The villages of Gloucester surveyed 1850 to the East, and Bellvue surveyed 1854 to the West, developed within the township of McClaren Vale. 

Early life was founded on farming with an emphasis on cereal crops. Evidence of the prosperity of the district at the time could be seen by the number of flour mills in the region. The only remnants of a mill building of that era to be found in McClaren Vale today forms part of the Hardy's Tintara Winery complex. The 1850's saw a dramatic exodus of labour from the area when settlers either left for the Australian State of Victoria's Goldfields or took up new land in other areas in South Australia. 

As an alternative crop vineyards began to appear and have continued to expand. Many world class wines are produced in the area.  McClaren Vale is now synonymous with wine and has over 45 winery cellar doors, many of them family concerns. The region has grown around the districts wine industry, but the wider region has much more to offer.

The town of McClaren Vale is an ideal place for visitors to start looking around the area. The main street has a range of services available to help make your visit enjoyable and memorable. Make sure you call in at the McClaren Vale and Fleurieu Visitors Centre. Here you will not only discover information on the local area but also other places of interest on the Fleurieu Peninsula. 

The Barn Restaurantwas formerly a coach stop used as an overnight stge for bullock teams bringing wheat from Encounter Bay at Victor Harbor to the Adelaide Hills. 

Limeburner's Restaurant - The original cottage was built in 1854 taking its name from the occupation of one of the later occupants, a bricklayer who burnt lime behind the cottage to make mortar. 

Hotel McClaren (1857-1901) became known as the Clifton Hotel (1901-1939) The Bellvue Hotel as it had become was purchased by Thomas Hardy who over time added a wing at each end. The current name has been in use since 1939. 

Hardy Tintinara Winery was originally established in 1852 as the McClaren Vale Flour Mill. The mill has been in the Hardy family since 1878. 

A magnificent specimen of a Morton Bay Fig Tree which is on the National Trust Register can be found behind the Hotel McClaren. 

Almond Train - Heritage carriages once used on the Adelaide to Willunga rail line (1915-1969) The carriages are sited on the old railway embankment. This is the location of the former Halfway Tree, a large gum (eucylypt)  tree where the villagers used to meet between the villages of Bellvue and Gloucester. 

McClaren Vale Galleries was formerly the Devonshire Arms Hotel and Tavern, which was the first hotel in the area, built by William Colton in 1849. 

Singing Gallery was the Congregational Church built i 1861. 

The Chapel "The House Of The Lord"  was the first church built in the area (1844) and was used by several denominations. 

RSL Clubrooms was the Public School, built in 1865. 

Community Centre was called Tsong Gyiaou (The Third Bridge), home of Mary Anne Aldersley missionary in China. Later it was enlarged to become a boarding school for girls (1868-1903). 

Old Manse was built in 1864 as a home for Ministers of the Congregational Church. 

Salopian Inn Restaurant was Grumprs Hostelry (1851-1853), it became Salopian Hotel (1854-1859) then The Volunteers in 1860.