Reason for delisting

Named after the ‘Star of Greece’ shipwreck at Port Willunga in 1888, the ‘Star of Greece’ café has long been a popular restaurant and local attraction at Port Willunga. McDougall & Vines’ 1997 Willunga heritage survey associates the structure with the local fishing industry and as a kiosk for visitors to the nearby beach.

Built on former Crown Lands, it is currently unclear when the former kiosk was constructed but likely dates to the mid-20thcentury.

A c.mid-20th century former kiosk now converted into a restaurant; original building constructed of timber and lightweight cladding (cement sheet and corrugated iron).

Noted as recently sympathetically refurbished in 1997, extensive additions dating to various periods in the last 20 years (ie. 2000s-2020s) now envelope the original structure. While original fabric, including original skillion roof profile and sash windows, remain, these are obscured by developments.

The 1997 survey noted that the original materials are not durable in the long-term, it is likely much original fabric has been replaced during construction works since this time. While the site remains a popular local landmark and tourist destination, this significance is no longer represented by evident physical historic fabric.

More information about Lot 11 Esplanade can be viewed here.

The Fishermen’s Caves at Lot 10, The Esplanade, Port Willunga are of significance for their association with the development of commercial and recreational fishing in Port Willunga from the early 20th century. Excavated to house boats and fishing gear, the Caves are strongly associated with the How family, prominent local fishermen who were likely responsible for the Caves’ excavation. The Caves today remain a significant local landmark and tourism drawcard within the Port Willunga landscape.

Extent of listing

The extent of listing includes the form and materials of all fabric associated with the seven Fishermen’s Caves, including current excavated stone, surviving masonry and timber infrastructural fabric and all other early elements that remain to the site.

More information about Lot 10 The Esplanade can be viewed here.

The former Harbour Master cottage ruins at Lot 22 Water Street, Port Willunga is of significance as the former residence of the Port Willunga harbour master, a central role within the township’s initial developments in the 1850s as a significant South Australian port. Constructed by Thomas Martin, one of Port Willunga’s earliest settlers, the property is strongly associated with the Martin family, who retained the site (formerly including the Pier Hotel and ‘Uncle Tom’s’ log cabin) from 1846 until 1974; an association of nearly 130 years. The ruins are the last surviving remnant of the site’s historical usage and now comprise a significant local landmark within Towilla Yerta Reserve.

Extent of listing

The extent of listing includes the form and materials of all surviving freestone masonry, including all walls, slate floors, fireplace surrounds, retaining walls, steps and verandah plinth.

More information about Lot 22 Water Street can be viewed here.

The Port Willunga Jetty pylons, Port Willunga, now identified as the timber pylons and stone foundations of the Jetty’s c.1868 embankment and post-1915 ‘boardwalk’, are of significance as the surviving remnants of the Port Willunga Jetty, a significant structure for the local district responsible for much of the Southern Vales’ agricultural and commercial export traffic in the mid-to- late 19th century. Following the decline of agricultural production in the late 19th century, the Port Willunga Jetty became the centre of the Port Willunga’s tourism and recreational fishing industries by the early 1900s. The embankment and ‘boardwalk’ remnants are now a notable landmark of the Port Willunga landscape and a major tourism drawcard for the district.

Extent of listing

The extent of listing includes the form and materials of all surviving petrified timbers and stone foundations of the c.1868 embankment and post-1915 ‘boardwalk’.

More information about the 'Port Willunga Jetty Pylons' can be viewed here.