Why buy a house in the country when you can buy the whole town? Dating back to 1890, this historic pioneer village, situated just 25 minutes from the Barossa Valley in South Australia, includes a school, two churches, a post office, a cottage, stores and workshops – and what's more, it's on the market for less than the price of a studio apartment in Sydney. Click or scroll on to take a look around...

Welcome to Sandleton, a town built on the flat country to the east of the Mount Lofty Ranges, around an hour and a half's drive from Adelaide. The settlement was once a thriving pioneer settlement of farmers and tradesmen, the sons of early German Lutheran migrants – a branch of Christianity. The four-acre property was briefly opened to the public as a historic attraction in 1995, but it's been a private home ever since. 

The bargain town is currently on the market for AU$349,950, which equates to $243,000 (£198k), and it's been well-loved over the decades. Having emigrated from Britain to the region many years ago, the current owners saw the potential of the multi-dwelling property to accommodate a communal style of living with their extended family. A change of circumstances means that the family has to return to the UK – but they are hoping the new occupants will appreciate the property’s unique history as much as they have. 

The property has two churches, including the original 1890s limestone Lutheran church and a second stone church shown here, which was built in 1914 to accommodate the growing population. Both were converted into heavenly homes in the 1980s. There was another Pilgrim Church, now in ruins, which was built when the Pilgrim congregation broke away from the original Lutheran brethren in 1895. 

The 1914 church property, which would have served as the main place of worship for the village, has since undergone several renovations to bring it up to its current standard. The layout comprises a kitchen, bathroom, office, spacious lounge and dual stairway leading to the loft and three bedrooms.

Both previous and current owners have been careful to respect the integrity of the historic building, preserving its period features and incorporating the original wooden beams, arched doorways and windows into the redesign to create a comfortable family home.

The current owners, who still live in the property, have created a light-filled and quirky family home by opening up the interior and enlarging the windows to allow sunlight to flood the space. Rustic wooden pillars and exposed rafters support the roof and form the mezzanine floor, whilst a stone fireplace serves as the focal point of the ground floor. 

Many of the Lutherans who settled in this area of South Australia in the 19th century were the sons of the early German Lutheran migrants who came to Australia to escape religious persecution back in Germany. By the First World War, 10% of South Australians were of German descent. They were known for their work ethic – and a laundry room like this would have seemed an inconceivable luxury.

As pioneers, the early settlers did not have to adapt to British colonial culture and were able to maintain their traditions and customs, as well as their food choices. Whilst their original kitchens would have been far more basic than this one, they would have enjoyed food still popular in this part of Australia today, including various types of sausages and Streuselkuchen, otherwise known as German cake. 

With its arched alcove, this unusual bedroom sets a pious tone. The early Lutheran settlers were devout and the church would have been the most important building in their community. It's notable then that the same motifs have been preserved in the church's residential conversion. 

A key building in the village is the schoolhouse, which was built in 1914 and according to the listing, has the potential to be converted into a B&B. It’s not hard to imagine those early pioneer girls and boys filing into class at the sound of the school bell. With a little work, the rustic structure could be transformed into a historic getaway for holidaymakers.

Though something of an eerily quiet ghost town today, the village, which was originally known as Sandalwood, would have been a hub of activity. The outbuildings and workshops would've been bustling in the midst of a thriving community, who were establishing new lives for themselves in the region. 

Included in the sale of the town are these stables and horse-drawn buggy shelters. Although the surrounding land at first appeared very attractive to the newly arriving farmers in the 19th century, the soil and climate presented major challenges for them and life was a constant struggle. Central to their survival were their horses, who helped them work the land and stay in touch with other communities. 

Vegetation across the town's terrain consists mainly of mallee trees and scrub – a Eucalyptus species typical of the region, the roots of which were often used to build tool shelters like this one, which would have housed farming equipment. An ambitious buyer could try and kick-start their own hobby farm, especially with all the agricultural tools on the property.

Also thrown in with the sale is this farming machinery for reaping and threshing, which would have been widely used at the time. There were extended periods of drought in the late 1800s and early 1900s when farmers could only expect a reasonable wheat crop every five years, which meant real hardship for these early settlers. These days, however, water scarcity is happily no longer a problem since the property has its own bore and watering hole.

Sandleton had a brief fling as a tourist pioneer village in 1995 – a widespread concept in Australia and the USA designed to educate people about the history of their region – when tourists could experience the town's historic outbuildings for themselves. This included the drapery, seen here, the post office and carpenters' building.  With their authentic structures and signage, it's easy to feel you are stepping back in time to the 1880s.

The Oasis Garage was one of several themed buildings on the site and the couple who ran the business gave guided tours on the history of the town. It is uncertain why Sandleton did not last long as a pioneer village, but with all its carefully preserved homes and stores, it could have the potential to open its doors once more if the new buyer wished. 

The early German settlers, most of which were farmers, were known for their hardworking nature and built several workshops and shelters on the site, which are still standing. The rustic wooden structures and original tools transport you back to all those centuries ago...

Along with the buildings, there are several examples of old wagons and carts included in the sale, many of which would have been typical of those used in Germany at the time. “It was as if I wasn't in Australia, as if some guardian angel had whisked me back to Germany at the speed of thought,” said German writer Friedrich Gerstäcker, who visited a farm in South Australia 12 years after the arrival of the first group of Germans.

Other habitable buildings on the property include this rustic cottage, which would suit a small family or couple. Particularly attractive is the baked terracotta hue of the stone, with its charming blue door and window frames adding kerb appeal.

Inside the quaint period home, the cosy kitchen and dining area has a homely feel, thanks to its exposed beams and original fireplace. While remaining faithful to its roots, the residence combines the charm of the past with the practicality of the present day. 

The lounge area has been opened up to create a more modern feel, but it still retains its character with exposed wooden beams framing the vaulted ceiling and original doors and windows in situ. While the furnishings need updating, they feel at home in the heritage dwelling. 

With so many areas of shade from the powerful South Australian sunshine, whether under one of the porches or beneath a mallee tree, the property presents great alfresco entertaining opportunities, not least for a pioneer village wedding. This could prove a lucrative business venture should the new owner have ambitions to open the property up for events. 

There is ample scope to develop the site, which is ideally located on Halfway House Road, part of the main route from the city of Murray Bridge to the historic former mining town of Burra. It's also a 40-minute drive from the Barossa Valley, Australia’s world-famous wine region. Agents from CE Property Group, who are handling the sale, say this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and would suit a large or extended family – or could potentially be a great business enterprise. "The current owners have enjoyed the property as their home and are now looking for new owners to enjoy the experience," the listing says. 

So, if you fancy the idea of being mayor of your own town, look no further. Whether you want to start a new life in the country with family and friends or purchase a historic property that could be a real cash cow, this is an opportunity – and a bargain – not to be missed! We can't wait to see what the future holds for this historic outpost...

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