During the European revolution of 1848 the brothers Richard and Otto von Schomburgk took part in projects of the Liberals and, when the reactionary waves swept over Germany, they were on the black list. Through the intervention of their exalted friend, Baron von Humboldt, they escaped from the resentment of the king and his reactionary advisers.
The two brothers received generous aid, in money, from the German geologist, Leopold von Buch, and they fled from their native land and embarked for Australia. They landed at Adelaide and purchased land at Gawler River and made a farm and a large vineyard which they called Buchfelde in honour of their generous friend and benefactor. The vineyard was of five acres, on a bank of the Gawler River, and produced red wine from the mataro and white wine from madeira and verdelho, both of which were considered excellent wines. Dr von Schomburgk also introduced the sultana grape to South Australia
Gawler Aerodrome
In November of 1944 the Adelaide Soaring Club (then known as the Gliding and Soaring Club of South Australia) was formed. Flying initially from an airstrip at Virginia this group of enthusiastic pilots quickly developed a tradition of soaring excellence and safety that has seen the club flourish for 60 years. From its inception the club has always strove to be at the leading edge of flight technology and club members have constructed a number of ground breaking aircraft.