Penola & Mary MacKillop
The historic town at the heart of Coonawarra — birthplace of the Sisters of St Joseph, founded by Australia’s first saint, and the natural base for a visit.
Penola & Mary MacKillop
Ten kilometres south of the cellar doors sits Penola, the historic town at the heart of the Coonawarra region — and one of the most significant places in Australia’s religious and social history. It was here in 1866 that Mary MacKillop, later canonised as Australia’s first saint, co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph and pioneered free education for rural children. Today Penola pairs that heritage with heritage cottages, country cafés and an easy walkability that makes it the natural base for a Coonawarra visit.
Penola’s Historic Heart
Mary MacKillop Penola Centre
Interpretive displays telling the story of Mary MacKillop, Father Julian Tenison Woods and the founding of the Sisters of St Joseph in 1866.
Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse
The restored schoolhouse associated with the early work of the Sisters of St Joseph — a key site on the pilgrimage trail.
Petticoat Lane
A lane of restored 19th-century cottages in the heart of historic Penola — a window onto the early colonial town.
Cafés, Pubs & Cellar Doors
Relaxed cafés, classic country pubs and a couple of walkable town cellar doors, including Patrick of Coonawarra.
The Mary MacKillop Story
Born in Melbourne in 1842, Mary MacKillop came to Penola as a young woman and, with the local priest Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866 to bring education to children who otherwise had none. The order grew across Australia and beyond, and MacKillop’s devotion to the poor and the rural made her one of the country’s most beloved figures.
She died in 1909 and was canonised as Saint Mary of the Cross in 2010, becoming Australia’s first saint. Penola remains a place of pilgrimage, and the heritage sites here are visited by travellers of all backgrounds drawn to a remarkable Australian story.
Around Penola
Cellar Doors
The terra rossa strip runs north from Penola — the estates worth a stop.
Cellar doors → 🛏 Stay in townWhere to Stay
Heritage cottages and motels within minutes of the cellar doors.
Where to stay → 🕰 The backstoryHistory & Heritage
How Penola and Coonawarra grew up side by side.
History →Penola & Mary MacKillop — FAQ
What is Penola known for?
Penola is the historic township at the heart of the Coonawarra region, about 10 km south of the cellar doors. It’s best known as the birthplace of the Sisters of St Joseph, founded by Australia’s first saint, Mary MacKillop, and for its well-preserved 19th-century streetscape.
Who was Mary MacKillop?
Mary MacKillop (1842–1909) co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in Penola in 1866 with Father Julian Tenison Woods, pioneering education for children in rural Australia. She was canonised as Saint Mary of the Cross in 2010 — Australia’s first saint.
What is there to see in Penola?
The Mary MacKillop Penola Centre and the historic Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse tell the story of the Sisters of St Joseph, while Petticoat Lane preserves a lane of restored 19th-century cottages. The town also has cafés, pubs and a couple of cellar doors.
Is Penola a good base for Coonawarra?
Yes — it’s the most convenient base, with heritage cottages, motels and B&Bs minutes from the cellar doors. See our where to stay guide.
How far is Penola from the Coonawarra cellar doors?
Only about 10 kilometres — the cellar door strip runs north from Penola along the Riddoch Highway toward Coonawarra township, a drive of roughly ten to fifteen minutes.
Coonawarra, Planned Around You
Cellar doors, long lunches, Penola’s heritage and the Limestone Coast beyond — with the driving and bookings handled by the family that’s toured Australia since 1974.
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