Pleasant Hills 

When the Wendish German settlers arrived in NSW in the late 1800s, they soon discovered that habitable land had already been largely distributed. German settlements could only be established far from Sydney, and the Riverina district became a pilgramage for those seeking to start afresh.

The 145 people of Pleasant Hills and the nearby area of Alma Park retain their close links with its Lutheran heritage. This is a vibrant community steeped in old impressionable buildings with a strong Lutheran heritage. The township has won awards for the Lutheran Cemetery where the headstones are scribed all in German. The flora of the Esplanade in the centre of the village is very pretty, and the public hall built in 1912 features a mural, memorabilia and a BBQ. The wattle-and-daub Lutheran Church built in 1888 still holds services (conducted in English these days). The hotel remains a focal point for the community and now doubles as both the Post Office and a small General store.

The streets of Pleasant Hills display a second set of signage displaying the surnames of prominent families that moved to the area. Names displayed include Terlich, Eulenstein, Schiller, Quast, Pertzel, Lieschke, Knobel, Haberecht, Zucker, Pumpa and Scheuner.

Nearby is an old dam and some abandoned mine shafts from the glorious goldmining days.

Things to do

• Explore the public town hall, the key is available from the store/post office
• Breathe in the history at the award winning Lutheran Cemetery
• Tour around the streets looking the German surnames