The town was founded in 1839 and in 1846 the Hundred of Strathalbyn, was proclaimed including the township of Strathalbyn at the south-western corner of the division. The image above was taken from the Church Spire in 1906.
Strathalbyn was once a major stop on the route from Adelaide to Melbourne.
The streets were laid out to provide easy access, with a large area reserved on either side of the River Angas for recreation purposes, plus a site for a Church and cemetery. The community was soon the centre for a large pastoral and farming population, many of Scottish origin.
Strathalbyn was connected by broad gauge horse tram to Goolwa and Victor Harbor from 1869
The District Council of Strathalbyn was established in 1854. In 1868 a municipal council, the Corporation of Strathalbyn, was formed by the secession the Hundred of Strathalbyn from the district council. The town and district councils re-amalgamated in 1976.
. The Victor Harbor railway line was extended to Mount Barker and Adelaide and was upgraded for steam engines from 1884.
Small lead, zinc, gold and copper mines operated in the area in the later part of the 19th century. These have all been long closed, and did not have a significant effect on the development of the town.
The population of Strathalbyn today is approx. 8000, it has been for a long time, and remains, one of my favourite regional towns in Australia.
What a clean looking town. I suspect the “horse tram” was a carriage drawn by horses on train rails?
You are correct Henry, it would have been a slow journey!