Mount Lofty
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- This article is about the South Australian mountain. For other meanings, see Mount Lofty (disambiguation)
Mount Lofty (, elevation 727 metres) is the highest point in the Mount Lofty Ranges east of Adelaide in South Australia. It was first climbed by a European when explorer Collet Barker climbed it in April 1831, almost seven years before Adelaide was settled. It had been named by Matthew Flinders on his circumnavigation of Australia in 1802.
The Summit was closed to the public during World War 2, when the obelisk was considered an indispensable navigation assistant. A flashing strobe was fitted to the top to improve visibility at night. this strobe was removed after the war, but then re-installed in the 1990s, when the obelisk was repainted, and raised during construction of the new kiosk.
Access to the summit can be gained by road from the South Eastern Freeway at Crafers, or from the Eastern suburbs via Greenhill Road. The more enthusiastic can walk up the gully from Waterfall Gully, in the Cleland Conservation Park or from Chambers Gully. The summit provides panoramic views across Adelaide, and a cafe-restaurant and gift shop. These are relatively new due to protracted disputes over appropriate development following the destruction of the old cafe in the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires.
On the ridge near the summit are the television transmission towers for the Adelaide television stations, and a Country Fire Service fire spotters' tower.
This is becoming a popular spot for tourists to Adelaide and also for bike riders coming up the old freeway.
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