Midnight Oil House

Top choice in Clare Valley


Legendary Australian rock band Midnight Oil sold millions of albums in the late 1980s – and more than a few of them had a photo of this derelict stone farmhouse on the front sleeve. Diesel and Dust was released in 1987 and went straight to #1 on the Australia charts, thanks in no small part to this poignant image, questioning whether or not white Australia had any business at all trying to tame this wild country. It's 3km north of town.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Clare Valley attractions

1. Burra Regional Art Gallery

3.29 MILES

Inside Burra's former post office (1860), this volunteer-run art gallery is worth a look for the original narrow-gauge jarrah floorboards alone! Rotating…

2. Mr Mick

21.61 MILES

We're not sure who Mick is exactly, but his winery/restaurant is mighty charming, occupying a noble former-distillery down a quiet Clare street. Duck in…

3. Knappstein

21.67 MILES

Taking a minimal-intervention approach to wine making, Knappstein has built quite a name for itself. Shiraz and riesling steal the show, but it also makes…

4. Pikes

21.73 MILES

The industrious Pike family set up shop in the Polish Hill River sub-region of the Clare Valley in 1984, and have been producing show-stopping riesling…

6. Shut The Gate

22.79 MILES

Up a little gravel driveway through some big black gates (no need to shut them), this upbeat little cellar door has been making a few 'Best New Wineries'…

7. Martindale Hall

23 MILES

Martindale Hall is an astonishing 1880 manor 3km south of Mintaro. Built for young pastoralist Edmund Bowman Jnr, who subsequently partied away the family…

8. Paulett Wines

23.06 MILES

High on the hill, not far east of Sevenhill in the Polish Hill River sub-region (lime-, slate- and mineral-rich soils), Paulett has the best views in the…