We hope you enjoy this little tour of Langmeil history

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Electronic Mail        info@langmeilcottages.com

The project of building Langmeil Cottages came about in 1989 when we decided to provide an alternative in accommodation for visitors to the Barossa Valley.

The design was very simple along the lines of early settlement buildings.  Having had such plans, this inspired us to build in the traditional methods using stone from the local area as you will see in the pictures of progress. Inside it was essential to have a more modern finish and furnishings to suit providing a relaxed atmosphere for guests and to achieve a AAA rating of quality.

Many pain staking hours, early mornings and late nights cracking stones and finally building the Cottages has all been very worth while not only to create this small achievement but also to meet so many people from all over the world who have such an interest in our high quality Barossa Wines, food and culture.

We named the Cottage Units after well known Barossa identities from the past.

ANGAS, FLAXMAN,  STANDISH,  HOFFMANN

Hoffmann was the first potter in the Barossa based at Roland Flat near Orlando Winery. He would make enough Potts, dill gherkin containers and wine jugs to fill his horse and buggy then he would make a trip up through the Barossa and sell his wares. It would take about six weeks to make enough wares for the trip. His trade mark can be found on the bottom of his work "Two thumb prints."

Standish was the name of builders  related to us and were responsible for building most of the Barossa church steeples which can still be seen today.

Angas and Flaxman history is as follows:

George fife Angas was born on the 1st of May 1789 at Newcastle on Tyne. His father Caleb Angas was of Scottish decent. Caleb was a coach builder and ship owner. George was apprenticed to his father and soon became overseer of his fathers factory and later a partner. After the death of Caleb Angas in 1831, George moved to London where he ran a mercantile agency.

Through correspondence with the Lieutenant Governor in Van Diemens Land and others George became interested in the founding of a British colony in Southern Australia. In 1832 he offered to take enough shares in the new South Australian Land Company to enable him to be a Director. This Company This Company did not get off the ground. Early in 1834 the South Australian Association was formed and Angas was gazetted as a Commissioner in 1835. In order for the Colony to begin it was agreed that 35,000 acres were to be sold at one pound per acre. Few were willing to buy, so Angas and some affluent friends formed the South Australian Company which offered to buy at 12/- per acre land to make up the required 35,000. Angas was appointed chairman of his Company and resigned as Commissioner.

In 1836 Pastor August Kavel whose "Old Lutheran" congregation at Klemzig in Brandenburg Prussia, was being persecuted because it refused to accept the new union Church Order of Serves as decreed by the king of Prussia, was seeking a new home where his people could worship without interference by the state. After considering Southern Russia, Kavel went to Hamburg with the intention of arranging passages to North America. Here he learnt about the new Colony of South Australia and was advised to go and see Angas in London. Angas who was a devout Christian had been involved with various charitable and Mission enterprises since he was a young man and was enthusiastic to assist Kavel and his people to come to South Australia.

Arrangements were made for the South Australian Company to transport the Lutherans to South Australia, but the Prussian Government refused to issue passports for two years.

When eventually passports were issued the South Australian Company was financially unable to assist. Angas then decided to finance the emigration of Kavel's congregation himself. The money advanced was to be repaid with interest. Angas sent his confidential clerk Charles Flaxman with the Lutheran congregation. Although it was intended that the Germans take work on arrival in South Australia, this did not eventuate partly because of prejudice against employing the Germans who were unable to speak English. Therefore Flaxman arranged for them to settle on land belonging to Angas adjacent to the River Torrens near Adelaide. This settlement was named Klemzig in memory of the home village in Prussia.

Following the exploration by the German mineralogist Johann Menge of the area now known as the Barossa Valley, Flaxman claimed for Angas seven Special Surveys of land totalling 28,000 acres at one pound per acre. Flaxman was encouraged by Menge's good  reports of the land and was also supported by Pastor Kavel who was seeking a place where all of his people could settle permanently. Flaxman offered 2,080 acres of this land to Kavel and his congregation for 10 pounds per acre. The payment of this land caused Angas short term financial embarrassment and Flaxman was accused of having bought the land without Angas's authority. In the long term this land  proved top be a good investment for Angas. Much of it was sold to the Lutheran Community on terms. Thus the settlement of Lutherans in the Barossa district began.

In 1843 George Fife Angas sent his son John Howard to South Australia to take charge of his fathers business interests. He was accompanied by his sister Sarah and her husband Henry Evans. John settled at Tarrawatta living at first with a shepherd in a portable box, later in a stone hut. His success with his pastoral enterprises soon rehabilitated the family fortunes.

John's brother George French soon joined him. He was a naturalist and painter. He travelled extensively in Australia and New Zealand making a large number of drawings and paintings. Many of these were published in "South Australia Illustrated" in 1847. In 1849 he published " Description of The Barossa Range". The six hand coloured lithographs it contained are an important record of the Barossa area. The text for this publication was by "Agricola" ( probably the non de-plume of John Howard Angas).

George Fife Angas, his wife Rosetta and youngest son William Henry came to South Australia in 1851 and settled at Lindsay House which had been built by Henry Evans who now moved to Evandale. George quickly became involved in the affairs of his new environment. He was elected a member for Barossa in the Legislative Council. The first important matter to be debated was state aid for religion, against which he spoke forcefully. Consequently, South Australia became the first part of the empire to make a clear distinction between Church and State.

George died a fortnight after his 90th birthday and was buried in the family vault at Lindsay Park.

His son John besides carrying on the family property in the Barossa Ranges acquired large areas of both freehold and leasehold land in other parts of the state and was a prominent pastoralist. He also served a few years as a member of parliament. He imported top class stud animals, breeding Clydesdale horses, Durham and Hereford cattle Marino and Lincoln sheep. He was also interested in ostrich farming as well as horticulture. He gave large sums of money to assist hospitals, education and missions.

John married Susan Collins, they named their home Collingrove. In 1976 Collingrove was presented to the National Trust by Roland Angas a grandson of John. It is now open to the public. The Lindsay Park property is now the thoroughbred horse stud  of Colin Hayes known as Lindsay Park Stud.