Clare Valley’s historic Martindale Hall – which featured in the classic film Picnic at Hanging Rock – could be turned into a wellness retreat and luxury resort under a proposal put to the State Government.

The Georgian-style sandstone mansion, built around 1880 and consisting of 32 rooms plus a large cellar, has been run by caretaker operators since the previous long-term lease expired at the end of last year.

The Government has been exploring options for its future, and announced today that it had received an unsolicited proposal from Seppeltsfield Wines managing director Warren Randall and Kilikanoon Wines managing director Warrick Duthy – operating under the name Martindale Hall Partnership.

They are seeking to either purchase the heritage-listed property or secure a long-term lease to develop what they describe as a “wellness retreat and luxury resort” that would attract visitors from interstate and overseas.

“Subject to research and validation, we intend to position Martindale Hall with a promise of becoming South Australia’s centre of life enrichment, competing with the Golden Door (Hunter Valley and Gold Coast), Gaia (Byron Bay), and resorts of Daylesford and Hepburn Spa (Victoria), as well as providing a luxury accommodation option to compliment Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, Appellation in the Barossa, and Longitude 131 at Uluru,” says the proposal.

It says the development would include upgrading Martindale Hall’s upstairs accommodation into luxury suites, building additional accommodation and facilities on the surrounding property, developing the coach house and stables into a “global-standard wellness retreat”, and rejuvenating the gardens and orchard.

Randall and Duthy say their plans would be in keeping with the heritage value of the property and also allow continued public access to the hall through scheduled tours.

Martindale Hall: A slice of SA history. Photo: Tyson Morris

The Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources is leading the evaluation of the proposal, which the State Government said would be subject to “rigorous assessment”.

“We want to ensure that – if this proposal is to proceed – the local tourism industry benefits and the site’s heritage values are maintained, and members of the public have access to the site,” Tourism Minister Leon Bignell said.

He promised that members of the community would have an opportunity to have their say on the plans.

The first community information session will be held at the Coach House at Martindale Hall at 4pm on August 18, where representatives of Martindale Hall Partnership will be present.

Martindale Hall – which in its heyday was surrounded by a polo ground, boating lake and racecourse, and was rumoured to have 14 servants – was gifted to the State Government by its previous owner. Concerns have been expressed in the past that it could be sold.

Sharon and Michael Morris, of Mintaro Maze, took over as caretakers of the property in December last year, keeping it open to the public from 11am until 4pm most days. It is also currently available for hire for private functions.

Sharon Morris said a special free open day was planned for this Saturday to mark the 40^th anniversary of the opening of Peter Weir’s 1975 Picnic at Hanging Rock.