Murray Street, Tanunda

Tabor Lutheran Church

Chateau Tanunda

A sizeable town of more than 3500 in the Barossa Valley, just 70 km from Adelaide, Tanunda is the business centre of the Valley, which is one of Australia's premier wine-growing areas.

Chateau Tanunda

Where is it?: South Australia: Central Agricultural. Tanunda is 66 km north east of Adelaide

The first settlement in the Tanunda area was the village of Bethanien, settled in 1842 by German settlers. The character of that original German village is preserved in Tanunda's magnificent old Lutheran churches. Other notable features around the town include Goat Square, also known as "Die Zeigenhart", once used as a meeting place and for the bartering of goods.
The town's main street, Murray Street, not only has the Barossa Wine and Visitor Centre, with its excellent introduction to winemaking in the area, but also has a selection of interesting shops and cafes. The old Post Office on Murray Street now houses a museum, with displays relating to the history of the Barossa Valley, in particular to its German heritage.
A scenic drive through the Barossa Ranges surrounding the town takes you to where bushland and high country vineyards meet. Menglers Hill Lookout offers great views across the endless patchwork of vineyards. The Heysen Walking Trail and the Mawson Cycling Trail both cross the ranges. The are some good bushwalks in Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park at the top of the range.
Above all else, the Barossa Valley is famed for its wineries. Tanunda, like all the neighbouring towns in the valley whose names are synonymous with wine making, is surrounded by vineyards. There are eight wineries on its doorstep and many more a short drive away, all with cellar door tastings and sales, and close to restaurants where the fresh local produce is matched with delicious local wines.
The biennial Barossa Vintage Festival takes place Easter with events staged all over the Barossa Valley, culminating in the Grand Parade featuring over 100 decorated floats.

History: The village of Bethanien was settled by Prussian immigrants who arrived with Pastor Gotthard Fritzsche. Langmeil was the next settlement in 1843, which was settled by Prussian immigrants who relocated from Klemzig where they had originally settled in 1838, when they had arrived with Pastor August Kavel, Tanunda village was settled sometime later. Langmeil and Bethanien were both renamed during the Great War to Bilyara, and Bethany respectively. Langmeil had its name reverted from Bilyara in 1975.
As development of the Tanunda area continued, the villages of Langmeil and Tanunda were joined. Today the township is simply called Tanunda. The German heritage of Tanunda is still present today. The town has a male choir the Tanunda Liedertafel, the history of which is thought to date back to 1868. There is also a Kegel (bowling) club. The Tanunda Town Band celebrated 150 years as a band in 2007 and is the oldest brass band in the southern hemisphere.

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