Killalpaninna Mission facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Killalpaninna Mission |
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Bethesda Church at the Mission just before demolition. Standing at the doorway is Helen Vogelsgang.
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| Location | Etadunna, South Australia |
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South Australian Heritage Register
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| Official name: Killalpaninna Mission Historic Site | |
| Designated | 8 November 1984 |
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Killalpaninna Mission was a special place for Aboriginal people in South Australia. It was also known as Bethesda Mission. This mission was run by the Lutheran Church.
It was located in the northeast part of South Australia. Today, the site is found in a place called Etadunna. The mission operated for many years, from 1866 until 1915.
Founding the Mission
The Killalpaninna Mission was started by people from Germany. Two missionaries, Johann Friedrich Gößling and Ernst Homann, led the effort. They were joined by two helpers, Hermann Vogelsang and Ernst Jakob.
Their journey to the mission site was very difficult. It took them three months to travel from Tanunda. They set up their mission station near Lake Killalpaninna. This lake is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Cooper's Creek.
The main goal of the mission was to teach the Dieri (Diyari) people about Christianity. They wanted to share their beliefs with the local Aboriginal community.
Important Work at the Mission
Many people worked at Killalpaninna Mission over the years. One important person was Carl Strehlow. He was an anthropologist and a linguist. This means he studied human cultures and languages.
Carl Strehlow worked at the mission from 1892 to 1894. After that, he moved to another mission called Hermannsburg. At Killalpaninna, he worked with Johann Georg Reuther.
Together, Strehlow and Reuther did very important work. They translated Christian books into the Diyari language. They also wrote down the grammar and words of the Diyari language. This helped to preserve the language for future generations.
Mission Closure
In 1914, a group called the South Australian Royal Commission on the Aborigines visited the mission. They collected information about how the mission was run. After their visit, they suggested that the government should take over the mission.
The state government decided to close the mission. This happened in 1915. At the time it closed, about 70 Aboriginal children were living there.
After the mission closed, the land was used differently. It became a cattle station, where cows are raised. The school at the mission continued for a short time. However, in 1917, the government closed all Lutheran schools.
Heritage Listing
The site of the Killalpaninna Mission is an important historical place. It was officially listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. This happened on November 8, 1984. It is known as the "Killalpaninna Mission Historic Site." This listing helps to protect the site for the future.
