Chapel Hill

The picturesque Chapel Hill vineyards stretch across the historic Seaview sub-region of McLaren Vale.

The area was first settled soon-after the colony of South Australia was proclaimed in 1836.

During the 1850s the landscape of the region transformed from wheat growing, grazing and mixed farming to orcharding and vineyards.

A colonial wine industry began to gather steam in the 1860s with growing exports to England, India, New Zealand and other corners of the Empire.

The settlers, mostly of English origin, were less religious than the Lutherans of the Barossa Valley, but the church still played an important part in the daily lives of family.

Our 1865 Chapel was a local landmark where social gatherings including tennis competitions and cricket took place.

For many years it was also the Seaview community’s local school. The region’s proximity to Adelaide was brought nearer by better roads and the increasing use of motor-transport.

Village life changed and by 1965 the Chapel was deconsecrated and abandoned.