It was a trip down memory lane for many current and former Eudunda residents who participated in the “Guten Tag ! Stories of Germans in Eudunda” walking tour on Saturday morning led by local historian Samuel Doering.
The tour covered a broad history of the people with a German background who called Eudunda and the surrounding Districts, home from the early settlement dates to post World War 2.
Member for Light and Duty Member for Schubert, Mr Tony Piccolo who participated in the walking tour, said that from his perspective, there were three major influences in the development of the town.
“Lutheranism, the arrival of the railway and World War 1 all had a significant impact on the development of the town and the way local people went about their daily lives,” said Mr Piccolo.
“The local Lutherans were not immune from the doctrinal differences which arose from time to time causing splits in the local church, leading to alternative churches popping up in the town.”
“Sadly, from time to time even the pasters refused to speak to each other, such was the feeling.”
Mr Piccolo said the churches played an important role in providing an education to local children, and until World War 1, often in German.
During World War1 the German speaking schools were closed and the speaking of the language forbidden, which had a very negative affect on the lives of local people.
The town population grew quickly with the arrival of railway services in 1878, with the opening of the Northwest Bend to Morgan.
While predominantly a farming community, Eudunda boasted a very strong manufacturing sector, which employed many local men.
Mr Piccolo said Samuel did a wonderful job in bringing the history of the town back to life, through his strong knowledge of key dates and facts and storytelling.
“The presentation was so well done, that you could visualise the town and its people during its various stages of development,” said Mr Piccolo.
Mr Piccolo said for those people who were not able to attend the tour, they should try and obtain a copy of the booklet Samuel has prepared as an accompaniment to the tour.