Krondorf in the Barossa Valley. Old cottage or farm outbuildings. Built by German settlers around 18 av denisbin

Krondorf. This settlement in the Hundred of Moorooroo like the adjoining Hundred of Nuriootpa was declared in 1847. Settlers started moving to this area in that year from the settlement of Bethany and along with Bethany Krondorf is an excellent example of a Hufendorf village layout with long narrow farms with the cottages built along the roadway. This Hufendorf system was a tradition of the Silesan and Prussian settlers of Krondorf. The village was given the German name of crown’s village or Krondorf. Many of the first settlers were German tenant farmers on land owned by William Jacob. Freehold land sales in the area were completed by 1877although some started buying their land from 1856. Most settlers were German and Gottlieb Falkenberg was made a local farmer constable in 1859 in case of accidents or trouble in the district. Farmers Carl Nitschke and J Henschke were Barossa East councillors in the 1860s. During World War One the village of Krondorf was changed to Kabminye but the name Krondorf was restored in 1975. After a few years of establishing their farms the German settlers established Zum Kripplein Christi Lutheran Church. It was built in 1864 and across the road from it and a quarter of a mile up the road as tradition dictated was the Lutheran cemetery. The Lutheran church closed in 1955 and is now a bed and breakfast establishment. The most common names of burials there are :- Falkenberg (10), Grocke (10), Henschke (13), Kliche (19), and Lindner (11). The earliest burial seems to be in 1865 just after the opening of the church. A few headstones were written in English after World War One but most remained in German until after World War Two. The well-known SA winemaker Grant Burge, whose family came from Wiltshire in England, had a winery near Lyndoch called Wilsford Wines which his father established. After studying at Roadworthy Agricultural College Grant Burge he eventually set up SA Vintners wine group around 1976 and soon acquired land and a winery at Krondorf in 1977 as well as wineries in the McLaren Vale. He know also owns Corryton Park estate near Pewsey Vale in the Barossa Hills where he lives. Many of the vines along the eastern hills of the Barossa and around Krondorf are owned by Grant Burge. He established Grant Burge Wines in 1988 which included the Krondorf brand of wines. But the historically important winery because of its heritage buildigns is Rockford Wines. Rockford was started in 1965 but uses old equipment and the early 1850s buildings of a German family. The house, outbuildings and sheds are built around a courtyard in the traditional German style. Rockford Wines at Krondorf is a special place.