This area next to Seppeltsfield and settled in about 1845, was originally called Gnadenfrei. It is likely that the Gnadenfrei church broke from the Langmeil (Tanunda) group in the early 1850s, although still served by Pastor Kavel. In the 1860s disputes over doctrine resulted in further detachment from the Tanunda church and its Pastor. In 1873 a new church replaced the earlier simpler church. A school opened in 1882 but its name was changed in 1918 to Marananga. The Church, cemetery and school with some early houses form this settlement.
In the dialect of the Overland Corner tribe it means 'my hands' which relates to drawing water from a well by hand. Prior to 1918 it was 'Gnadenfrei'.
References
- Heritage Survey of the Light Regional Council
- Manning Index of Place Names of South Australia