From a glorious stained-glass window in Angaston, to a wattle and daub cottage in Light Pass, Barossa’s rich heritage is being kept alive through a local grant program that has already helped to conserve some of the region’s most treasured buildings.
Applications for The Barossa Council’s latest round of heritage grants close on 26 September and owners of properties deemed to be of local heritage significance, including churches and community groups, are encouraged to apply.
Last year, the Rechner Cottage conservation project received a heritage grant to help preserve the wattle and daub building located within the Strait Gate Lutheran Church grounds at Light Pass.
Inside historic Rechner cottage, located behind Strait Gate Lutheran Church, Light Pass, is Pastor Mathew Ker, Barossa North Lutheran Parish.
Greg Kretschmer, the congregation’s representative on the Rechner Cottage Conservation Association, said the state heritage listed building dates back to the mid 1800s and is one of only two known German barn houses in the state where living, stable and storage areas are all located under the main roof.
He also acknowledged its connection to the Rechner family who, to this day, are still connected to the congregation.
“There’s a really strong association between Strait Gate and the Rechner family,” Mr Kretschmer said, explaining how Pastor Gustav Julius founded the congregation and was the first of many Rechner descendants who either served as ministers or as members of the church.
“In the corner of the cemetery closest to the Rechner Cottage is Pastor GJ Rechner, his wife and parents and so many other members of the family… It’s quite a little historical hotspot, really.”
The Barossa heritage grant went towards Stage 1of the works which stabilised the structure of the German style “fachwerk” built cottage in preparation for its eventual re-roofing.
Mr Kretschmer welcomed Council’s support in helping conserve an important piece of the region’s history for future generations.
“The congregation wouldn’t have had the finance or the ‘get up and go’ to do it by themselves,” he added.
“And we are very pleased that the Rechner family has got together and really pushed this. The congregation is happy to see things being done and we are very pleased to support them in their endeavour.”
