They Came and They Stayed

‘They Came and They Stayed’: Settlement Patterns of the German-Queensland Communities

Unlike South Australia that had a large immigration episode in the mid 1800s from the Silesian province of Germany, the situation in Queensland is more complex in terms of immigration from the provinces of Germany and eventual settlement patterns.

The attached settlement map shows the extent of the massive German influx into southern Queensland in the mid-late 1800s and until the First World War, when German immigration came to a halt. Today the number of Queensland town named from this large influx is a legacy of the German diaspora into Queensland.

In simplistic terms, German immigration commenced with the settlement of the Gossner group missionaries at ‘German Station’ (Nundah) in the 1830s – soon after Queensland gained separation from New South Wales as a free colony, until the era just prior to World War I with the influx of assisted German migrants for the Apostolic Church of Queensland community ventures.

After the small settlement of missionary pastors and their families at Nundah (now a suburb of Brisbane), the next major phase of immigration and settlement was in the 1850s/1860s with the need for shepherds in the Darling Downs region of southern Queensland.

Large pastoral holdings were being established and assisted passages were provided to many folk – the chance for a shepherding position for 2-3 years with an established wage. This enabled many immigrants work, ‘learn the country’ and then set themselves up with their own (small) property. German labour was well regarded and the possibility of an assisted passage to Queensland was looked upon favourably.

Many hundreds of Germans partook of this opportunity, and with the associated need for skilled tradesmen, large regional centres, such as Toowoomba, were centres of this ‘second phase’ of German settlement. Many labourers and shepherds brought their families.

The first really concentrated German group settlement occurred between August 1863 and January 1864 when 23 families from the Uckermark region (northeastern Germany) established a village/farming enclave at Bethania on blocks relinquished by English cotton-growers. This Logan settlement became a focus for a continued stream of later German migration which spread into the regions immediatelt surrounding the south of Brisbane – Beenleigh, Eagleby (previously called Philadelphia), Mt Cotton, Carbrook, Gramzow, Steigltiz and Pimpama districts.

To the north of Brisbane farming settlements were taken up in the 1880s in the Zillmere, Pinkenba (‘Germantown’) and Eagle farm suburbs – now taken up by the Brisbane Airport and suburban expansion.

The ‘third’ major phase of immigration was in association with the development of closer settlement and the intensive agricultural expansion in southern Queensland. In the period from the 1870s until as recently as 1910 many areas of southern Queensland were converted from virgin scrublands into a farming mosaic landscape.

Districts such as the Lockyer, Fassifern, Logan, Brisbane Valley, Darling Downs and the southern Burnett as well as the coastal districts of Southport, Maryborough and Bundaberg were earmarked for closer (farming) production and attracted large numbers of German pioneers intent on making a living from small cropping or mixed farming on their small 40 or 80 acre blocks.

For instance both the Lockyer and Fassifern districts were settled by hundreds of German pioneering families – forming close religious communities and many areas were exclusively pioneered and populated by German immigrants. Clearing of the scrubland vegetation was undertaken and the rich volcanic and alluvial soils were farmed intensively – supporting the many large families. For a generation the many families were viable but eventually the quest for extra farming land was a necessity – as many of the pioneers produced large families. Families with more than 10 children were commonplace – but the record stands with the Stephan family of the Fassifern district with 23 youngsters!

The first ‘Australian’ generation ventured in a number of directions, to take up newly ‘opened up’ selections.in more distant districts. For instance young men from the Logan district made their way to the Fassifern, North Coast and Witta areas; from the Lockyer region their was an extensive movement of the first generation onto the Darling Downs and the South Burnett (Kingaroy/Wondai/Murgon) district.

The ‘fourth phase’, or last phase, of the influx of the German diaspora, involved a series of separate groups of immigrants from Central Germany. Three of the groups were brought out under the direction of Apostle Heinrich F Niemeyer of the Apostolic Church of Queensland (Hattonvale) and these immigrants formed communities at Tansey, Binjour, Riverleigh and Baffle Creek. Pastor Bernoth sponsored five separate groups between 1908 and 1910 and these trades people settled at Mt Etna, Alligator Creek and Milman (all in the districts north of Rockhampton). These distinct ‘group settlements’ persisted to varying degrees. The Binjour settlement has persisted until today, with most descendants still farming on the verdant plateau.

