The weather is getting cooler here, down to 10 deg in the mornings. Nice and chilly really, great weather for sleeping in. Hahndorf is only 4 kms from Mt Barker, so we decide to go take a stroll down Main Street and check this place out. Though the place is now a bit of a tourist haven, back in the day, it would have been a thriving little German hamlet. Back in the 1800’s the King of Germany, Friedrich Wilhelm III united the Lutheran and Reformed churches and demanded that everyone adopt a new worship book.
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| Can you guess what this contraption is?? |
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| Darl takes a load off, outside the German Arms pub |
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| A quaint little german gift shop... |
Many of the Lutherans, believed the only way they could continue their faith was to emigrate. From 1838 to 1839, four ships sailed from Hamburg bringing the first Lutherans to Adelaide. Though the King died in 1840 which eased persecution, South Australia still held promise of good agriculture, living and escape from political unrest and economic depression. Around 18000 people left Germany between 1838 and 1900. Hahndorf named after the Captain of the Zebra, Captain Hahn (dorf meaning town).
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| Not german theme, but I love my teddys!! |
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| Cuckoo clocks made from timbers from the Black Forest |
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| Leathersmith and Bush Gallery - with 2 pet bunnies out the back! |
All the old heritage buildings are quite charming, though as mentioned it is now quite commercialised and touristy, we still enjoyed the day. The Indian and Chinese, Subway shops, don't really quite fit, still a lot of German fare and wares, pubs and folk music playing, sets the scene. Found a couple of great little shops – the Leathersmith and Bush Gallery, (great little shopped filled with the owners years of memorabilia, little quotes and jokes), the german gift shop filled with Cuckoo clocks, nut crackers and cow bells…
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| Colorful autumn leaf trees lined the street |
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| We would've loved to check out this old shed in someone's back yard |
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| My Darl makes aquaintance with Capt Hahn |
We enjoyed a traditional german feast of trio of german snags, potato, mustard and saurkraat(?) for lunch at one of the pubs. As I love my pickles, I couldn’t go past the Beerenberg farm – 6th generation Paech family business. It was like a “lolly” store but I didn’t go too crazy – balsamic beetroot relish, pickled onions and blood orange marmalade. Well I did also get earlier at another shop, peppered pear chutney and a fruit relish. Also, can’t believe the number of chocolate and lolly shops in all these little towns we visit. Got back to camp and whipped up a nice chilli con carne for tea, it’s great weather for it, chilly mornings and nights now.
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| A wink and a nudge all that took to coax us in for some German tucker.....it was yummy too! |
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| Last stop Beerenberg Farm on the way home |
Ok Ray rekons its a machine that sews leather shoes. I give up so ok fess up what is it???????
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