Port Elliot Bakery, South Australia | Why do Australians love meat pies?

Australians love meat pies and the Port Elliot Bakery on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula is one of those legendary Aussie pie shops. Learn Aussie culture through the best bakery in South Australia…

To understand the appeal of the Port Elliot Bakery, you need to understand the role of the meat pie in the Australian psyche. The meat pie is the classic Australian food. It’s what you eat at the footy, or for a snack on the beach. Australians care a lot about their meat pies, even if they sometimes eat absolutely dreadful ones.

When meat pies are good, though, they’re really good. And many Australians will go out of their way to track down pie shops with a strong reputation.

Port Elliot Bakery in Port Elliot, South Australia — The Port Elliot Bakery on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula makes legendary pies. Photo by Josh Geelan.

Where is the Port Elliot Bakery?

One of these is the Port Elliot Bakery. It’s a fairly humble family enterprise in Port Elliot, around 82km south of Adelaide on the eastern edge of the Fleurieu Peninsula. The bakery first opened in the 1860s and has built up the sort of reputation that the dreaded word “iconic” starts getting used for.

You’ll find the Port Elliot Bakery at 31 North Terrace in Port Elliot. It’s a short drive from regional hubs Victor Harbor and Goolwa, and you can stop by on the Cockle Train that skirts the edge of Encounter Bay.

It has been voted as the best bakery in South Australia by the Adelaide Advertiser. There’s also a good mix of savoury and sweet on the menu.

Those wanting a dessert can opt for an apricot crumble slice, blueberry Danish pastry, cold set custard tart or raspberry jam bun. There’s also a highly-rated range of doughnuts at the Port Elliot Bakery. You can try cinnamon, strawberry iced, chocolate éclair and Nutella flavours.

Pies in Port Elliot

But let’s be honest. The real reason you’re going to the Port Elliot Bakery is the pies. This South Australian bakery offers up some marvellous pies, and in several flavours too. Options include lamb and rosemary, creamy chicken and mushroom or steak, cheese and bacon. Try one, and you’ll start to understand why Australians get weirdly obsessed with meat pies… And, if you want to try a different one every day, you can always stay at the Port Elliot caravan park.