In addition to this expanding of these internal ‘cluster’ movements there were other smaller internal migrations of German pioneers from other regions of Australia – often movements of religious affiliations. The migration of a number of families from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia (ELCA) from the western district of Victoria to the newly opened agricultural settlements of Headington Hill, Mt Kent (near Clifton), Greenwood (north of Oakey) and Kumbia (south of Kingaroy) took place in the early 1900s.

The German settlement of Downfall Creek (Gulugaba) occurred in 1909 when a group of South Australian setllers from the Barossa district took up land holdings in the vine-scrub ridge country north of Miles. The Stiller, Hoffman, Bahnisch and related families were the original settlers from the South Australian German community and these families still farm in the Guluguba district.

In addition large urban centres such as Brisbane, Toowoomba, Warwick, Maryborough, Bundaberg and Rockhampton had considerable numbers of skilled German tradesmen and merchants by the 1890s. For instance stonemasons, blacksmiths, cabinetmakers, undertakers, medical doctors and butchers were positions in which many German migrants were known to succeed. In centres such as Brisbane and Toowoomba German clubs and societies were established to cater for the social and welfare needs of these large urban settlements. Today’s Brisbane German Club is a legacy of this earlier urban settlement group.

Even though the bulk of German immigrants settled in southern Queensland rural regions, other small communities were established throughout the huge State of Queensland. Germantown Road, in the Mena Creek district of South Johnstone, supported a number of German farmers who grew sugarcane. Today the road sign is all that remains of this former settlement. German workmen and billockies spread throughout Queensland and most rural towns had at least a small number of settlers of German origins. Even towns in far western Queensland, such as Barcaldine, had a number of German residents.

For a more detailed and comprehensive account of German settlement and history in Queensland the book ‘Queensland and Germany’, written by Alan Corkhill and published by Academia Press in 1992.

164 Comments

  1. Thank you for this interesting article. My German ancestors were in the “third” phase, settling in the Lockyer Valley in the Minden area.

    • My mother’s family were the Felsman(n) & Murr families of Downfall Creek German community. Her dad was a Felsman & mother a Murr …Thanks Brian

      • Shanii Zischke

        My father’s family came over around 1874.
        Mischke, Zischke, Greinke, Lihs, Vollbom

        • Donna Djentuh

          Hi Shanii, My descendants are also Otto Lihs and Vollbom from Elliot Heads.
          Do you have any pics of Lihs/Vollbom? My nana was Ruth Lihs.

        • Donna Djentuh

          I’m also a descendant of Vollbom/Lihs from Elliot Heads near Bundaberg

        • My g father otto carl heinrick Lihs my g mother Augustte Dorette (Volbom) Lihs lived in Bundaberg cane farmers. Came to Australia from Prussia, 1887. He was a Deacon in the apostolic church bundaberg. Elliott heads qld.

  2. Jennifer Soi

    My family are the Muckert’s and Pieper’s and they settled in the Fernvale area and then around the Murgon/Wondai/Byee areas………

    • Hans Konrad Hayden

      My great Grandfather,Herman Pieper, settled in the Lowood area, 1860’s. His daughter Marie, married Jacob Mengel, from Hessen Germany,in 1907, & farmed at Fat Hen Ck. in the Kilkivan district. I Am the eldest living grandson of Jacob Mengel. Thank you for the informative article.

      • Jennifer Soi

        Hi Hans….my great granmother is Eva My great grandmother was Eva Muckert (Pieper) her parents were Rudolf and Ana Pieper. my dad mentioned a Lindsay Pieper but wasn’t sure who his parents were, they lived near Vernor at Fernvale. my email is tjsala@hotmail.com

      • Sheryl Hedges nee Liesch

        My grandmother was Agnes Mengel who married Ferdinand Gustav Liesch. Her father Heinrich I believe travelled out with his younger brother Jacob Mengel. Do you have much information on the Mengel’s. I have some but none on the Liesch family in Germany. I would appreciate any help at all in tracing the Lieschs . His father Ferdinand Ludwig Liesch settled at Tent Hill with his wife Johanna nee Schroeder. Any ideas?

