Bethany, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Bethany is a small village located about 2 km south east of Tanunda
in the Barossa Valley
. It was originally named Bethanien, but was changed during World War I
in an attempt to remove all German place names
from Australia.
Bethany was the first settlement in the Barossa Valley area. It was settled in 1842, by Prussian
immigrants who had leased land from George Fife Angas
. The large portion of these initial settlers had arrived in 1841, with Pastor Gotthard Fritzsche
on the Skjold
.
Tanunda, South Australia
Tanunda is a town situated in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia, 70 kilometres north east of the state capital, Adelaide. The town derives its name from an Aboriginal word meaning water hole. Town population is approximately 3500.-Settlement:...
in the Barossa Valley
Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is a major wine-producing region and tourist destination of South Australia, located 60 km northeast of Adelaide. It is the valley formed by the North Para River, and the Barossa Valley Way is the main road through the valley, connecting the main towns on the valley floor of...
. It was originally named Bethanien, but was changed during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in an attempt to remove all German place names
Australian place names changed from German names
During World War I, many German-sounding place names in Australia were changed because of Anti-German sentiment. The new names were often Anglicized , given Aboriginal names , names of famous people , or battlefields . This was done through an Act of Parliament, as well as by petition...
from Australia.
Bethany was the first settlement in the Barossa Valley area. It was settled in 1842, by Prussian
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
immigrants who had leased land from George Fife Angas
George Fife Angas
George Fife Angas was an English businessman and banker who, from England, played a significant part in the formation and establishment of the Colony of South Australia. He established the South Australian Company and was its founding chairman of the board of directors...
. The large portion of these initial settlers had arrived in 1841, with Pastor Gotthard Fritzsche
Gotthard Fritzsche
Gotthard Daniel Fritzsche[p] was one of the first founding pastors of Lutheranism to emigrate to Australia. He was born in Liebenwerda, Germany, and migrated to Australia in 1841. From 1842-1863, he was pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church...
on the Skjold
Skjold (ship)
The Skjold was a Danish three mast Barque, built in Sundeborg 1839, and weighing 460 tons. It was owned by C. Petersen, Sundeborg.-Voyages:...
.