Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre

The Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre is a fully accredited centre which provides up to date information, maps and brochures. This centre is located at the John Riddoch Centre, which was a former Mechanical Institute and Public Library.

The centre has staff members who are friendly, helpful and experienced in their field of expertise.

This visitor information centre is a multi-functional centre in the sense that it has incorporated the John Shaw Neilson Acquisitive Art Prize Gallery and lots of local knowledge and history. The John Shaw Neilson Acquisitive Art collection was developed in 1992 to celebrate the winning entries of the great John Shaw Neilson who was a poet born in Penola. The local history room shows how this region grew including a preview of the economical, agricultural and social history of the area. This display has works from notable contributors including John Riddoch himself and an extensive collection of past records relating to the area.

The Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre is the main focus for historical resources and information in the Coonawarra and Penola district. There is also a playground nearby which have picnic tables, which makes it easy to enjoy the outdoors with your family and friends on a visit to the region.