strathalbyn mission team

our story

In 2007, a group of young men and women migrated from the desert of Broken Hill and settled in the small quaint town of Strathalbyn. The Strathalbyn team and other Cornerstone families in the area, have been sharing life and working alongside local schools and churches to help grow the Kingdom of God in area. 

About Strathalbyn

Strathalbyn is nestled amidst a tapestry of rolling hills, valleys, wheat fields and vineyards. Many of Strathalbyn's founders were Scottish, and the town's architure reflects this influence - not to be missed are the Old Courthouse Museum, the Old Police Station and Saint Andrew's Church which overlooks the tree-lined River Angas. The town's old-world charm is best experienced on a walk through its wide streets guided by walking tour booklet available at the Tourist Office and other retail outlets.  You will discover an array of craft and antique shops, cafes and even a candy store featuring hundreds of nostalgic candies from yesterday. There are many beautiful local tresures to discover and much more to be explored in the neighbouring towns.

History of the Town

The town of Strathalbyn was laid out by Dr John Rankine. He arrived in South Australia on the Fairfield on 4 May 1839 after 159 sailing days from Liverpool. Among the ship's 105 passengers were ten members of the Rankine family and a substantial number of other families who followed Rankine and also settled at Strathalbyn. Andrew Rankine, son of William Rankine was the first child born in Strathalbyn in 1841. By the end of the 1840s the Rankines had acquired large landholdings and built impressive homes on it. Dr John Rankine became a JP. in 1849 and later a member of the South Australian Parliament.

With almost all of the early settlers being from Scotland and staunch Presbyterians, matters of the mind and soul were considered very important. Before they could built a church, services were held in some of the larger Rankine homes. 

Although the town and surrounding area developed rapidly and was prosperous it took nearly twenty years for the government to have a post office and police station built. Transport between Adelaide and Strathalbyn was provided by Cobb & Co and Hill & Co. A tramway line to Victor Harbour was opened on 23 February 1869.

The town kept on growing and providing more and more facilities for its residents. By the mid 1870s Strathalbyn had its very own newspaper, gas lighting and yearly agricultural shows.

One early settler at Strathalbyn was Donald McLean from Scotland where he was born in 1772. He arrived in South Australia in 1837 on the ship Navarino and was the first farmer to grow wheat in the colony. Agriculture was a major and important occupation at Strathalbyn and in 1855 a meeting was held at Well's Hotel which resulted in the formation of an Agricultural Society. A year later the Strathalbyn Agricultural Society held it first show on 5 March 1856.