Millicent SA 5280 (Pop 5 000)

Millicent is an important Limestone Coast rural service centre located 400 km s-e of Adelaide. The town is surrounded by farmland and pine forests which together with a pulp mill, sawmill and paper mill help sustain the local economy. European settlement began in 1840s and the town was named after the daughter of Adelaide’s Anglican Archbishop who loved the area. The railway (1879) ensured Millicent’s future in timber, agriculture, fishing and more recently, tourism.  Two Tall Timbers Exhibition & Competition (Apr), Geltwood Craft Festival (Apr).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Millicent National Trust Museum, Mount Gambier Rd housed together with the Visitor Centre and Admella Gallery, has many excellent historic displays of farm machinery, pioneer vehicles, an original primary school (1873) and Aborginal artifacts. Open (9am-5pm) weekdays and (10am-4pm) weekends & holidays. Lake McIntyre, north Millicent, features bird hides and boardwalks surrounded by many waterbird species and native fish.

Nearby:
Canunda NP (10 km west) large (9 500 ha) coastal park in two sections. The northern end features scrubland and clifftop walks while the south is made up of wetlands and beaches providing great surfing, fishing and bushwalking. Mount Muirhead Lookout (6 km n-e) excellent town, forest and Mount Burr Range views. The Volcanoes Discovery Trail also begins here. Tantanoola (20 km s-e) tiny town whose hotel displays the Tantanoola Tiger, a stuffed Syrian wolf shot in 1895. Tantanoola Caves Conservation Park (21 km s-e) huge dolomite cavern discovered in 1930 with many spectacular formations. It was Australia’s first wheelchair accessible cave. Wyrie Swamp Site (7 km south) significant Aboriginal archaeological site where numerous artifacts have been uncovered including some of the oldest boomerangs ever found in Australia. Mount Burr (10 km n-e) old timber town that first established pine plantations in this region.

Accommodation:
Millicent has a couple of motels, two hotels and two caravan parks with cabins. Visitor Information Centre: 1 Mount Gambier Rd. Tel (08) 8733 3205.

Airport:
Mount Gambier Airport (MGB), off Riddoch Hwy. Tel (08) 8725 1112. (48.5 km s-e).

Hospital:
Millicent & District Hospital, Mt Gambier Rd, Millicent. Tel (08) 8733 0100.