Pastor August KavelPrint Page 
Pastor August Kavel was the inspirational leader in taking his Lutheran southern Prussian group from their initial South Australian settlement at Klemzig to the Barossa Valley. Kavel negotiated with South Australian Company chairman George Fife Angas's agent Charles Flaxman for his group to settle Klemzig, north of Adelaide, in 1838.
Named after one of Kavel's German parishes and on land owned by Angas, Klemzig soon proved inadequate for Kavel’s group to fulfil their obligations to Angas, who had loaned the cost of their sea journeys to South Australia, and to provide for themselves. Inspired by the enthusiasm of German geologist Johannes Menge, Kavel negotiated with Flaxman, who has sailed out with them, for the group to buy a much larger area in the Barossa valley. .
With their valley land bought on a tough deal of £20 an acre with 5% interest, members of the Kavel’s group impressed with their solid sober industriousness, propelled by a strong religious faith. The traditional German waggon was used for everything, from family coach to wedding coach and hearse, to hay and grape carrier, heavy transport, caravan and water cart. Tents, dugouts and wattle-and-daub huts were soon replaced by trick-walled homes and spired churches from stone quarried locally.
Langmeil and Bethany were the first German towns, followed by others such as Tanunda, Gnadenfrei, Hoffnungthal, New Mecklenburg, Siegerdorf, Neukirch, Nuriootpa, and Seppeltsfield.
Memorial Unveiling 1938Location
| Address: | 5 - 7 Maria Street, Langmeil Lutheran Cemetery, Tanunda, 5352 |
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| State: | SA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -34.526691 Long: 138.955546 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Grave |
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| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Religion |
| Link: | http://adb.anu.edu.au/ |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Sunday 20th November, 1938 |
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Dem Gründer Der.
Evang Luth Kirche
In Australien
Plaque :
1838 - The founder of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia - 1938
Pastor Ludwig Christian August Kavel
Born 3rd September 1798 in Berlin.
From 1826 to 1935 he served as Pastor at Klemzig near Züllichau Germany. In 1838 he emigrated with his congregation to South Australia for conscience sake to preserve the true Lutheran Faith and Confession.
He fulfilled his duties in his congregations with singular devotion until his death on the 12th February 1860, following a stroke.
He entered into the joy of his Lord and rests until he shall stand at his allotted place at the end of days.
