This work depicts a scene at Hahndorf; the church is either St Michael's or St Paul's Lutheran Church. St Michael's was the first church in Hahndorf, but following a schism in 1846 another Lutheran church was built in the town, St Paul's, at the southern end. It was rebuilt in 1890 and features a tall steeple like the one in the painting. The view was painted 18 April 1910. Despite his amateur status as an artist, Wood has been able to illustrate a scene with conviction and has provided an accurate example of the geography of the Hahndorf area in the early 1900s.

Hahndorf was settled in 1839 by 52 Lutheran families who had fled persecution in Prussia. The settlers named their town Hahndorf after Captain Dirk Hahn of the ship Zebra on which many of them travelled to South Australia.

Thomas Wood was born in England in 1854 and choose a career in the Church of England. He was curate of St Paul's, Blackburn, from 1878 to 1880. From 1880 to 1883 he was Railway Chaplain at Podanur, Madras, then travelled to South Australia where he became the incumbent at Robe (1884-1887). Wood was rector of Wallaroo (1887-1902) and at Willunga (1902-1921). He lived in retirement at Walkerville, and died on 12 November 1937, aged 83. This watercolour is part of a selection of paintings by Wood in the State Library's collection which feature scenes of Hahndorf, Port Augusta, Salt Creek near Port Lincoln, Port Lincoln, Calicalinga (Carrickalinga), Mount Barker, Wallaroo, Willunga and Noarlunga.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

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