Beerenberg Foundation

Foundation Mission

To conserve and celebrate Hahndorf’s cultural, built and natural heritage.

Why a Foundation?

The Paech family identified a need to establish a clear focus for Beerenberg’s philanthropic activities, whilst ensuring an effective and accountable means of giving. A foundation is also an active tribute to the founders of Beerenberg that will exist in perpetuity and unite generations of Paech family members in a common cause.

As a family business with rich local heritage and a strong bond with the Hahndorf district, they are dedicating their charitable efforts to conserving the town’s unique heritage.

Foundation Structure

The Beerenberg Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Beerenberg Pty Ltd. It is a private charitable trust, being a privately controlled trust established solely for charitable purposes.

The Foundation is bound by a legal trust deed to continue carrying out the mission of the foundation in perpetuity. The trust has the power to make grants to charitable organisations and to apply funds for its own charitable programs. The Foundation must make decisions solely for the public benefit and without regard to the commercial interests of Beerenberg Pty Ltd.

The Foundation has an Advisory Committee, consisting of:

the directors of Beerenberg Pty Ltd;
a representative of the Flinders Trustees Group; and the
Director of the Foundation - an employee of Beerenberg Pty Ltd assigned to the Foundation and reports to the directors of the trustee.

The Advisory Committee meet quarterly and make decisions via consensus on projects to be funded.

The foundation accepts funding applications for projects from charitable or community organisations. Applicants need to meet eligibility criteria and complete an application form. Applications are accepted all year round but assessed quarterly by the Advisory Committee.

Project funding is at the absolute discretion of the Advisory Committee.

Project Profiles

The Beerenberg Foundation was launched on 29th April 2010.

The Windows and Doors project - Hahndorf Academy

In July 2010, we are funding the 'Windows and Doors' project at the Hahndorf Academy. This beautiful 153 year old heritage building has had multiple incarnations throughout its history, including a school, hospital, dentist and a betting shop, among many others.

The Foundation is funding a series of vintage-inspired signs created for each room, accessible to the Academy's 80,000 visitors each year. Each sign will detail the room's uses over the building's lifetime, including fascinating anecdotes that bring its history to life for the visitor.

Pioneer Women's Memorial

The Hahndorf Community Association and the District Council of Mount Barker have designed a monument to honour the endurance and pioneering spirit of the women and girls of Hahndorf's early Germanic settlers.
Soon to be erected in Hahndorf's Pioneer Memorial Gardens, the Beerenberg Foundation is proud to have part-funded this important project.