Images: Allusions Farmstay restaurant concept images/Provided
When the South Australian wine market began to soften around a decade ago, many small vineyards were forced to reconsider their future. At a property near Yankalilla, that changing landscape saw a once thriving winery forced to rip up most of their vines, selling twice in the 2010s and eventually landing in the hands of caterer and café owner Tiarnie Marks.
Rather than trying to revive the vineyard in a difficult market, Tiarnie saw an opportunity to give the property an entirely new purpose.
She reopened the winery as Allusions Farmstay, converting the land into a 32-acre hobby farm and transforming its farmhouse and cellar door into accomodation.
“When the wine market died a little bit about 10 years ago, they ripped out most of the vineyards, and it lost a lot of its identity,” Tiarnie said.
“I wanted to give it some of that identity back.”
The original cellar door was converted into an additional room within the seven-bedroom farmhouse, while several units were added to the property. Further accomodation is expected to be installed by the end of the year, subject to council approval.
Around three acres of the original vineyard still remain, although they’re no longer producing wine. Tiarnie said that breaking into the current wine market is “not feasible for small vineyards.”
“And this way, we can support local vineyards instead,” she added.
Images: Allusions Farmstay restaurant concept images/Provided
Now, she is preparing for the next stage of the property’s transformation, with plans to convert an old farm shed into a 40-seat restaurant overlooking the remaining vineyard.
Expected to open around spring 2027, the restaurant will trade from Thursday to Sunday and centre on relaxed long lunches, seasonal menus and produce grown onsite or collected from farms across the Fleurieu.
“We’re thinking long lunches and super seasonal menus,” she said.
She said that the family-friendly venue will allow parents to settle in for a long lunch while children explore the spacious property and meet its animals.
“I’m sitting up here at the moment looking down and I’ve got nine baby piglets following their mum around and climbing all over their dad,” Tiarnie laughed.
Tiarnie also hopes the restaurant will provide another outlet for Fleurieu producers at a time when many small growers continue to face economic pressure.
“We have some of the most beautiful seafood and beef on the Fleurieu,” she said.
“We want to grow as much as we can here… but I also know so many of our local producers. One of my favourite things on Sundays is driving around to little farms and collecting bits and pieces for the week.”
With the region producing everything from seafood and beef to fruit, vegetables and wine, she believes there is an opportunity to showcase more of the Fleurieu’s produce in one place.
“We’re all proper foodies, and we love really good food. We love local produce, we’re really excited about it,” she said.
Allusion Farmstay and Vineyard Dining and Function Room
When: Spring 2027
Where: 127 Smith Hill Rd, Yankalilla
To find out more, click here.
