About Petticoat Lane
Petticoat Lane is a preserved heritage precinct in Penola, within the Wattle Range Council area of South Australia's Limestone Coast. It comprises a narrow unsealed lane lined with restored 1850s-1860s settler cottages, including Sharam Cottage and the former schoolhouse where Saint Mary MacKillop taught in 1866. The precinct represents Penola's original settlement and is notable for its vernacular architecture and association with Australia's first saint.
Visitors guide
Visitors can walk along the short unsealed lane and view a collection of small stone and timber settler cottages with picket fences, heritage gardens and interpretive signage describing early settler life. Sharam Cottage displays period furnishings when open, and the former schoolhouse marks where Mary MacKillop began her teaching work. The setting is quiet and residential, suitable for a self-guided heritage walk, photography and reading history panels, with links to the nearby Mary MacKillop Penola Centre.
Key highlights
- 01
Sharam Cottage (c.1850) - restored settler cottage with period furnishings
- 02
Former schoolhouse where Saint Mary MacKillop taught in 1866
- 03
Collection of preserved 1850s-1860s vernacular stone and timber cottages
- 04
Interpretive signage detailing Penola's original settlement history
- 05
Self-guided heritage walk connecting Petticoat Lane to Penola town centre