The streets were laid out in a broad and liberal manner, with a large area reserved on either side of the River Angas for recreation purposes, plus a site for a Presbyterian Church and cemetery.

The Victor Harbor railway line was extended to Mount Barker and Adelaide and was upgraded for steam engines from 1884.

The SteamRanger historic tourist train runs on the isolated broad gauge line, including stops at Strathalbyn.

[7] The mine was expected to yield zinc and lead, with small quantities of silver, gold and copper, and operate for seven years.

[8] This proposal was opposed by "The Residents for a Future Strathalbyn Inc." who were concerned about ecologically unsustainable development within their district.

[9] The mine stopped operating in October 2013 due to low metal prices and the economic ore reserve running out.

Strathalbyn is recognised internationally for its main street full of antique shops with London House being one of the most historic.

22 July 1945 was a prominent South Australian art and antiques dealer operating out of the well-known London House in the 1980s who later went on to become an oil painter.