Gomersal, South Australia

Gomersal is a locality on the western side of the Barossa Valley in South Australia. It is between the Sturt Highway (which mostly bypasses the valley to the west and north) and the North Para River and town of Tanunda on the valley floor. Prior to 1918, it was known as New Mecklenburg, but like many others, the name was changed due to anti-German sentiment in World War I.^[2] The new name was derived from the town of Gomersal, West Yorkshire.^[3]

Gomersal South Australia
Vineyards in Autumn 2006
Gomersal
Coordinates	34.54°S 138.90°E / -34.54; 138.90
Population	60 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established	1864
Gazetted	1918
Location	6 km (4 mi) SW of Tanunda
LGA(s)	Light Regional Council
State electorate(s)	Schubert
Federal division(s)	Barker
Localities around Gomersal: Shea-Oak Log Seppeltsfield Tanunda Gomersal Rosedale Lyndoch Rowland Flat

Gomersal Road was developed in the 1990s as a freight bypass route to assist trucks to avoid the major town centres.^{[citation needed]} It connects Barossa Valley Way south of Tanunda near Bethany Road west over the hills to the Sturt Highway south of Shea-Oak Log.

Gomersal school (opened 1929)^[4] and post office are both closed, as improved road transport provides connections to the surrounding towns. The Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Schoenborn is still active on Gomersal Road.^[5] The Gomersal (formerly Neu-Mecklenburg) Good Shepherd Lutheran church was first built in 1864, the building replaced in 1925, and closed in 1970 when the congregation merged into Trinity Church, Rosedale.^[6]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Gomersal (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
2. "NOMENCLATURE ACT, 1917. Change of Place·Names" (PDF). South Australian Government Gazette. 10 January 1918. p. 5. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
3. "Placename Details: Gomersal". Property Location Browser. Government of South Australia. 6 February 2007. SA0026868. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
4. "Placename Details: Gomersal School". Property Location Browser. Government of South Australia. 16 January 2009. SA0034162. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
5. "Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Schoenborn Inc". Lutheran Church of Australia. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
6. aquilareen (14 November 2013). "Gomersal Good Shepherd Lutheran church". flickr (photograph and caption). Retrieved 12 April 2016.