shafts throughout the area. By the 1850's, Callington was a busy copper town with about six hundred people including one hundred and forty men and boys who worked the mines. With so many hungry mouths to feed, a mill soon built to process the wheat and barley from surrounding farms. But for years the Callington Mill was a privately-owned family home, inaccessible to the public. But when it came onto the market, former school teacher, Eric Colwell saw it and fell in love.

"Ah, it's uniqueness, it is just simply a very stunning building".

Now plant lovers can see much of the building as they scour Eric's nursery in search of the many Australian natives he collects from around the State. From flour mill to local nursery, this grand old building has seen a few changes, and its earliest beginnings make for a truly amazing colonial story. The Thomas brothers built it in 1858, a back breaking effort with very little return.

"The mill was up and running and about two weeks after it actually commenced work these two brothers, their father he became bankrupt, so they had to sell the building. All the machinery went, what flour they had milled was sold, the grain was sold and then it was just left to stand for over a hundred and twenty years."

It was on the verge of collapse back in the 70's when a local architect restored the Mill, and now Eric does his bit to restore the public's interest in Australian native plants.

"Twenty five years ago most gardeners had native plants in their gardens with about ninety percent were native plants. But they sort of lost flavour didn't they?"

"Oh yes, and the selection was nothing like it is today. I mean there are so many plants being developed for Australian natives that there's a whole range of conditions".

"I can remember the agon....flecturosa or willow myrtle was a giant tree, now it's a dwarf one and suitable for pots".

"Yep, yep and this accacia and another accacia here, they've developed plants as you can see from this one, just width, quite distinguished".

"That's beautiful".

"Yer, it's an absolutely stunning plant, that one".

Eric concedes that in the past, Australian native gardens tended to look a little feral, because people didn't know how to prune them.

"This plant is only about three or four years old, what I would do is take out all these spent flowers".

"And what will happen here is that I will get new growth from these little joins and new flowers, so you can actually prolong the flowering on the plant".

"So that part there, you cut there?"

"Yep and that there".

Eric says that with the variety available today, believe it or not, the Australian native can work well for those wanting to create the cottage garden effect.

"Like these Brackiecome... They're excellent cottage garden plants, see that works beautifully as a ground cover".

From the top floor study, Eric occasionally designs native gardens while taking in the views around Callington. You too can take in the pleasures of the Callington Mill and its array of Australian natives.

The Callington Nursery is on the Strathalbyn Road and is open daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm. For more info email info@postcards-sa.com.au