Roll up: The Drovers are coming

Designed to attract locals and visitors of all ages, the Drover's Encounter Experience Centre will offer culinary, cultural and entertainment experiences; be a place for children's socialisation, imaginative play and physical activity; and aims to be an uniquely Australian destination.

The development will showcase the Australian pastoral life in a fully-immersive experience and celebrate the historic township of Kapunda - located on the doorstep of the Barossa Valley.

The investment opportunity will consist of a diverse range of attractions, which will be developed with the investor when determined.

The intricate stories of Sir Sidney Kidman, Frederick Dutton, the Seppelt Family and other local icons with strong connections to Kapunda, Light Country and the Barossa Valley region will be told, along with aboriginal culture and connection to country.

The Stockman's Arena will be an events venue, hosting live intimate horsemanship shows and experiences similar to that of the Australian Outback Spectacular.

The new build will also include a Signature Restaurant showcasing farm-to-plate local and native produce within an iconic heritage homestead and located next to an outdoor adventure playground.

Designed to be dynamic with the ability to be constantly refreshed by technology, the Drover's Encounter Experience Centre is set to have a strong appeal for locals as a key social anchor.

Light Regional Council deputy mayor Deane Rohrlach said Christo Reid's display of Sir Sidney Kidman and Sidney Reid's memorabilia and information would be a massive contribution in telling the story of an iconic pioneer.

"It gives us a great basis to start with the interactive stuff," he said.

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"You can do a lot with digital and holographics, which we hope to incorporate in the experience."

Light Regional Council mayor Bill O'Brien said by offering something so unique, while being authentic to the region, the Drover's Encounter Experience Centre would unlock Kapunda's potential as a key destination for national and international tourists.

In addition to being ideally placed to build on the region's profile and further enhance visitation to the famous local region, the Drover's Encounter Experience Centre will benefit from planned key upgrades to surrounding tourist routes, positioning Kapunda as a must-visit destination on road trips to the Clare Valley Region and Flinders Ranges.

"This experience will just build to a route of storytelling through those regions, including the RM Williams story," Mr O'Brien said.

Preliminary designs by internationally renowned architects Woods Bagot, through their Adelaide studio, promise the varied multidimensional offering will complement the existing landscape.

"With a prime position on Kapunda's historic Main Street, Drover's Encounter will deliver major economic benefits, including job creation and increased trade and footfall into town centre businesses," he said.

"Drover's Encounter will bring welcome growth, celebrating our stories and preserving our local values for future generations."

The Drover's Encounter Experience Centre is part of a portfolio of projects in the township and region including drive trails and the town square upgrade.

The iconic "Drovers Way" Drive Trail, which started works in 2020, is on track to be completed later this year, while construction on the Drover's Encounter Experience Centre is expected to start next year, with operations to commence in late 2024/early 2025.

Light Regional Council are seeking investors and operators to become foundation partners in delivering and fine tuning the landmark project.

The proposed Drover's Encounter will also include access to the Activated Historic Copper Mine through an interpretive experience.

On the site of Australia's first commercially-successful mine - which dates back to the 1830s and is the birthplace of some of Australia's most famous companies today - tourists will get the opportunity to learn about the history of the mine with potential to have overnight accommodation nearby.

Architect Woods Bagot wanted to be involved with the designs after their ancestry linked them back to the Kapunda copper mine.

Light Regional Council economic development general manager Kieren Chappell said they could not afford a better location for the Drover's Experience being so close to the copper mine.

"When this project comes into play with the walking trail connecting the two, you're only talking probably 100 meters over the hill and you're on the historic mine site," he said.

"Woods Bagot tell that concept to a tee basically calling it a Town to Country experience within 100m."

Irish pastoralist Charles Hervey Bagot owned the mine and in 1984 his son Charles Samuel Bagot worked the first copper mine in Australia.

"We're bringing some authenticity back with more history to tell the stories," Mr O'Brien said.

"Everyone involved has been very passionate and we expect that passion to grow as the plans get underway."