The South Australian German Association was founded in March 1886. A short notice appeared in the Adelaide German language newspaper, the Australische Zeitung, on Wednesday, 3rd March 1886, announcing that a new German Association had been formed in the National Hotel the previous Tuesday. Further information was not available at the time of writing, it said.

Under the heading "The General German Society of South Australia" the aims were outlined: (1) To disseminate and promote science and German literature. (2) Universal fair and open discussion on all subjects. (3) Promotion of reforms that will in any way tend to increase the happiness and welfare of the human family. In the nineteenth century science was thought to be the means by which at least material perfection on earth could be brought about, and arguably the best science in the world at that time was German. But this was balanced by a view that science alone was not responsible for the happiness of people and so German literature was also included. Point (2) of the aims was clearly directed at the German Club because those who founded the Association thought the very conservative Club was against the interests of the working man. Point (3), although seemingly universal in its intent, also suggests that reform was not high on the agenda of the German Club, particularly reforms aimed at helping the happiness and welfare of the ordinary working man.

Meanwhile the German Association continued to flourish. The umbrella nature of the Association meant that small groups with special interests could join, gaining the benefits of the Association while not losing their individuality. Due to the bias of the Australische Zeitung against the Association little of its general activities appeared in the German newspaper while events at the German Club were always extensively reported. However after the demise of the Club the Association became the most important secular base for Germans in Adelaide and it received more publicity.

Many of the groups still existing within the Association today have been active practically since its foundation. The first German Shooting Society recorded in South Australia was founded in Adelaide in January 1861 and a photograph taken of this group soon afterwards still exists. Schützenfeste were also held regularly in Hahndorf, Lobethal and the Barossa Valley, while Adelaide held its first public Schützenfest, organised by the German Club in 1865 at St. Peters, at which over 5,000 people attended – a very large crowd considering the population of the city was then only 27,000.

In 1889 members of the Association formed their own Shooting Society and held their first King's Shoot. The Australische Zeitung on 8th January l890 recorded the details of this Schützenfest which was held near Walkerville on 30th December 1889. It appears that it was a very hot day, and it was either this, the dust or the great thirst that seemed to have affected all present, and resulted in the accuracy of the shooting being somewhat below the standard set by other shooting societies in South Australia.

In the same newspaper we read that Christmas was celebrated as usual in a hotel used by members as a regular place where they quenched their thirst. Christmas was held with all the old German customs. It was a family affair with children everywhere. The evening finished with a Ball, and it was reported that those present departed knowing that they had experienced a real German atmosphere.

In 1911 the Association celebrated its 25th Anniversary. The festivities were reported in full in the Adelaide Advertiser of 4th March 1911. Under the title of "Deutscher Verein, Jubilee Celebrations" the newspaper wrote:

As a result of their wartime experiences a great many people of German descent had a strong feeling of injustice and betrayal to the end of their days. This period was perhaps one of the saddest in the history of the Germans in South Australia for, despite the accusations levelled at them, many died fighting for their new homeland in both world wars.

By 1936 the Association had again 200 members and celebrated its 50th anniversary with a social evening and concert in the club rooms. In the same year the Association elected its first Australian born president, G. B. Otto. The longest serving president between the wars was Adam Pfeiffer. Also in 1936 South Australia celebrated the centenary of its foundation as a white settlement. The Government, in honour of the contribution the German settlers had made to the State of South Australia, restored the names of Klemzig, Lobethal and Hahndorf. Members of the Association were active in the negotiations that led to these changes, and were supported by members of the German Historical Society and the Lutheran Church.

The work of Mr. Diestel-Feddersen also deserves special mention. President of the Association from 1967 to 1976, he guided the rapid expansion of the Association in such a way that at no time did it lose its feeling as a family club. The German Association from its beginning had always an intimate feeling, a feeling of "Gemütlichkeit" – well being – for the whole family and, despite many pressures, Mr. Diestel-Feddersen was able to carry forward and strengthen this tradition.

It says much for the continuity of the German tradition and culture in South Australia that those who arrived after 1945 were able to come into the Association and find there a home from home, building the Association up to a strength and influence in the community it had never known before.

In 1964 the Association returned to the tradition of the Schützenfest. Even before World War I Hahndorf had always been the favourite place for picnics, often taking place in conjunction with the Hahndorf Liederkranz – singing circle. Between the wars the Association's annual picnic had always been held there in conjunction with a shoot. After an initial trial at the Gorge, organised largely by the "Bund der Bayern" (Bavarian Dancers), and then under the guiding hand of Ernie Salomon, the Association decided to run a full scale Schützenfest at Hahndorf for the whole South Australian community. The Schützenfest became a South Australian tradition, enjoyed by the whole community sharing in the merriment and happy relaxing German atmosphere. Since 1972 it has begun with a procession through the streets of Adelaide, reviving a tradition first recorded in the city in 1858. Today the organisation of the Schützenfest is still one of the major activities undertaken by the Association although in 1994 the venue was successfully changed from Hahndorf to the West Parklands.

In 1970 membership had grown to almost one thousand, and special emphasis was being placed on groups that catered for the young, such as the Bavarian Dancing Group, German Folkdance Circle, Tennis and Football Groups.

By 1973 the number of groups stood at 18, and the hall was again too small. Plans were drawn up to remove the front of the old building and replace it with a three-story structure with a basement. The "Richtfest" – Topping Out – was held in October of the same year.

In 1974 the new building was opened by the German Ambassador. Membership had climbed to 1700 and the Schützenfest was attracting thousands of visitors in a day of unrelieved festivities at Hahndorf. Australia was beginning to adopt a policy of multiculturalism, and the German Association, representing the oldest non-English speaking ethnic community in South Australia and being itself one of the oldest such clubs in Australia – was in an excellent position to bring the traditions and culture of a country outside the United Kingdom and make them part of an Australian tradition.

During this period and in the ensuing years the work of Fred and Ilse Lorenz must be mentioned. Fred as a long serving president and Ilse as the founder and leader of the 'Geselligkeitsgruppe – The Social Group'. This group under her leadership was responsible for raising most of the money which furbished the interior of the new club rooms and gave them their attractive 'gemütliche' atmosphere.

In the 1980s and 1990s the constitution was altered to allow English speaking members to become full members and in what may be seen to be a return to the traditions of the 1890s English is now accepted at meetings of the Association. Dieter Fabig, another long term president, with Fred Lorenz, were instrumental in guiding the club through many changes with an important interlude in the early 1990s where the presidency of Günther Pratz steadied the club financially. Initial entrepreneurial steps were taken to have 223 Flinders Street used by outside bodies to help the financial situation. In 1993 in response to a critical financial situation in the Club a group known as the Corporate Members was founded within the club by Mr Fred Möller. This group not only brought funds to the club but financial expertise to the management. Unfortunately it ceased to exist in the early part of this present millennium.

In 1986 the Association celebrated one hundred years and looked back with pride on its achievements. The loyalty to its traditions by the membership had enabled the Association to survive times that have destroyed lesser institutions.

Germans and their descendants have always been an important part of South Australia, both culturally and economically, and the German Association for over 121 years has given guidance, inspiration, comfort and companionship to its members and the German community as well as contributing richly to the cultural diversity of South Australia. Long may this continue.

A 'ballroom blitz' ruined the second floor of the building in July 2003.

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