Strathalbyn is a town in South Australia, in the Alexandrina Council. As of 2011, the town had a population of 5654 people.
History and Culture
The town was founded in 1839, the first landholders being Dr. Rankine, followed by Donald McLean. Strathalbyn was connected by broad gauge horse tram to Goolwa and Victor Harbor from 1869 The Victor Harbor railway line was extended to Mount Barker and Adelaide and upgraded for steam engines from 1884. It was isolated again in 1995 when the Adelaide-Melbourne railway line was converted to standard gauge. SteamRanger still run historic tourist trains on the isolated broad gauge line, including stops at Strathalbyn.
Strathalbyn has 4 pubs on the centre of town, The Victoria, The Robin Hood, The Terminus, and the Commercial. It is also host to an annual collectors, hobbies and antique fair, held the third weekend of August every year. Other popular events are the Strathalbyn Rotary Club's renowned Duck Race, the Strathalbyn Show, and the collaborative Street Parade and Carols by Candlelight. There is also a Sunday market, once per month, at the railway station.
In 1975, street scenes from the film Picnic at Hanging Rock were filmed in the town.
Geography
Strathalbyn is 60 km southeast of Adelaide on the banks of the River Angas. The Children's Bridge is a pedestrian bridge over the river in the park.