Emu Ridge Part of SA History Festival 2026
Highlights
- Join guided tours to uncover the authentic distillation process of 100% pure Australian eucalyptus oil.
- Explore the grounds and encounter resident emus and antique farm equipment amidst native bushland.
- Enjoy a tasting on the back deck while native kangaroos graze nearby, enhancing your relaxing experience.
- Visit the restored Macgillivray Post Office museum to delve into local stories and South Australia's rich heritage.
Join Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery in celebrating South Australia’s History Festival. Family owned since 1991, Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery is located just 15 minutes from Kingscote, American River and Parndana, surrounded by native bushland.
Visitors discover the story behind 100% pure Australian eucalyptus oil, produced from the unique Kangaroo Island narrow leaf mallee. Guided and self guided tours reveal the cultivation, harvesting and traditional distillation process, reflecting a long standing commitment to authenticity and sustainability.
The experience begins with a short film sharing the historical significance of the eucalyptus oil industry, once one of Kangaroo Island’s major industries and an important part of South Australia’s heritage. Guests then explore the grounds, passing the resident emu, antique farm equipment and the restored Macgillivray Post Office, now a small museum celebrating local stories.
The visit concludes in the rustic shop within the original shearing shed, featuring natural products made on site. Guests may relax at the café or enjoy a tasting on the back deck, often with native kangaroos grazing nearby.
Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery offers an engaging journey through history, nature and one of Australia’s original export industries.
Images and Video
Dates & times
- Next occurrence: reoccurring
Accreditations
-
Quality Tourism Accreditation
- Australian Tourism Export Council
- Tourism Industry Council of SA
- SA – Tourism Kangaroo Island
Features
Tags
Actively welcomes people with access needs.
General access
- Offers multiple options for booking – web, email, phone is available.
- Offers a range of contact methods for receiving complaints.
- Companion Cards are accepted.
- Employs people with disabilities.
- Staff are trained in disability awareness.
- Asks all visitors if there are any specific needs to be met.
Communication
Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)
- Staff are trained in communicating with people with learning or behavioural challenges.
- Uses Plain English / easy read signage and information (includes menus and emergency information)
- A quiet space is available at the venue/ facility.
Vision
Caters for people who are blind or have vision loss.
- Information in large print is available.
- Digital communication materials (hard copy information also online) is available.
- Uses easy to read fonts in their signage and communication materials (Helvetica and Arial).
- Staff are trained in customer service for people with vision loss (training would incorporate way finding and communicating with people with vision loss).
- An appropriate area for toileting an assistance dog is available.
- Exit signs which are visible at a ground level (high level signs are difficult to see in a fire) are available.
Hearing
Caters for people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
- Staff are trained in communicating with people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
- Telephones which are compatible with hearing aids are available.
- Caption all entertainment (TVs, live shows, performances) is available.
- Volume controlled phones are available.
- A low noise reception areas with hearing loss friendly acoustics and adequate lighting for viewing facial expressions (includes common areas which are free of background noise, background music) is available.
Physical – Mobility
Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
- Uses floors/coverings which are slip resistant, firm and smooth
- Uses non-slip tiles in the bathroom or slip resistant matting
- Grab rails in the bathroom
- Seating in common areas including reception area
Physical – Wheelchair
Caters for people who use a wheelchair.
- Step free outdoor pathways (includes picnic areas, barbecues and shelters)
- A step free main entrance to the building and/or reception area (includes ramps or slopes with a maximum gradient of 1:14, otherwise are too steep for wheelchairs)
- Step free access to restaurant, lounge and bar
- Step free access to the conference or function room
- Accessible seating areas in theatrette
- Doorways which are easy to open and have lever handles (doorways 850mm or wider when open and not heavy).
- An accessible public toilet which is unlocked.
- Wheelchair accessible picnic tables (picnic tables require 720mm knee clearance and 800mm maximum height).
Physical – High support needs
Caters for people with high support needs who travel with a support person.
- Options available for easier communication for people with dual sensory loss (Includes adapted telephones, adapted mobile telephones and Telephone Typewriters (TTY’s). For some people the fax machine is useful for sending messages in large print).
- A place to store medical equipment (eg oxygen).
Allergies and intolerances
Caters for people with allergies and intolerances.
- Modify their cooking and cleaning practices to cater for people with food allergies or chemical intolerances (could include menus with meals free from: nuts, dairy, seafood, eggs, gluten etc).
- Staff are trained to respond to allergic reactions.
- Complies with The Food Authority requirements for allergy management in food preparation.
- Equipment to respond to anaphylactic shock such as epi–pens and defibrillator.
- Toiletries which are chemical and fragrance free (if requested).
- Uses organic (chemical and fragrance free) cleaning products.
- Uses organic (chemical and fragrance free) deodorisers in public areas and rooms.
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