The context for a Barossa Culture Precinct and Study Centre

The Barossa is famed for food and wine. Its German and indigenous heritage is less well known. But German heritage although invisible in advertising the Barossa is evident in viticulture, in architecture of churches, in cemeteries and in museums, and in names of people, places, businesses and streets. And German culture is maintained in Lutheran worship, which has continued since the first worship services were held in 1838. History is shared with Indigenous languages and cultures and is contributing to the revival of Indigenous languages.  

When the German Language Documentation, Maintenance and Renewal Program was established in 2012, questions were often asked by visitors about German in the Barossa, about whether it was spoken, about its features and where visitors could find out about it. In the decade since the Barossa German Language Association Inc. was established, we have ascertained a strong community of German speakers, have documented German speakers and have made public the importance of the German language and culture for the Barossa community and across South Australia. The cultural heritage is given token acknowledgement in Barossa tourist information and preserved in museums but without an identifiable and visible cultural narrative. 

The Barossa German Language Association’s program is active in valuing German heritage and events, in establishing the significance of maintaining culture with language, and in cherishing German language and traditions. The Culture Precint and Study Centre combines people and places with language, heritage and current social and economic activities. It is planned to generate income for maintentance and renewal of heritage with people’s employment as teachers, archivists, guides and scholars.

Download Peter’s concept here to read more about the proposal for a Barossa Culture Precinct and Study Centre.