The first inhabitants of the area were the Kaurna aboriginal people and "No-orlunga", as it was pronounced by them, had an aboriginal meaning of "the place with a hill" and Onkaparinga was "women's camp by the river" with the main street called Patapinda, from original meaning of "going up to the sky".

Land was released to the public for purchase in 1839  and by 1841 the population had grown to 150 as traders, storekeepers and farmers all moved into the area.

The township was originally known as Noarlunga up until the 1970's then renamed to Old Noarlunga. This walk is designed to give you a little insight to the general interest and stories of a town that was an important part of South Australia's heritage. A map will print when you use the printing link.

For many years the river used to flood and the town was used to occasionally being knee deep in water. An older resident here in the early days of the motor care , can remember as a young boy charging a penny to walk in front of cars to show them the safe path through the flooded streets. 

Market Square Park is located on the banks of the Onkaparinga River and was originally the towns market venue in the 1800's. The river was in these years some twenty feet deep with barges ferrying goods to and from Port Noarlunga and the township. The "Mill" adjacent to the park provided much of the barge goods for transport to ships in the Port Noarlunga bay. The harbour masters house in the lane behind the mill overlooked the river and the busy boating activities of that time.

The town had many businesses that not only serviced locals but also many of the towns throughout the fleurieu. On main street there were five butchers a draper, blacksmith , two bakers , two hotels , post office, library and a general store. There were also other businesses off the main street of funeral director, stables, and dog pound. A busy town of the late 1800's , early 1900's ,with mining as well as farming enterprises , with produce bought and sold between locals with deliveries through to Adelaide. The Horseshoe Inn was the staging stop for the area and originally ran the first postal service. Fresh stage coach horses were changed over from the local stables on Malpas Street and went on to McLaren Vale and beyond. Bullock carts were the primary method of transporting  of goods and the main street of Patapinda Road was originally designed to have a large turning area where the sports oval stands today.

From Market square Park if you then walk north along Patapinda Road the Institute Hall is on your left ,which was originally built as the council office for the area. Noarlunga Council were in residence from 1856 to 1975 , when they moved to Noarlunga Centre. Opposite the hall a white house used to operate as a general store , then one of the owners ,Eric Dungey ,became an amateur photographer and much of the early photo's seen and sold today of the 1800's era came from the glass photographic plates he produced. The cellar in the house was his dark room , and while many of the original pictures have been destroyed , the ones that survived give an in depth picture of the times and changes to the township through to the mid 1900's.

Further along Patapinda Road the Horseshoe Inn site , now a park since 1988 when a fire destroyed the inn. An interpretive board gives the history and describes the importance of the role played by the inn owners in providing services which helped in populating the southern area's. Adjacent to  the Inn site and nestled in the hill on Church Road is a building once used as a brewery, which produced ale that was described by government officials in 1857 as "better to drink than the water", and  recommended as "pure , honest and undrugged." By 1867 the brewery had closed. 

Looking up the hill and Church Road can be seen the Church of St.Phillip and St.James which looks out over the township with its bell tower seen from most places throughout the town. Built from stones quarried from the local cliffs and dragged up the hill by bullock teams ,one can only imagine the enormous effort and dedication to accomplish such feats. Crossing to the river the original ford can be seen , and the dirt road running across and up the hill over to McLaren Vale.The climbing of the hill by stage coaches would have been difficult , but the return journey down the hill must have been hair raising. Logs were placed through the wheels , locking them from turning ,to act as brakes and the up hill coaches returned the logs to the top, ready for the next coach to come down the hill. At the onset of the 1939 war there were gun emplacements dug out on the hill face to overlook the town, and be ready to repel invaders if and when it became necessary.    

Following the river you see the Uniting Church and behind it the swing bridge entrance to the national park. A notice board alongside of the bridge shows the many walks throughout the park and are detailed as to duration and difficulty. The swing bridge is the third to be built to accommodate pedestrians and entrance to the gorge and park. Both of the original two were washed away by the river flooding and in 2004 the one that is now standing on this site was also nearly destroyed.  

A walk further along the river and you arrive at Hutchinson's Park , once the towns dog pond now a small park popular for fishermen and picnics. The house adjacent and fronting Malpas Street once housed the pound keeper and the towns funeral director.The owner used to borrow the horses needed for his funeral coach from the local stage coach stables further along in Edward Street. 

Entering Malpas Street from the park and going south ,on your right the school building and sports field.The original school was first started in the mid 1800's and the brick building seen on the site today was built in 1912. Many of the local residents are descendants of the original school children , with each generation from the mid 1800's getting a "sound" education. The school is still very popular today and as the southern suburbs expand , it is always in demand to teach the local children.

Further along Malpas Street past the school is a small cottage on your left.The building is thought to be the oldest in the town and to have been built prior to 1840.A pretty picture postcard building, yet the size is very small against today's standards.The normal houses of that time typically had only two rooms but were home to families with six or more children.

Walk along Edward Street to Patapinda road (school oval on your right) and the building on the far side of the road is now a residence, and dates from the mid 1800's. The left side of the building was once a bakers shop, but has been changed to include the whole building as a private residence.

Turning right at Patapinda Road and the Noarlunga Hotel is on your right. Originally the "Jolly Miller" hotel , and central parts of the existing hotel still house the original dating from 1850. Opposite the hotel is a double storey building that at one time "Dances" were held upstairs. There were local musicians that would get together to provide the music for many of the events and dances held throughout the early to mid 1900's. On the left of this building is one of the original cottages dating from the early/ mid 1800's. This area is the start of what is today considered the commercial end of the main street, and next to the double storey house is a cafe and collectables shop, it was this site that at one time housed the local blacksmith. The house next door to the collectables shop was once a butchers (one of five in the town) before the days of the meatworks opening on the outskirts of the town.

On the left going back to Market Square Park is a large old house from the mid 1800's ,although the shop front was erected much later. Next door is a shop and house built in the 1920's.The shop was a butchers and the traditional black tiles can be seen on the pillars and under the window. Opposite the shop and house (on your right) is another house (mid 1800's) and shop , originally a drapers and general store, today a private residence. The Deli has been operating from the mid 1900's but the house attached is from the mid 1800's. Many of the original features from that era are still evident ,and the town library operated out of one room in the early 1900's.

Arriving back at Market Square Park ,with its barbeques ,playground and the Lady Diana Memorial fountain , it would surprise many to learn that this park is one of the most used family venues in South Australia. The township in today's environment is still is one of the most populated for small businesses for its size, with shops/ plumbers/ electricians / authors/ printers etc. etc.

With the meatworks now closed and the population of the township at approximately six hundred people , most residents are self employed and/ or have to travel out of town for employment. The expressway and South Road provides an easy quick journey to and from Adelaide, and being at the entrance to the wine growing region of McLaren Vale means visitor / tourist and locals discover and enjoy the Old Noarlunga township.