Lost Barossa

27/01/2026

Gnadenfrei Brass Band in Marananga, Barossa Valley, South Australia – 1915
Source: Aussie Mobs

25/10/2025

The Traeger Pedal Wireless: A Message That Travelled Across Time

In the heart of Central Australia, Alfred Traeger’s pedal wireless transformed isolation into connection. Among the first Morse code messages sent was one of simple humanity, the birth announcement of Helene Albrecht, eldest daughter of the Hermannsburg Mission pastor and superintendent Friedrich Wilhelm Albrecht MBE.

From Hermannsburg, this signal carried both family joy and the dawn of a new era for the outback. Communication meant survival, but also belonging; a lifeline that connected remote communities to the world.

Hermannsburg is where innovation and compassion met. Celebrate its legacy at the 150th Anniversary Hermannsburg Concert.

Experience a rare and powerful evening of music, storytelling, and culture featuring:
✔️ Warren H Williams & The Western Wind Band, one of Australia’s most beloved Indigenous voices
✔️ Ntaria Choir of Hermannsburg, carrying forward a rich choral tradition in Western Arrarnta language
✔️ Historic exhibits and films celebrating a journey that shaped Australia

📅 When: Saturday, 1 November 2025 | Doors 6pm | Concert 7pm
📍 Where: Tanunda Show Hall
🎟 Tickets: Book Online 150th Anniversary Hermannsburg Concert via Eventbrite (link in comments)

13/05/2025

Learn about two significant local history pamphlet collections that are now available to explore on Trove thanks to the generous support of donors to the 2023 Tax Time appeal.

26/04/2025

Another photo found in the cottage is this any of the Luhrs family. The photo was in a very elaborate shell frame

29/08/2024

MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
DATE: 1924

Here's another captivating snapshot from the charming town of Mount Pleasant. My connection to this place is through my brother, who enjoyed living in Mount Pleasant for many years.

The original photograph of this edited picture was taken in approximately 1924 and is called "Flour Mill, Mount Pleasant" (B 2276). The image is from the State Library of South Australia, Mount Pleasant Collection. The unedited black and white image can be found in the comments or by clicking on the link below.

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+2276

The library provides the following information, "The old flour mill at Mount Pleasant."

The Mount Pleasant Community Association offers more detail; Henry Giles established the flour mill in Mount Pleasant. However, it soon became evident that an extension of the chimney was necessary to eliminate smoke from the town. In May 1863, a 20-foot addition was made to the chimney.

In 1864, a second pair of grinding stones was introduced, allowing the mill to operate continuously without needing to close for stone dressing. Over the years, the mill underwent various name changes, including "Totness Roller Flour Mill" and "Giles & Todd," which even received prizes for its flour at the local show in 1891.

By 1904, the mill was running at full throttle, processing 200 bags of wheat daily. Unfortunately, disaster struck in 1923 when a fire ravaged the premises. By 1935, the mill had fallen into disrepair, with a section of the wall collapsing.

In the 1950s, the mill's iconic chimney faced deterioration due to salt damp, rendering it a safety hazard. Consequently, a decision was reached to demolish it, a task accomplished with the involvement of the District Council machinery.

An article about the fire from the 'Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA: 1880 - 1954)', Friday 14 September 1923, can be found via this link to the Mount Pleasant Community Association:

https://www.mountpleasant.sa.au/district-history/flour-mill

The following information comes from a lovely lady called Paula, "What was left of the building has now been preserved, and Lovells Bakery and Loveacut hairdresser operate from here. It has not been restored as such but preserved, and the inference of stables can still be seen. The remainder of the chimney is still in place, and there is a replacement bridge to the property behind, of which it is still a part as far as ownership goes."

Sources: Thanks to State Library of SA and Mount Pleasant Community Association

Edited and colourised by Kelly Bonato of A Colourful History

Copyright © Kelly Bonato 2023. All image editing, enhancement and colourisation is subject to copyright. You are welcome to share this post, but the image alone cannot be copied or shared without permission.

22/04/2024

FAMILY HISTORIANS - this one’s for you!
Visit the family history hub on Sunday 5 May, located at the St Paul’s Church Hall in Tanunda.

Featuring experts from
> South Australian Genealogy & Heraldry Society
> Pioneers Association of South Australia
> Oral History Australia SA-NT
> The Headstone Project South Australia
> Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre
> Moculta District History Society

We’re ready to go down the rabbit hole with you 🐰🕳️

📷 Children from local Angaston families c. 1895, B57460 SLSA

27/03/2024

Take a look at the coloured version in comments too.

Gnadenfrei Brass Band in Marananga, Barossa Valley, South Australia – 1915
Source: Aussie Mobs

10/03/2024

🔔

Ring those bells! Surely one of the most iconic sounds of the Barossa must be the sound of bells ringing out over the countryside. When cyclists from the Tour Down Under cycled through the Barossa in January this year, bells from 5 Lutheran churches pealed out to welcome them. Since the early days of German settlement, the bells in the Barossa have been busy - calling the faithful to worship on Sundays, announcing weddings, funerals and other important events. ringing in the New Year and joyously proclaiming Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. In early times some bells were also rung to let labourers know it was the end of the working day.

Do you love the sound of bells? (I have it on good authority that many dogs howl along, so they no doubt are bell-lovers, too). If you do, the Barossa is the place for you, as with its 24 bells, it has the greatest concentration per capita in Australia.

The Strait Gate church bell is a single bronze bell cast by Fr. Gruhl at the Kleinwelka foundry, Germany. Made in 1872, I believe it is the oldest in the Barossa, but you may be able to tell me differently. Read more about it and its fine bell tower over at the website here: https://rechnercottage.com/ring-those-bells/. And listen to recordings of some of the Barossa bells.