Steinfeld, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steinfeld South Australia
St Stephen's Lutheran Church, Steinfeld
Steinfeld Location in South Australia
Postcode(s)	5356
LGA(s)	Mid Murray Council and Regional Council of Goyder
State electorate(s)	Stuart
Federal Division(s)	Barker
Localities around Steinfeld: Frankton Brownlow Blanchetown Dutton East Steinfeld Blanchetown Truro Annadale Blanchetown

Steinfeld is a small place in South Australia. It is located on the flat lands east of the Mount Lofty Ranges. You can find it north of the main road called the Sturt Highway. Steinfeld has an interesting history, especially with its name!

A Name That Changed

The village of Steinfeld was first set up in the 1800s. Its name, Steinfeld, is a German word. But in 1918, during World War I, many places in Australia with German names were changed. This was because of strong feelings against Germany at the time. So, Steinfeld was renamed Stonefield.

However, many years later, in 1986, the name was changed back to Steinfeld. This shows how names can reflect history and how times change.

Schools and Churches

The people of Steinfeld have a strong community history.

The Lutheran Church

A Lutheran church group started in Steinfeld in 1882. For a few years, they met in a home. Then, in 1890, they built their very own church building. This church was a central part of the community for a long time. People continued to meet there until November 2016.

Local Schools

There was also a Lutheran school in Steinfeld. It opened in the 1880s. But in 1917, during World War I, the government made it close. This was part of the changes happening because of the war.

After the Lutheran school closed, a public school opened in 1917. This new school taught children in Steinfeld until 1969. In the early days, many children in the area spoke mostly German at home. This sometimes made it tricky for teachers to help them learn English.

Steinfeld Today

Today, Steinfeld is a quiet area. Part of it is managed by the Mid Murray Council. Another small part, in the northwest, is looked after by the Regional Council of Goyder. This means different local groups help manage different parts of the area.

Gliding in Steinfeld

Steinfeld is also a place where people love to fly! The Barossa Valley Gliding Club and the Adelaide University Gliding Club share an airfield here. An airfield is like a small airport for gliders. Gliders are planes that fly without an engine, using air currents.

Public Telephones

Back in 1945, the Automobile Association put up signs on the road between Blanchetown and Truro. This road is now part of the Sturt Highway. The signs told people that one of the closest public telephones was in Stonefield (which was the name for Steinfeld at the time). This shows how important public phones were before everyone had mobile phones!