Tanunda, South Australia

Tanunda
South Australia

Looking across the vineyards towards Tanunda from Mengler Hill Lookout
Tanunda
Population: 4,153 2006 Census [1]
Established: 1848
Postcode: 5352
Location: 69 km (43 mi) North East of Adelaide via
LGA: Barossa Council
State District: Schubert
Federal Division: Barker

Tanunda is a town situated in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia, 70 kilometres north east of the state capital, Adelaide. The town derives its name from an Aboriginal word meaning water hole. Town population is approximately 3500.

Contents

Settlement

The last settlement in what is today referred to as Tanunda, was the village of Bethanien settled in 1842. This village was settled by Prussian immigrants who arrived with Pastor Gotthard Fritzsche. Langmeil was the next settlement in 1843, which was settled by Prussian immigrants who relocated from Klemzig where they had originally settled in 1838, when they had arrived with Pastor August Kavel, Tanunda village was settled sometime later. Langmeil and Bethanien were both renamed during the Great War to Bilyara, and Bethany respectively. Langmeil had its name reverted from Bilyara in 1975.

As development of the Tanunda area continued, the villages of Langmeil and Tanunda were joined. Today the township is simply called Tanunda.

Industry

Tanunda and the Barossa Valley comprise one of Australia's premier wine-growing areas, and the town is surrounded by vineyards.

Culture

The German heritage of Tanunda is still present today. The town has a male choir the Tanunda Liedertafel, the history of which is thought to date back to 1868. There is also a Kegel (bowling) club. The Tanunda Town Band celebrated 150 years as a band in 2007 and is the oldest brass band in the southern hemisphere.

References

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). Tanunda (Urban Centre/Locality). 2006 Census Quickstats. Retrieved on 2008-05-29

See also

External links