Eudunda

Eudunda is a town in the Mid North region of South Australia, situated 110 kilometres northeast of Adelaide in the Regional Council of Goyder. As of 2021, Eudunda had a population of 815 people. Eudunda is known as the birthplace of author and educator Colin Thiele.

Etymology
The town name of Eudunda originates from the name of the spring to the west of the town, which local Aboriginal people called judandakawi. According to Dr. Phillip Clarke of the South Australian Museum, judandakawi means 'sheltered water.' The earliest-known written mention of the name Eudunda was published in The Express and Telegraph on 8 March 1872.

History
The area is the traditional lands of the Ngadjuri people. The Ngadjuri have been largely overlooked in the histories of colonisation and the subsequent dispossession from their traditional lands.

The first Europeans in the area were those travelling to Adelaide markets from New South Wales and Queensland in the 1830s. In 1838, four livestock importers from the eastern colonies, John Hill, William Wood, Charles Willis, and John Oakden, embarked on a journey to bring livestock overland from New South Wales to South Australia, following the Murray River, naming landmarks along the way. Shortly after, pastoralists such as Frederick Dutton took up sheep grazing runs in the area.

Eudunda township was established in 1870 by John Henry Hannan, who owned the land which was surveyed and divided for sale. The first European settlers were primarily German Lutheran immigrants. In 1874, Friedrich Gotthilf Ernst Appelt opened Appelt's General Store on South Terrace. The building is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.

The town became the centre of local government in 1878 with the establishment of the District Council of Neales, which operated until 1932 when it merged with the District Council of Julia to create the District Council of Eudunda. It continued until 1997 when it was replaced by the formation of the Regional Council of Goyder. Railway services were first introduced to Eudunda in 1878, with the opening of the North-West Bend Railway to Morgan. From 1914, it was the junction station for a branch running north past Point Pass to Robertstown. The Morgan railway line was cut back to Eudunda in 1969. The Robertstown branch was closed in 1991. The remaining line through Eudunda was closed in 1994. The railway lines and yards have since been demolished although the station building and the old water tower still remain today.

Founded in 1884 by Johannes Gottlieb Wiesner and Gustav Adolph Hilbig, Wiesner and Hilbig played a significant role in Eudunda's manufacturing history. They were known for their forges and production of plough and scarifier shares. The business changed hands several times, with Carl and Heinrich Lutz taking over in 1895 and gaining recognition for their strippers, which were widely sold in New South Wales and Victoria. Theodor and Georg Jansen took over in 1905, expanding the business and diversifying into the service of motor vehicles as cars became more prevalent. In 1951, Johannes and Leslie Reimann acquired the Jansen Brothers business, and it continues as of 2023 as Reimann Manufacturing, carrying on the legacy after a brief hiatus.

Established in 1896, the Eudunda Farmers Co-Operative Society was formed by a group of traders in firewood who faced economic challenges during the 1890s. Frustrated with middlemen refusing to pay in cash, they decided to trade directly on the Adelaide market. This successful venture led to the establishment of the co-operative, which came to own 62 general stores across South Australia. Eudunda Farmers merged with United Supermarkets in the 1990s, and their stores became Foodland and IGA supermarkets.

During the First World War, Eudunda, with its strong German culture, experienced a series of events fuelled by anti-German sentiments. In early 1915, a local Lutheran pastor was arrested for communicating with the Attorney-General of South Australia, Hermann Homburg, about naturalisation matters. Although the pastor was released shortly after, another incident took place in February of that year. The Citizen's Forces conducted raids on the homes and businesses of both German-born and Australian-born Eudunda residents. Travel in and out of the town was restricted by sentries stationed at its entrances. Although the raids yielded no incriminating evidence, they served as a clear message that the authorities were committed to suppressing any disloyal sentiments.

In 1920, author and educator Colin Thiele was born at Mutter Knabe's Nursing Home. His upbringing in nearby Julia, and his education in Eudunda, served as inspiration for many of his writings.

