Hahndorf, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hahndorf South Australia
Hahndorf main street
Hahndorf Location in South Australia
Established	1839
Postcode(s)	5245
Location	28 km (17 mi) from Adelaide's CBD 7 km (4 mi) from Mount Barker
LGA(s)	District Council of Mount Barker Adelaide Hills Council
State electorate(s)	Heysen
Federal Division(s)	Mayo
Localities around Hahndorf: Bridgewater Verdun Balhannah Mylor Hahndorf Totness Biggs Flat Echunga Paechtown

Hahndorf is a charming small town located in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. It's famous today as a popular place for tourists to visit. In the past, it was a busy farming area and a place where people could get important services.

Hahndorf's History: A German Settlement

Hahndorf was founded by Lutheran families who moved from a village called Kay in Prussia (which is now part of Poland). Many of these early settlers arrived in Australia on a ship named the Zebra on December 28, 1838. The town was named after Dirk Meinerts Hahn, who was the German captain of the Zebra ship. Hahndorf is special because it is Australia's oldest German settlement that is still active today.

Early German Settlers in South Australia

When the British first started settling South Australia, most of the new arrivals were from Britain. However, some German "Old Lutherans" also came during these early years. The first big group of Germans arrived in 1838. They received money to help them move to Australia. Most of them left the city of Adelaide and settled in places like the Barossa Valley and towns in the Adelaide Hills, such as Hahndorf.

These German communities often lived quite separately from others until about 1842. They didn't take part in the local government until 15 years later.

German Culture and Influence in Hahndorf

You can still see a lot of German influence in Hahndorf today. Many of the original buildings were built in a traditional German style called fachwerk, which means they have visible wooden frames. There are also many restaurants in town that serve delicious German food.

During the First World War in Europe, feelings against Germany were very strong. Because of this, in 1917, the South Australian Government changed many German place names. Hahndorf's name was changed to Ambleside, after a nearby railway station. However, Hahndorf got its original name back on December 12, 1935, when the South Australia Nomenclature Act of 1935 was passed. You might still find some references to Ambleside around the town even today.

Hahndorf's Population Growth

In 2006, a census showed that Hahndorf had a population of 1,806 people. By 2016, the population had grown to 2,670 people.

Churches in Hahndorf

St. Paul's Lutheran Church

Hahndorf is home to two important churches. St Michael's is the oldest Lutheran church in Australia that still holds services in its original building. It was started in 1839 and is part of the Lutheran Church of Australia. St Paul's Church was founded in 1846. This happened because of a disagreement between two pastors, Pastor Kavel and Pastor Fritzsche. This disagreement also led to the creation of two separate Lutheran church groups in Australia, which later joined together in 1966.

C3 Adelaide Hills Church

C3 Adelaide Hills is a church that belongs to the C3 Church Global movement. It used to be located in Nairne but moved to Hahndorf around 2007.

Hahndorf's Location and Climate

Hahndorf is easy to reach from Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. You can get there by taking the South Eastern Freeway.

Hahndorf's Climate Type

Hahndorf has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This type of climate is known for having hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. On the Köppen climate classification scale, it is called Csb.

Sports and Recreation in Hahndorf

Hahndorf has many different sports clubs for young people and adults. These include basketball, bowls, netball, cricket, Australian rules football, soccer (Association Football), tennis, and softball. The football (both Australian rules and soccer), netball, and softball clubs are all nicknamed "The Magpies."

Hahndorf Bowling Club

The Hahndorf Bowling Club was started in 1976. It has a large green with nine lanes, which is covered with a special carpet. This means games can be played in all kinds of weather. The club also has a big clubhouse.

Hahndorf Soccer Club

The Hahndorf Soccer Club was formed in the early 1980s. They play their home games at a field called "Pine Avenue." The senior men's team plays in the South Australian Amateur Soccer League. They won the Newsfront Cup in 1996 and the Amateur League Division Two title in 2004. However, since 2013, fewer players have joined the team. By 2019, they had only one team, playing in Division Seven.

Tour Down Under Event

Hahndorf was also the starting point for the 2024 Women's Tour Down Under, a famous cycling race.

Famous People from Hahndorf

• Sir Hans Heysen was a famous watercolour artist. He set up his home and studio, called "The Cedars," near Hahndorf in 1912. He lived and painted there until he passed away in 1968. "The Cedars" is still owned by his family and offers guided tours to visitors.
• Matthew Jaensch was an AFL (Australian Football League) player for the Adelaide Crows. He played for six years and completed 74 games before retiring in 2016.

Gallery

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  150th anniversary memorial

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  German Arms Hotel

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  Hahndorf Academy

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  Hahndorf Inn

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  St. Michael's Lutheran Church