This past Sunday, as part of the Clare Valley Festival of Lamb, Martindale Hall came alive with the warmth of fire, food, and story at The Fire of Sunday. Guests gathered in the historic Coach House to celebrate the rich legacy of South Australia’s sheep industry; a story of ambition, resilience, and the cultural traditions that shaped the land and its people.
Martindale Hall stands as a testament to this legacy. From the mid-19th century, wool was South Australia’s first great export, driving prosperity and earning the phrase “riding on the sheep’s back.” Pastoral estates like Martindale not only shaped towns such as Mintaro but also created a social world of hunts, polo matches, cricket games, and grand house parties. The Bowmans, who built Martindale in the 1870s and 1880s, and the Mortlocks, who carried the estate forward into the 20th century, embody the ambition, innovation, hardship, and resilience of this era.
The Coach House, built alongside the Hall by master craftsmen, was once home to the Bowman family’s 16-passenger coach and their prized horses. Later, it sheltered the Mortlocks’ motorcars, continuing its role as a place of movement, connection, and progress. On Sunday, this remarkable building became a stage for a modern gathering that honored history while celebrating the present.
Guests were treated to the remarkable wines of Marnie Roberts from Matriarch & Rogue, a family-inspired label that reflects patience, place, and people as much as flavour. The flavours of fire were brought to life by Denis Redden and Pedro Rodriguez, whose experience on Patagonian ranches informed a ritual of lamb cooked del campo style over glowing coals. Each bite told the story of landscapes and livestock, heritage and innovation, Patagonia and South Australia – a living link to the pastoral traditions that shaped Martindale itself.
The Fire of Sunday offered a glimpse of what future events at Martindale Hall might feel like: immersive, thoughtful, and deeply connected to land and history.
The Martindale Coach House is now available for private hire, offering a unique setting for functions that combine history, elegance, and the spirit of connection that has always defined this remarkable estate.
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