The Eudunda Courier and Murray Flats Advertiser was first published in Eudunda in 1922. Ownership changed in 1928 and again in 1948. However, in 1978, following the death of V. H. Baehnisch, the newspaper ceased operation. It was later taken over by a local family after negotiations. In 1981, ownership shifted to Barossa News, and the Eudunda Courier became a supplement to the Barossa Herald. Eventually, the title was dropped, and today Eudunda news is covered by The Leader.

Laucke Flour Mills acquired a flour mill in the town in 1951 and operated it until the 1990s.

Demographics and Economy
According to the latest census data, Eudunda has a population of 815 people. The town exhibits a balanced gender distribution, with males accounting for 49.9% of the population, and females comprising 50.1%. The median age in Eudunda is 54 years. Eudunda has a total of 447 private dwellings, with an average of 2.1 people and 2 cars per household.

The town has residents born in Australia, England, Germany, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and New Zealand. 3.1% of the population identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. The town has a notable Lutheran community, comprising 24.2% of its residents who identify as Lutherans. This percentage is substantially higher compared to the state average of 2.4%, indicating the town's historical background.

Eudunda's unemployment rate is slightly lower than the state average, at 5.2%. The most common occupations in the town are managers, labourers, tradespeople, machinery operators and drivers, and clerical and administrative workers. The predominant industries in Eudunda include supermarkets, hospitals, farming, poultry processing, and building and other industrial cleaning services.

The median weekly household income of $921 is lower than the state average. However, the town has higher rates of home ownership compared to the state average, and the rent and mortgage repayments are lower as well.

Education
Eudunda is home to several educational institutions, including the Eudunda Community Preschool Centre, St John's Lutheran School, and Eudunda Area School. St John's Lutheran School has a long-standing history, established in 1904, while Eudunda Area School was founded in 1948.

Sports and Recreation
Eudunda has several sports clubs catering to various interests, some of which are hosted at Eudunda Sporting Club. Eudunda's sporting clubs include: Eudunda also has a children's playground and community swimming pool.
 * Eudunda Basketball Club Incorporated - Light Amateur Basketball Association
 * Eudunda Bowling Club - Barossa & Light Bowling Association
 * Eudunda Golf Club
 * Eudunda & Robertstown Cricket Club - Barossa & Light Cricket Association
 * Eudunda Robertstown Netball Club - North Eastern Netball Association
 * Eudunda Robertstown Football Club - North Eastern Football League
 * Eudunda Tennis Club - Julia & Light Tennis Association

Arts and Culture
The Eudunda Family Heritage Gallery is a volunteer-operated local history gallery that explores the heritage of the Eudunda region. Focusing on the pioneers and the broader history of the area from the 1840s onwards, visitors can access early cemetery records of Eudunda and the surrounding district, as well as a collection of local newspapers, photographs, and memorabilia related to churches, schools, sporting associations, and various local organisations.

A bronze sculpture of Colin Thiele by artist Chris Radford is located in Eudunda's Centenary Gardens.

In September 2021, artist Sam Brooks completed a 30-metre-tall mural on the Eudunda Silos, located in the former railway station precinct. The artwork portrays two children sharing stories about their past, culture, and local connections.

Trails
Eudunda is home to several walking and driving trails:
 * Eudunda Historic Walking Tour is a walking trail exploring Eudunda's built heritage, encompassing its industrial, agricultural, and trade history, religious influences, and educational development.
 * Eudunda Mosaic Art Trail is a walking trail that features a collection of mosaic art created by the local community.
 * Colin Thiele Driving Trail is a car trail of important locations from the author's life in Eudunda.
 * Lavender Federation Trail is a long-distance hiking trail that passes through Eudunda.
 * World's End Driving Trail is a car trail from Eudunda to Burra, showcasing rural landscapes of hills, valleys, gorges, and lagoons.

Notable people

 * Erhard F. Boehm, farmer and ornithologist
 * Alexander Buchanan, stockman and early South Australia pioneer
 * John Aloysius Chamberlain, sportsman
 * Lance Duldig, cricketer
 * Herbert Michael, politician
 * Leslie Nicholson, politician
 * Kane Richardson, cricketer
 * Leslie Arthur Schubert, pastoralist and author
 * Colin Thiele, author and educator
 * Justin Westhoff, AFL footballer