Lobethal [Valley of Praise]

LOBETHAL (Meaning Valley of Praise) is set in the picturesque Adelaide Hills, about 40km SE of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

At the close of an open-air Thanksgiving Service on the 4th of May 1842 Pastor Fritzsche,
The Founder of Lobethal, quoted the 26th verse of the 20th chapter of the Second Book of Chronicles:

"Am vierten Tage aber Kamen sie zusammen in Lobethal: denn darselbst lobten sie den Herrn. Daher heisset die Stätte Lobethal, bis auf diesen Tag."

Which in Luther's translation of the Bible reads:

"And on the fourth day assembled themselves in Lobethal: for here they blessed the Lord. Therefore the name of the same place was called Lobethal unto this day"

Lobethal remains rich in the history of its German pioneers.
A little trivia:
The popular smallgoods FRITZ (peculiar to South Australia), was named after Fritz Eisenberg, an early butcher and sausage maker, who first made it in his Lobethal Main Street shop. The shop which was built in the mid 19th century and added to in the late 19th century, still remains and is now a private home.

The famous Onkaparinga Woollen blankets were originally made in Lobethal, and the site is now used as a Business Incubator and a weekend market.

The Lutheran Manse, built for pastor Dr. Loessel in 1867, was the first two storey built in Lobethal, and is now used as a Christian Book Shop, and teachers residence. Behind the Manse is the original Lutheran Church, built in 1843-1845, for Pastor Fritzsche, and known as "Zum Weinberge Christi" [To the vineyards of Christ]. It is the oldest Lutheran Church, still being used, in Australia. Between the old Church and the Manse is a Museum, which is built over the original Lutheran College, which was built in 1845 by Pastor Fritzsche, and was the first seminary built in Australia. The Museum contains much memorabilia and early artefacts.

Behind the Lutheran Church is Pastor Frizsche's grave and "The Lovers Trees".
It is said that in the early days of Lobethal 's, settlement two young lovers were to be married, however a week before the wedding the bride-to-be died, and was buried near the church. The bridegroom was devastated, and pined away, dying of a broken heart a month later. He was buried next to his wife-to-be and they shared the same tombstone. A short time later, two pine trees began to grow above their graves, with their branches intertwined. Today these two trees still stand as a tribute to their love and are over 65feet tall.

There are many old buildings and reminders of Lobethal's early history that can be seen in and around Lobethal.

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