Marybank Farm Bed & Breakfast, Rostrevor, SA

Built by Thomas Shepherd in 1842 and named after his wife, Marybank began as a four roomed cottage nestled at the base of ‘Black Hill’. After opening a Drapery store in Hindley Street, Thomas prospered and improved the property which was advertised as a mansion with 560 acres of land in 1852. Marybank was bought by the Fox family that year and has been in the family ever since. Arthur Fox was an Apothecary and he planned to start a brewery with the spring water on site, unfortunately he did not live long enough to realise his dream. His son Arthur A Fox kept a diary from 1868 which tells us about farm life at Marybank. Wool fetched 4 cents a pound and loquats 1 ½ pence per pound. The next generation of the family Arthur G Fox, grew navel oranges and exported them to England, sold grapes to the nearby Stonyfell winery, ran dairy cows and sent the cream to Farmers Union. the original homestead, heritage stone barn, 5 acres of garden, vineyard and bushland still sit comfortably in the landscape with Black Hill as a spectacular backdrop.