The Castle Restaurant in the Adelaide Hills on the way to Lobethal

Lobethal
Historic German village in the heart of the Adelaide Hills.
Located 33 km from Adelaide and 410 metres above sea level, Lobethal is a pleasant and substantial village with its roots deeply embedded in the early history of South Australia.

The history of Lobethal starts in 1838 when George Fife Angas went to London as a director of the South Australian Company to try and promote colonisation. While he was there he met Pastor August Ludwig Christian Kavel who was trying to organise for Lutherans (who were being persecuted by the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm III) to emigrate. Angas was moved by the plight of the Lutherans and not only persuaded Kavel that South Australia was a suitable place for emigration but also financially assisted them with a generous £8,000. The first German settlers arrived on 25 November, 1838 at the unfortunately named Port Misery. These settlers were to establish distinctly German villages at Klemzig, Glen Osmond, Lobethal and most famously Hahndorf.

Pears growing near Lobethal

The history of the first residents has been accurately recorded by Reverend I. Ey who, in 1880, wrote that 'The bulk of the persecuted Lutherans of Lobethal, with their beloved pastor (G.D. Fritsche) came out in the ship 'Skiold' which arrived in Port Adelaide on 28 October 1841, after an eighteen weeks' trip, during which no fewer than forty-four deaths occurred. They were temporarily taken care of and welcomed by the somewhat earlier pioneers of Klemzig and Hahndorf, and some went up to the Tanunda district.'

Eighteen families in this group subsequently purchased 168 acres on the present site of Lobethal and divided it up amongst themselves. On the day of the division of the land, according to Ey's account 'it received the name Lobethal, taken from the II Book of Chronicles, chapter 20, verse 26, which, according to Luther's translation, means Lobethal or 'Valley of praise'.

Apples growing near Lobethal

The town prospered. It was originally laid out in a careful democratic way (known as the Hufendorf settlement pattern) so the houses run along the road and the land attached to the houses stretches behind them in narrow strips. The people worked hard and, over time, Lobethal became an important centre in the agriculturally rich valleys behind the Adelaide Hills.

The town was struck by intense anti-German feelings during World War I (rather stupid given that most of the residents could trace their origins back to 1841) and the name was changed to Tweedvale by a 1917 Act of Parliament. It reverted to Lobethal in 1935.

Today this historic town is the centre of orchards which grow stone fruits, grapes, apples and pears as well as market gardens and dairy and beef farms.

Things to see:  

Lobethal Information Centre
The Lobethal Information Centre is open from 11.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. seven days a week. For information phone or fax (08) 8389 6996.

The historic graves at the Lutheran Church, Lobethal

Lutheran Church Complex
The obvious starting point for any exploration of Lobethal is this rich complex in the town's main street. It includes the first Lutheran Seminary in Australia (a small pug wall construction) which was built in 1842, the oldest original Lutheran Church (an act of extraordinary devotion being largely built by one man with the help of the local women who carried the bricks for him) and the Lobethal Archives and Historical Museum which is open on weekends and contains a lot of information about the lives of the early German settlers. Located within the grounds are a number of interesting and historic graves. For details of opening times and tours contact (08) 8389 6996.

Lobethal Woollen Mill
Now known as the Lobethal Costume Museum, this historic mill has an interesting collection of costumes ranging from 1812 through to clothes worn when Adelaide hosted the motor racing Grand Prix. For details of opening times contact (08) 8389 6157.

	Motels
	Camelot Castle Motel and Restaurant Lobethal Rd Basket Range Lobethal SA 5138 Telephone: (08) 8390 1271
	Hotels
	Alma Hotel Main St Lobethal SA 5241 Telephone: (08) 8389 6016
	Bedford Hotel 60 Main Rd Woodside Lobethal SA 5241 Telephone: (08) 8389 7017
	Rising Sun Hotel Main St Lobethal SA 5241 Telephone: (08) 8389 6312
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Mulberry House Bed & Breakfast Lot 1 Hunter Rd Basket Range Lobethal SA 5138 Telephone: (08) 8390 1110 Rating: ****
	Cottages & Cabins
	Waterfalls Cottage Adelaide-Lobethal Rd Basket Range Lobethal SA 5138 Telephone: (08) 8390 3469 Facsimile: (08) 8390 3469 Rating: ****
	Restaurants
	Camelot Castle Motel and Restaurant Lobethal Rd Basket Range Lobethal SA 5241 Telephone: (08) 8390 1271