Whitton Malt House & Southern Cotton
Article & Photography by ALICE ARMITAGE
Few destinations capture the Riverina’s scale and ambition like Whitton Malt House and Southern Cotton. Born out of five local farmer’s audacious decision to build a cotton gin in 2011, it has grown into a tourism hub that distills – quite literally – the region’s diversity.
Here, visitors can stand above a working cotton gin, understanding the fibre that clothes them. They can taste whisky and beer made from locally malted barley, dine on menus showcasing regional produce, and cast a line into a man-made lake stocked with region-native Murray cod. Villas by the water invite overnight stays, while a floating golf green adds whimsy to the mix. Every detail speaks to the Riverina’s ability to create experiences rooted in agriculture but delivered with imagination.
Whitton Malt House doesn’t just attract tourists; it gives the Riverina a flagship venue, one that validates the region’s claim to be a destination in its own right. It is a bold invitation: come, stay, and discover the breadth of what this land produces.
For Kate O’Callaghan, the project was always about education as much as hospitality. “We wanted to create a place that told all the Riverina’s stories in one spot,” she says. “The region isn’t defined by one product, it’s defined by its diversity. That’s our strength, and that’s what makes people want to come here”.
This piece has been developed with the support of Visit Riverina – www.theriverina.com.au