The Moculta District History Society promotes the history and heritage of the Moculta district in the Barossa Valley and meets as required at Moculta Primary School.
The Moculta township was created in 1865 when Abraham Shannon (1820-1875) subdivided land for 32 town allotments. A rich history of storekeeping, schooling, and blacksmithing ensued. The Linke Farm Machinery factory, for example, operated in Moculta from 1870-1930. The factory was best known for making the Barossa and central Strippers. The Moculta District History Society celebrated the township’s 150th anniversary in 2015.
Abraham Shannon was born in Londonderry, Ireland in 1820 and arrived in South Australia on the John Pirie in 1843. He married Eliza Mahood in 1847 and they had 10 children. Abraham died in 1875. At the corner of Shannon and Truro Roads one can see the State heritage listed Shannon Mausoleum, an unusual 20 sided Italianate stone building erected by Mrs Eliza Shannon in 1876 as a memorial to her husband. It is on private land but the Moculta District History Society often arrange an open day to view it during South Australia’s History Festival.