There are several Memorial Seats strategically placed around Hahndorf to remember important residents.
John Storey 12.12.1915 - 2.9.2001
Great Grandson of Captain John Finnis (1802-1872) was born in Adelaide in December 1915. He spent his young days in Sydney, the Riverland and again in Sydney. His great grandfather, Master Mariner, Pastoralist and Overlander was born in December 1802 in Dover, Kent, UK - he arrived in Sydney, NSW in 1830, took up whaling and in 1838 came to South Australia with Capt. Charles Sturt. They had ridden on horseback driving a mob of 300 cattle overland from Sydney with a view to selling them in Adelaide. Capt Finnis established a cattle saleyard in West terrace, Adelaide and also a cattle station in Mt. Barker. In 1971 John Storey returned to South Australia from New South Wales and he and his wife, Cath, purchased the historic Haebich family property in Hahndorf. In 1972 he opened the Storison Gallery in the old blacksmith's premises in Main Street and fostered the talents of emerging craft artists.
John recognized how vital it was that the history and heritage of Hahndorf be preserved, being the only surviving German settlement in Australia and the home of Sir Hans Heysen. Together with a group of dedicated like-minded people he helped establish the Hahndorf National Trust, Hahndorf Chamber of Commerce, Adelaide Hills Tourist Association and was a foundation member of the Hahndorf Bowling Club, in addition to many other committees on which he served. John was awarded Tourism SA volunteer of the Year from the State Government in 2001 and the Centenary Medal posthumously in 2003 from the Prime Minister for his contribution to Australian Society. John walked five kilometres a day until his illness in 2000, climbed Uluru and accomplished 'firewalking' at 83 years of age. He was a great family man and was passionate about the history and heritage of Hahndorf. His presence and wisdom is sadly missed by family and friends.
Many thanks to Cath Storey
Bernie Eglinton APM, JP
Mayor of the District Council of Mt. Barker from 1995-2003. He was formerly a police officer and then elected to Council as an alderman between 1985-1993. Bernie, as we knew him in Hahndorf, went on to serve as Mayor for three full terms before his untimely death. He was an SA Police Blue-Light Coordinator, a provost with Military Police in Vietnam and, above all, a Community minded man - very missed.
David Haines 1933-2012
"A hand on Community member", both on committees and monitoring Main Street. Once retired, David took to Hahndorf's streets where he removed graffiti, watered tubs, painted benches and doorways. He served two terms as a Councillor for the north Ward of the District Council of Mt. Barker.
David was an active Lions member, a board member of the Academy, the Hahndorf Institute and the Hahndorf Community Association. He was a committee member of the Community Hall Committee and a Legatee. Added to this was his dedication to his family, gardening and his collectables.
Gunter Uellendahl
Gunter, born in Germany in 1935, second of 5 children, experienced the privations of war along with his siblings. As a young adult, Gunter took up a 3 year apprenticeship in baking, followed by further training to qualify as a Master Baker in 1958. Disillusionment with the political and business climate and with a desire for more space, the extended family (with the exception of 1 brother) emigrated to South Australia in 1961. Unable to overcome homesickness and the lack of opportunity at that time, Gunter and his wife, Gertraud, returned to their homeland, closely followed by other family members - only to miss the 'freedom' of Australia and resettled in 1970. Gunter worked in the building trade with cooking as an income hobby until the move to Hahndorf and the opening of The German Cake Shop in 1977. This he sold in 1989 but continued to work in the bakery. With his new wife Jill, 1992 saw the indulgence of an interest in the restoration of horse drawn carriages and a move to Woodside to accommodate the horses and vehicles. These he drove and showed with his brother Kurt.
Gunter Uellendahl left his mark in Hahndorf as a Master Baker, and also as Hahndorf's Burgermeister during 1991-1994. He saw this honorary position as a 'hands on ambassador' for Hahndorf and was often seen on the street talking to visitors and residents. This is but a tiny insight of the life of Gunter Uellendahl.
Thanks to his wife Jill and his brother Kurt.
The Gallasch Family Seat
is in front of the Academy. The original Gallasch family, Johann and Johanne Gallasch and their three children, arrived in the colony of South Australia by passage on the "Catharina" landing at Port Misery (now a part of the West Lakes development) on the 25th January, 1839. After spending some months camped at Glen Osmond, they made the trek into the Hills, arriving at Hahndorf in 1849. They then settled on an 82 acre section near Grunthal (now called Verdun).
Hahndorf was the central town in the Hills at that period for the German settlers and featured heavily in the social life and commercial activities of the Gallaschs.
A number of the family obtained their schooling at the Hahndorf Academy. Other members were born within those walls during the period it was used as a hospital. Some members of the family married into families already residing in the town. Around 40 properties in the Main Street of Hahndorf have, over the years, been occupied by the descendants of that one family, boat people from Zbaszyn in the province of N-W Poland.
The seat at the Hahndorf Academy was unveiled on 28th March, 1993 by Vic Gallasch, grandson of Johann, as a commemoration of the large contribution that the Gallasch family had made to Hahndorf, and the district, over the preceding 150 years.
Thank you Harold Gallasch
M.C. (Carl) Bom
The Hahndorf Australia Day Committee raised funds to purchase this seat in memory of prominent townsman M.C. Bom who died in 1911. It was installed, opposite Paechtown Road, on the path leading to the oval …. a welcome respite for townsfolk walking to and from the oval.
Following his arrival in South Australia in 1865, M.C. Bom, known as Carl, established a monumental marble works in the Main Street. By 1882 it was reputed to be the biggest industry of its kind in SA. He was very active in community affairs and contributed generously to many projects.
In 1893 Mr Bom painted the backdrop for the newly built Hahndorf Institute seen here being erected by Anni Luur Fox, David Coombe and David Haines.
Mr Bom was not only artistic but he was also a good shot, winning the King’s Shoot several times.
The memorial seat has stood on the veranda of the old Lutheran School building for many years and has presently been relocated to behind the School with a possibility of it being restored.
Thank you Lyndell Davidge and Anni Luur Fox
Bibliography:
Butler Reg, Lean Times and Lively Days Hahndorf Primary School 1879-1979, Investigator Press 1979
Fox Anni Luur, Hahndorf A brief Look at the Town
