Nuriootpa | |||||||||||||
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 Memorial hall | |||||||||||||
  Nuriootpa | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates:34°28′0″S138°59′0″E / 34.46667°S 138.98333°E /-34.46667; 138.98333 | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | South Australia | ||||||||||||
| LGA | |||||||||||||
| Location |
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| Established | 1854[1] | ||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 6,204 (UCL2021)[3] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode | 5355[4] | ||||||||||||
| Mean max temp | 21.6 °C (70.9 °F)[5] | ||||||||||||
| Mean min temp | 9.2 °C (48.6 °F)[5] | ||||||||||||
| Annual rainfall | 467.5 mm (18.41 in)[5] | ||||||||||||
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Nuriootpa(/ˌnjʊəriˈʊtpə/NURE-ee-UUT-pə) is a town inSouth Australia and the major commercial centre of theBarossa Valley, about an hour's drive north of the state capital,Adelaide. The name of the town is reputed to be the localAboriginal word for "meeting place".
Nuriootpa is situated at the north end of theBarossa Valley, near theSturt Highway. It has a population of over 6,500 people, making it the largest town in the area. There are vineyards surrounding the town. It is home to wineries includingPenfolds,Elderton Wines andWolf Blass.
The first recorded Europeans to visit the area, on 3 March 1838, were the exploration party ofJohn Hill,John Oakden, William Wood, and Charles Willis,en route to theMurray River from Adelaide.[6]
Since the 1930s, Nuriootpa has been cited as an example of inspired community development.[citation needed] The town's community owned and operated retail businesses have funded public facilities, including the Senior Citizens' Club, the swimming pool, the kindergarten and recreation areas. The short-lived progressive Adelaide movement, theCommon Cause Movement, arranged a visit by future Prime MinisterBen Chifley to Nuriootpa in 1944 which led him, inspired by its approach, to promote the town as a model for community co-operation. The Adelaide architectLouis Laybourne-Smith prepared a plan for the town's recreation and education area, known as its 'War Memorial Community Centre' at that time. Much of this plan has been realised, including Laybourne-Smith's unusual 'fan-shaped' Olympic-sized pool.
The1950 Australian Grand Prix, which was Australia's premier motor race of that year, was held in January 1950 using theNuriootpa Road Circuit,[7] a temporary course utilising roads in and around the town of Nuriootpa. The race was won byDoug Whiteford driving aFord V8 Special.[8][9] The first race meeting to use the circuit had been held in April 1949.[10]
In March 1977Queen Elizabeth II visited the town as part of an extended tour marking herSilver Jubilee.[11][circular reference]
The first stage of the2014 Tour Down Under was held in Nuriootpa in January 2014, starting from the town and finishing inAngaston. The 135 km stage was won bySimon Gerrans ofOrica–GreenEDGE.[12]
Nuriootpa's local government is theBarossa Council. The northern outskirts are in theLight Regional Council.
It is in the stateelectorate of Schubert, and Light for the outskirts.
Nuriootpa is in the federalElectorate of Barker.
Nuriootpa High School (NHS), established in 1935, is a statehigh school catering for students in years 7 to 12. As of 2023[update] more than 1300 students are enrolled at the school. Itsmotto is "PER ASPERA AD ASTRA - Through Adversity to the Stars".[13]
The main local newspaper covering the town isThe Leader, published inAngaston.
Nuriootpa was home to the short-livedNuriootpa and District Community Diary (November 1955 – November 1956), a monthly magazine subtitled ": monthly news bulletin of the Nuriootpa War Memorial Community Centre Inc".[14]
Nuriootpa has ahot-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa), with very warm, dry summers and cool, relatively wet winters. Average maxima range from 30.2 °C (86.4 °F) in January to 13.6 °C (56.5 °F) in July. Mean average annual rainfall is 474.8 mm (18.69 in), with a winter maximum. There are 65.9 clear days and 144.2 cloudy days annually.[15] Extreme temperatures have ranged from −5.4 °C (22.3 °F) on 17 June 1959 to 46.0 °C (114.8 °F) on 24 January 2019.[16]
| Climate data for Nuriootpa (34º28'48"S, 139º00'36"E, 275 m AMSL) (1996-2024 normals, extremes 1957-1999) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 46.0 (114.8) | 43.9 (111.0) | 41.3 (106.3) | 37.6 (99.7) | 29.0 (84.2) | 25.3 (77.5) | 25.5 (77.9) | 28.0 (82.4) | 31.9 (89.4) | 36.8 (98.2) | 42.1 (107.8) | 44.7 (112.5) | 46.0 (114.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.2 (86.4) | 29.4 (84.9) | 26.1 (79.0) | 22.0 (71.6) | 17.4 (63.3) | 14.1 (57.4) | 13.6 (56.5) | 14.7 (58.5) | 17.9 (64.2) | 21.4 (70.5) | 25.1 (77.2) | 27.5 (81.5) | 21.6 (70.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.7 (58.5) | 14.4 (57.9) | 12.1 (53.8) | 9.1 (48.4) | 6.8 (44.2) | 5.2 (41.4) | 4.6 (40.3) | 5.0 (41.0) | 6.6 (43.9) | 8.3 (46.9) | 10.7 (51.3) | 12.4 (54.3) | 9.2 (48.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.2 (36.0) | 3.7 (38.7) | 0.8 (33.4) | −0.6 (30.9) | −3.0 (26.6) | −5.4 (22.3) | −4.7 (23.5) | −3.0 (26.6) | −2.1 (28.2) | −1.0 (30.2) | −1.0 (30.2) | 1.1 (34.0) | −5.4 (22.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 16.5 (0.65) | 22.8 (0.90) | 24.1 (0.95) | 33.0 (1.30) | 47.8 (1.88) | 55.3 (2.18) | 57.0 (2.24) | 57.8 (2.28) | 56.9 (2.24) | 37.7 (1.48) | 35.8 (1.41) | 30.2 (1.19) | 474.8 (18.69) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 4.4 | 3.9 | 5.4 | 7.6 | 13.5 | 17.0 | 18.0 | 16.7 | 14.3 | 10.2 | 8.1 | 6.8 | 125.9 |
| Average afternoonrelative humidity (%) | 28 | 30 | 34 | 41 | 54 | 63 | 63 | 58 | 53 | 41 | 34 | 32 | 44 |
| Averagedew point °C (°F) | 5.4 (41.7) | 6.6 (43.9) | 5.6 (42.1) | 5.5 (41.9) | 6.0 (42.8) | 5.7 (42.3) | 5.2 (41.4) | 4.8 (40.6) | 5.3 (41.5) | 3.6 (38.5) | 4.0 (39.2) | 4.9 (40.8) | 5.2 (41.4) |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 328.6 | 282.5 | 269.7 | 225.0 | 176.7 | 147.0 | 158.1 | 201.5 | 216.0 | 269.7 | 288.0 | 306.9 | 2,869.7 |
| Percentagepossible sunshine | 75 | 75 | 71 | 67 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 61 | 67 | 69 | 69 | 64 |
| Source:Bureau of Meteorology (1996-2024 normals, extremes 1957-1999)[17][18] | |||||||||||||
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