Guide to Port Wakefield South Australia Australia

Port Wakefield is well known to the travelling public for the many roadhouses that line Highway One, providing valuable refreshments for the weary traveller. But the town also encourages you to venture off the highway, take a break, and discover the heritage and charm that lies behind the busy highway.

The town has a seafaring atmosphere with an emphasis on recreational fishing and its wharf, where small boats await the fishermen. Boardwalks and bird identification signs provide an insight into the environment. Port Wakefield was the first government town north of Adelaide and boasts many well preserved historic buildings. A commemorative wall features residents’ family histories. The Rising Sun Hotel has a gallery of portraits dating back to the 1800s.

The town takes its name from the River Wakefield. The port was established to ship copper from the rich mines of Burra and later served as the main local outlet for wheat and wool.