Day 41 – Hermannsburg – Home of Albert Namatjura

Friedrich Kempe and Wilhelm Schwartz undertook a significant task in establishing the Lutheran Mission at Hermannsburg on the Finke River in 1877. Their dedication to their cause and their care of the aboriginal community was quite remarkable. Today the Finke River Mission still functions although the original buildings house museum exhibitions and a few private homes.

They brought with them german building methods and standards. The stone pavement and side drains look like they have been lifted directly from Germany

They followed the local custom of using calico to line the ceilings.

The isolation ward built in 1974 follows more of an Australian style in its construction technique.

Isolation Ward at Hermannsburg