It is located in the Adelaide Hills Council local government area 3 km northeast of Gumeracha.

Alexander Forrest, a blacksmith by trade, arrived in South Australia in 1848, settling in the Forreston area in 1850 and laying out the village in 1858.

[2] At one stage, it had a post office, store, wine shop, wheelwright, blacksmith, butcher, school and more.

[3] In 1884, gold was found at nearby Watts Gully, yielding nuggets as large as 14 ounces, and the town peaked.

[4] However, the town is no more, with only reminders in its historical buildings, including Forrest's original home, of its vibrant commercial past.