Across the Penola and Coonawarra region, history is written into the land as much as it is recorded on paper. Doug Balnaves shares the second of a series of historical reflections and research that bring these stories back into focus – tracing the early settlers, the development of the district, and the people and events that helped shape one of Australia’s most distinctive wine regions. This month’s article is Penola’s Cobb & Co Building.

The historic Cobb & Co building (erected in 1857) was originally opened as a General Store. In 1889 the building was purchased by the Penola Cheese & Butter Factory Co Ltd with the cheesemaker Mr Ted Balnaves.  The Cheese & Butter Factory closed in 1920, and in later years the building served as a restaurant. It is now the site of the very popular Post & Rail café.

Cobb & Co operated extensive coach services throughout Victoria.  At its peak, Cobb & Co is said to harnessed 6,000 horses each day, had 4,000 resting and covered 30,000 miles (over 48,000 kms) each week. Penola was the terminus point for coaches running for Casterton and Ballarat.  All passengers and mail from Mount Gambier and surrounding districts were sent to  Penola for dispatch, coaches left and arrived Mondays & Fridays.

The coaches of the 1880s travelled in 10 mile sections, they then stopped for a change of horses and continued on. The coach trip between Penola & Naracoorte (not Cobb & Co) had three changes of horses; the first at Glenroy Station (10 miles), the second at  Struan Station (10 miles), and then on to Naracoorte (30 miles).