Strathalbyn, South Australia 5.25

Strathalbyn is a town in South Australia, in the Alexandrina Council. As of 2011, the town had a population of 5654 people.LocationStrathalbyn 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.HistoryThe 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.IndustryMiningSmall lead, zinc, gold and copper mines operated in the area in the later part of the 19th century, but these have all been long closed, and did not have a significant effect on the development of the town.