One of South Australia’s earliest settlements, founded by Matthew Smillie, who named the town after the maiden name of his wife Elizabeth Corse Nairne. Established in 1839, only three years younger than the state of South Australia, Nairne still retains its colonial village feel. It's the second largest township in the Mount Barker Council area and boasts a range of hotels, cafes and soon to be completed supermarket. The town also features important civic spaces such as Byethorne Park, Nairne Village Green and the Recreation Ground. Significant public and private investment in the town is seeing it become a more attractive place to live and work.