Penong, South Australia: Why are there so many windmills?
The Penong Windmill Museum by the Penong Caravan Park, just off the Nullarbor Plain, was established in 2016. But the Penong windmills in South Australia still supply water to residents.
Penong in South Australia feels like the last outpost for anyone travelling west. It is one of the last traces of wheat-growing country before the notorious Nullarbor Plain begins near the Nullarbor Roadhouse.
Outside the Penong General Store, there is an indicator of what is about to come. The sign reads: “Last stop for 1,000km. WARNING REMOTE ZONE AHEAD”.
To call Penong a South Australian town would be pushing things somewhat. But it is slightly more than a roadhouse. There’s a pub (the Penong Hotel also offers somewhat grim Penong accommodation), a service station and the Penong caravan park. Oh, and there’s also the Penong Windmill Museum.
Don’t want to drive the Nullarbor? Then consider a ten day camping adventure tour from Perth to Adelaide (or in the opposite direction).
Visiting Penong Windmill Museum near Penong Caravan Park
On a patch of dry, scrubby land near the Penong Caravan Park, the Penong Windmill Museum gathers together 26 fully operational windmills. These include Bruce, supposedly the biggest windmill in Australia.
The windmills have been sourced from far and wide, including from the Anna Creek Station – the biggest cattle station in the world.
The Penong Windmill Museum is a surprisingly noisy place. The windmills have lots of metal parts, and some of them don’t half creak. The creaking windmills are aided in the noise-making process by flocks of galahs who hang out nearby.
Why are there so many Penong windmills?
But why are there so many windmills in Penong? Well, it’s partly because they’re useful here. Some water arrives by tanker from neighbouring Ceduna, subsidised by the South Australian government. But the bulk of the household water supply comes from underground basins. Penong is by no means the windiest place on earth, but there’s enough wind for windmills to power the pumps bringing up the water from those basins.
The collection of windmills in Penong, however, is a labour of love from a pair of locals. Bob Oats and Tim Hardy talk about how they went about setting it up and maintaining it in this report by the ABC.
Ceduna accommodation tips
Ceduna is a logical place for an overnight stay whether you’ve just crossed the Nullarbor or are about to. You can search for places to stay in Ceduna here.
However, the following are the best options:
- For central, waterfront location: Ceduna Foreshore Hotel Motel.
- For family-friendly spacious cabins: Big4 Holiday Park.
- For a pool: East West Motel.
More things to do in Penong, South Australia
Penong is 74km west of Ceduna, at the north-western corner of the Eyre Peninsula. Head east along the Eyre Highway, and it’s 849km to Adelaide. Go west over the Nullarbor Plain, and it’s 1,759km to Perth. The 16th hole of the Nullarbor Links golf course is found by the Windmill Museum – cards can be bought and stamped at the Caltex roadhouse on the Eyre Highway.
Branch off to the south towards Point Sinclair, and you’ll go past the Lake MacDonnell pink lake, plus some spectacular coastal dunes. Cactus Beach – one of the most highly-rated surf beaches in Australia – is found 21km south of Penong. There’s a very basic campground behind it for surfers who want to sleep in their campervan and catch the break in the morning.
The next major stops on the drive across the Nullarbor are Fowlers Bay and the Head of Bight whale-watching lookout.
More South Australia travel
Get lost at the Mintaro Maze in the Clare Valley.
Drink cocktails on Glenelg Beach in Adelaide at the Moseley Beach Club.
Play dinosaur mini golf at Barossa Bowland in Tanunda.
Go surfing at Southport Beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula.