A significant heritage aspect of Hahndorf is the layout of the town, which combines characteristics of both the farmlet (Hufendorf) and the street village (Strassendorf). Right now, you are standing between the two, the Strassendorf is on the same side as the memorial garden, the Hufendorf is on the other side of the road.
These styles are both remnants of the Prussian style of land subdivision. The Hufendorf is planned as a U-shape of small farmsteads.[1] The base of the U runs along Main Road. The blocks of land were numbered one to 54, with enough space for a house, garden and small farm.[2] Within 10 years, the town’s population required additional land to be purchased and the town to be extended. The street village under the Strassendorf style of layout was the result. This consisted of 100 foot allotments on Main Street.[3] It is the combination of Strassendorf and Hufendorf which are unique to the heritage of this German settlement. Current development guidelines for Hahndorf limits any fragmentation or detraction of the existing Hufendorf or Strassendorf allotment pattern and sizes.[4] Since the original layout, minor roads and cul de sacs have been added to form a network, with some areas of agricultural allotments developed for housing.[5] Main Street progressively attracted thoroughfare. The town began taking advantage of this by commercializing many of their practices. The early shops and businesses were often family owned and were based on dual residential and commercial spaces.[6]
[1] ‘Hahndorf state heritage area fact sheet’, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2. file:///Users/vondyclaw/Downloads/her-fact-hahndorfsha-factsheet.pdf (accessed 17 May 2017)
[2] ‘Hahndorf state heritage area fact sheet’, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2. file:///Users/vondyclaw/Downloads/her-fact-hahndorfsha-factsheet.pdf (accessed 17 May 2017)
[3] ‘The History of Hahndorf’, HahndorfSA, http://hahndorfsa.org.au/history.html (accessed 17 May 2017)
[4] State Heritage Unit, 2015, Hahndorf State heritage area: guidelines, DEWNR Technical report, Government of South Australia, through Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Adelaide, 12. file:///Users/vondyclaw/Downloads/her-cons-development-guidelines-Hahndorf_SHA.pdf (accessed 17 May 2017)
[5] ‘Hahndorf state heritage area fact sheet’, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 3. file:///Users/vondyclaw/Downloads/her-fact-hahndorfsha-factsheet.pdf (accessed 17 May 2017)
[6] ‘Hahndorf state heritage area fact sheet’, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 3. file:///Users/vondyclaw/Downloads/her-fact-hahndorfsha-factsheet.pdf (accessed 17 May 2017)