Despite the lovely hotel concierge and the nice man in the information centre doing their best to dissuade us, Graham and I had an adventure on Adelaide’s public transport system today. Perhaps we look a little too old for changing buses three times in one journey or perhaps guests of the Stamford use more salubrious transport, but we had a ball!
Three buses, and an hour and a half later, we were in Hahndorf exploring the quaint little out post of Germany. The sense of history is wonderful and the buildings postcard pretty. I refrained from buying the Alpaca wool hat and the calf-length red coat – Graham seemed to think they weren’t appropriate for sailing through the night on Roobi – so we dined in style instead.
The story of the Lutheran Prussian immigrants who founded the town is uplifting, but tempered a little by the hardship forced on the community by the First World War. Like so many who weren’t of British stock they were immediately judged to be a risk and some were interned. Yet they too lost sons who joined up to fight as Australians.
I was also fascinated by Captain Dirk Hahn, after whom the town is named. He went far above and beyond what was required of a ship’s captain bringing immigrants to a new land. It’s a shame that he never returned to Australia but presumably he stayed in contact with the community that he helped to establish.
We’ll have to visit Hahndorf again. The bare trees lent an air of gravity which I’m sure must change dramatically with summer. And, for the record, we made it back to the hotel on public transport 🙂
Captain Dirk Hahn
Loved the bare trees and the winter colours
This building started life as a school and now houses the museum and art gallery.
Doors are endlessly fascinating 🙂
This little duck was swimming in the fountain.
As a weather front moved the skies turned dramatic
I would love to have stopped the traffic but Graham thought it was a lousy idea…
Drama in the trees and the skies.
I’m always fascinated by metal bars holding stone buildings together and this is a wonderful example.
Reflections 🙂
Hello Helene
The Adelaide hills are one of my favourite places and Hahndorf has such lovely buildings, interesting history and good food too. I also like doors and windows, Thank you for the lovely photos.
Sarah Braund
Hi Sarah, thanks for dropping by the blog! I could have spent hours poking around Hahndorf and finding new angles on the buildings and trees. I had to come home and google Capt Dirk to find out what happened to such a remarkable man. I love his epitaph on his grave stone –
“Dust is what we are and will be,
And he became it, Oh! too soon;
But his memory lives on earth,
For his good works never die.”
Love Hahndorf Helene – almost every time we visit Adelaide we head up there 🙂 There are some lovely places to enjoy coffee, to have meals and the icecreams are delicious! Your photos capture it all perfectly 🙂
Have a great conference 🙂
Hi Brenda, a very relaxing way to spend the day. And so many choices for snacking! I’m looking forward to a great conference and sneaking off to the Barossa 🙂
Love the photos Helene. My daughters visited Hahndorf on their way home from Melbourne across the Great Ocean Road in February this year and these photos describe what they told me perfectly. It looks like a beautiful old town with so much history. great place for an historical story.
Thanks, Delores, it was such an interesting town and the people so very friendly. Sitting on the bus coming home listening to the kids chatting was great – not too many were glued to their devices 🙂 And yes, a wonderful place to set an historical!