An easy 90 minute drive from Adelaide on the east coast of Yorke Peninsula, Ardrossan sits on top of imposing red cliffs providing excellent views of Gulf St Vincent. Wander down the jetty at sunrise to see the cliffs' amazing display of colour in the morning light.
If Blue Swimmer Crabs are your favourite, then this is the place to be; drop a net from the jetty or rake in the shallows and you won't be disappointed. Fishing from the jetty or boat will often return you a catch of Tommy Ruffs, Mullet, Garfish, squid or the prized King George Whiting. A sought after holiday destination, Ardrossan offers you a wonderful place to enjoy spectacular coastline and all of the activities it has to offer.
A main agricultural centre for surrounding districts, Ardrossan is a well serviced town offering good shopping and facilities. Drop in to the golf club or Ardrossan Motel Hotel. Ardrossan Museum is located in the former factory of CH Smith, developer of the Stump Jump Plough. This plough has legendary status in South Australia's history and is at the heart of the Ardrossan Museum's displays.
Ardrossan has a temperate climate with regular sea breezes. The maximum temperature is usually a few degrees cooler than Adelaide.
The town was proclaimed in 1873 and named by Governor Fergusson after Ardrossan in Ayrshire, Scotland. The jetty was built in 1876 and proclaimed a port in 1878. Early European settlers new the area as 'Clay Gully' or 'Parara'. A busy grain port, produce was carried along the jetty by horse-drawn trolleys to the ships and hand loaded by skilful deckhands to ensure the load was secure in rough seas. Steamers also provided a passenger service to Port Adelaide on Tuesdays and Fridays, which took four hours to make the crossing in good weather. South Australia's first silo was erected at the site in 1952 and today the silos can handle in excess of 250,000 tonnes of grain.
