NTSA Hahndorf - Report to National Trust Regional Meeting
Saturday 24 June 2006 at 12.30 pm, Strathalbyn
Anni Luur Fox - Chairperson, Hahndorf Branch.
Yesterday marked the 30th anniversary of the inaugural meeting of the Hahndorf Branch. Lyndell Davidge and I attended the first fund-raiser for the Nora Heysen Foundation Inc at the Cedars and hope to continue our good relationship with this significant site and its keepers for years to come.
Our Branch continues with its well entrenched behaviour of minimal meetings but communicatie vial emails and snail mails with those living outside Hahndorf if they do not have a computer. I note that after our inaugural meeting on 23 June 1976 our first committee meeting took place on 3 August. Most of our members are very valuable volunteers at the Hahndorf Academy which has only one paid employee, a part-time administrator. Lyndell is the current President of the Hahndorf Academy Foundation board, the only member with longterm experience of Hahndorf.
1. Hahndorf Branch 30 Anniversary
After much discussion it was agreed that we aim to do something never been done before. We will focus on raising public consciousness about our local indigeneous people, the Peramangk, by setting up an exhibition of photographs of their rock art by Robin Coles. He and Peramangk Elder Richard Hunter have spent many years researching and discovering new sites. Robin has written a book on the subject which will feature photographs that have not previously been published. Lyndell has secured dates for the exhibition at the Academy from 11 December2006 - 8 January 2007.
PROPOSED BUDGET
Cost of printing and and mounting of photographs $2000
Gallery rental, 4 x $100 400
Refreshments at the opening 400
Cost of running Peramangk cultural programs at Hahndorf Schools by Richard and Isobel Hunter 500
TOTAL $3300
2. Demolitions
(a) Residents at Woodside asked me to help them prevent demolition of a subsatantial bluestone house by the local primary school wanting to replace it with new classrooms. The house in Moffett Street is next to a State Heritage listed church of 1865 in an area zoned Woodside Historic Core in the Adelaide Hills Council Development Plan. I provided historical information, advised on procedures and also wrote to the Minister for Education asking her to review its plans. Her Department would be giving a very bad example to the population and its young people if the demolition proceeds contrary to the objectives of the Development Plan. Unfortunately the school itself is zoned PUBLIC PURPOSE. This means that technically it is absolved of adhering to the Development Plan.
(b) Faehrmann’s House, Main Street Hahndorf. Last year I was asked to prepare an overview of the history of this site by John Hipper, Heritage Advisor for Hahndorf. I met with him and St Paul’s Lutheran Church Aged Homes Inc representatives, gave them the document and discussed the significance of the site. Although there are five houses of similar style in Hahndorf, this one constructed in 1884-85, stands next to a state heritage listed church of 1890. It is a sign of Hahndorf’s Germanic residents’ assimilation into an Australian culture. Having recently examined the outbuilding I have reason to believe it may be an early dwelling that was once clad with slabs. The eastern side of the stone house is decorated with a marvellous collection of 19th century tiles which once formed part of the attached conservatory. I have emailed Anna Pope at Heritage SA, Council and John Hipper on this matter, asking for an examination of the site before demolition approved by Mt Barker Council. It is another example of a major institution (in Hahndorf anyway) giving little thought to incorporating built heritage into its plans for the future. The Lutheran Church founded Hahndorf in 1839.
Hahndorf needs to remain on the Endangered Sites List.
3. Walter Wotzke Anniversary.
27 June marks the 40th anniversary of a letter sent by Mt Barker Council to the Hahndorf Academy Museum Trust threatening legal action unless a long list of works were completed by 27 July. It triggered Walter’s huge gamble in buying the derelict Academy,renovating it for use as a gallery and German Folk Museum. Had he not taken the gamble, Hahndorf would have been progressively demolished and its status as Australia’s oldest permanent Germanic settlement would have remained unacknowledged. I produced an overview for the Artist’s Voice which is setting up an exhibition to celebrate his vision for SA Living Artists Week on 27 July. The Academy has agreed to print my overview with photographs formatted by Monika Morgenstern, as a brochure.
4. Wiki Website.
Tony Finnis has been maintaining this site which includes information regarding the Branch, Hahndorf and its history.
5. Avenue of Trees.
We have collaborated with the Hahndorf Community Association on the marking of this avenue planted by Mt Barker Council to commemrate Hahndorf’s pioneer women.
6. The Hahndorf Master Plan
Which has been in community consultation mode for three years is almost completed.
7. The Hahndorf Pioneer Women’s Trail
Is still in the process of marking by Walking SA which is also working on the brochure with our input.
8. South Verdun.
As you know the Minister for Planning agreed in February this year to put up $1.5 million to buyback the petrol station and Boral sites on the banks of the Onkaparinga River. We had worked towards preventing the petrol station from expanding for three years and were due in the Environment Court for a five day hearing before the full bench on 8 May. I was called as an expert witness. Although the buyback signalled the government’s stance on environment we are still making representation to the Adelaide Hills Council because developers are wanting to expand other operations equally damaging.
