History
With history dating back to medieval times, the Schützenfest, or 'shooting festival', has long been celebrated in German towns.
In Adelaide the South Australian German Association has hosted the Schützenfest, the largest folk festival in the Southern Hemisphere, on an annual basis since 1964. The first Schützenfest was celebrated in Adelaide in 1865. Competitive shooting is one of the main features of the Schützenfest because good marksmanship was essential in the defence of medieval towns.
Schützenfest Traditions in South Australia
By Dr Ian Harmstorf OAM BVK
South Australia has many cultural festivals associated with the many diverse communities in our state. Among these is the Schützenfest (shooting carnival) sponsored by the German community. The large scale emigration of Germans to South Australia started in 1838 only two years after the foundation of the state as a British colony. It is not surprising therefore that the traditions of the Schützenfest go back well into the 19th century.
A German Rifle Club had been formed in 1853 and a Shooting Society in 1861. In 1865 the German Club (this closed in 1907 and is not to be confused with the present German Association) mounted a monster picnic in the Adelaide suburb of St Peters at which the central activity was the shooting competition. With a population of only 27,000 over 5,000 Adelaidians attended the festivities. In 1889 the present German Association held a Schützenfest at Walkerville. Newspaper reports of the time say that it was a very hot day and due to this, the thirst it engendered, or the dust, the shooting accuracy was well below the standard set by other shooting societies in South Australia. Perhaps conditions were better in Hahndorf, the Barossa Valley or Lobethal where other Schützenfests were held prior to the outbreak of World War I in 1914.
After World War II the Schützenfest tradition was again revived by the German Association. After many years in Hahndorf it is now held in the west parklands. The 1998 Schützenfest was said to be the 34th but this cannot be true for even the association itself held its first in 1889. In fact, the Association has 110 years of Schützenfest tradition in 2007, something of which it can be justly proud because for over a century all South Australians have been able to enjoy the fun and atmosphere of the traditional German Schützenfest.
The First German Association Schützenfest in 1889
The first Schützenfest held by the South Australian German Association was in 1889. The following account of the activities appeared in the "AZ", the Australian Newspaper. Although the first South Australian Shooting Association had been founded on the 7 January 1861 this was the first Schützenfest held by the Association.
Australische Zeitung, No. 2, 8th January 1890
From a correspondent [Translation: Dr Ian Harmstorf OAM BVK]
On the 30th December the Shooting Society that consisted of members from the Association [The South Australian German Association] held their first King's Shoot. The venue was in the vicinity of Walkerville and nothing about the place or the facilities offered left anything to be desired. For the necessary lubrication there were enough places near by, offering sufficient space for members and their brothers in arms to sink a cool wet one or two. And the sun shone benignly on those present. The participation by members of the Association was enthusiastic.
The competition was even begun before midday. It is true that the results of the shooting were not particularly brilliant in comparison with other South Australian shooting societies, nevertheless it was hoped things would get better with the passing of time. Some sceptics were heard to raise their voices, however one cannot always trust such people: some were heard to blame the heat for the lack of ability to hit the target, others blamed the wind while yet again others blamed the thirst. More than likely both heat and thirst must carry the blame. The following gentlemen participated in the Kings Shoot with the accompanying results.
1 prize. Bütefisch 110 rings, Noatzky 2:109, Müller jun 3:107, Koops 4:101, Popp 5:98, Gleiber 6:97, Herrmann 7:94, Memmler 8:93, Müller sen 9:91, von Eitzen 10:91, Martin 11:90, Manfeld 12:77.
The Kings Prize therefore was won by Mr Bütefisch. The president of the Shooting Society presented the prizes. A lively and happy party was held in the tent which was illuminated by lanterns and candles. This happy group were most content with the amber fluid that Mr Schickel with an experienced hand had brewed himself. Songs and speeches flowed easily and there was a heady atmosphere in the tent so much so that it was very late when the evening finally ended.
Am 30. Dezember hielt die aus Mitgliedern des Vereins gebildete Schützengesellschaft ihr erstes Königsschieβen ab. Der in der Nähe von Walkerville gelegene Schieβplatz lässt, was Lage und Einrichtung betrifft, nichts zu wünschen übrig. Für den nötigen „Stoff“ boten die dort befindlichen Gebäulichkeiten genügenden Raum und lieβen Festteilnehmer sowie Schützenbrüder auf ein „kühles„ Naß schlieβen. Und die Sonne meinte es wirklich gut. Die Beteiligung seitens des Vereins war trotzdem eine rege.
Schon im Laufe des Vormittags begann der Wettkampf. Zwar sind die Schieβresultate nicht besonders glänzende zu nennen, im Verhältnis zu anderen süd-australischen Schützengesellschaften, doch hofft man es mit der Zeit besser zu machen. Verschiedene Spottvögel lassen ihre Stimme hören, doch ist solchen nicht immer zu trauen: Einer schiebt die Nichttreffsicherheit der Hitze, der andere dem Winde, der dritte dem Durst zu, erstere, sowie der letztere mögen vereint die Schuld tragen. Folgende Herren beteiligten sich mit nachstehenden Resultaten am Königsschieβen:
Bütefisch 1. Preis 110 Ringe, Noatzky 2. P. 109 R., Müller jun. 3. P. 107 R., Koops 4. P. 101 R., Popp 5. P. 98 R., Gleiber 6. P. 97 R., Herrmann 7. P. 94 R., Memmler 8. P. 93 R., Müller sen. 9. P. 91 R., v. Eitzen 10. P. 91 Ringe, Martin 11. P. 90 R., Manfeld 12. P. 77 R.
Die Königswürde erwarb sich somit Herr Bütefisch, und der Präsident der Schützengesellschaft nahm die Preisverteilung vor. Das mit Lampions und Lichtern illuminierte Zelt faßte eine heitere Gesellschaft, die sich's beim Gerstensaft, welchen Herr Schickel mit kundiger Hand zu brauen versteht, wohl sein lieβen Gesang und Deklamation wechselten und hoben die Feststimmung, so daß der Aufbruch erst spät erfolgte.
Read more about the South Australian tradition of the Schützenfest.