  3. Malcolm Maurer

    Thank you for the interesting article.

    My Great Grandparents and my Grandfather (age 1) was part of the group who settle in the Binjour Settlement (Munduberra)- 1910.

    Descendants of the Maurer family still reside in the area.

    • Mervyn Goronszy

      Would you by chance have information on my grandfather and family, Gustav Goronzy. They probably arrived around 1910

      • Nicole Whitbread

        Mervyn Goronzy:
        My Grandad’s sister, Etta Schneider married Bill (maybe William?) Goronzy and lived in Munduberra.

  4. Glad I found this. My husband’s German ancestors arrived from Schleswig Holstein (NE Germany) in the 1860s. One brother settled in the Gayndah district and another headed much further north. The youngest, (husband’s Great Grandfather) settled in Brisbane.

    • robert smith

      are you related to annie ethel kann .she was my grandmother.

    • janelle groves

      My lot the Glindemann family arrived from Holstein to Moreton Bay in 1865 August 10th, on the Peter Godfroy

      • HI JANELLE, JUST BEEN DOING RESEARCH INTO THE BRIX FAMILY AND WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE SHIPS REGISTER OF THE “PETER GODEFFROY” AND THEY WERE ON THE SAME SHIP. THEY CAME FROM ZLOTOWO PRUSSIA. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW TO LOCATE ANY REMAINING FAMILY IN POLAND-ANY SUGGESTIONS? THE BRIX FAMILY WENT TO BUNDABERG AND THREE GENERATIONS REMAINED THERE.

      • My lot were the Dornbusch family who also sailed on the Peter Godeffroy from Holstien in 1865, where I believe many children died during an outbreak of measles on the ship during the voyage? They settled first in Emu Creek and then in Aubigny near Oakey. Two of their children died on the ship.

      • My great grandmother side is beitz and Hester’s from ukermark Prussia originally. Names were Albertine friedreke Josephine beitz married Hans jochiem Hester and had s daughter Mary or maria Bertha Hester married and disowned by the family because she had a girl child Wilhelmina Josephine Edna Hester and a few years later 1907 married into a Punjab Indian man Abdul ramah if any information please contact me

        • Graham Jenkins

          Hello Tanya,
          I have been doing quite a bit of work on the Family Tree lately and have a reasonable amount of info tracing back from Hazel (maybe your Mum) into Denmark, Germany and Prussia. Happy to share anything I have with you.
          Graham Jenkins (maybe Uncle)
          Brisbane.

    • robert b smith

      annie ethel kann was my grandmother

    • Susan Curtis

      Hi Sharyn, my husband is also related to the Hanns that went to Gayndah, Hans and Anna Kann who had a son Hargen. I have a bit of info on them.
      Thanks
      Sue Curtis

  5. Hi,
    Great info. Thank you very much.
    Andrew _ Musician Brisbane German Club

  6. Good afternoon. The Jondaryan Woolshed west of Toowoomba is holding a special event in September this year and we would like to have involvement from the many different cultures who were involved with the Jondaryan Station during the early 1900s. Do you have any information on German families in this area or any contact details for a German association in our area? Thanks so much.

    • Julie Auld

      I am writing my family history and trying to locate the homestead where my grandmother Matilda Berlin grew in Marburg. They had a dairy farm on two tree hill.

  7. Jim Staats

    My Great Grandparents,Staats, arrived together with Sachs,Payard and Stuhmcke families from the Uckermark region in 1866 on board notorious vessel Wandrahm> They initially settled at Germab Station and then Marburg. Would like to hear from anyone with further information

  8. Jill Davy

    My great great grandfather Jakob Friedrich Rauchle arrived 8 Feb 1856 aboard the Johann Caeser and went to Middle Ridge Toowoomba. His wife Catharina Rauchle nee Beck and children arrived in 1857 aboard the Fiery Star and joined Jakob at Toowoomba

    • I am a book-author and writing a book about German emigrants from Neckarrems. Can you please contact me. I need some more information about Rauchle and Riethmuller.
      Thanks and best regards
      Gerhard Bickel

  9. would anyone out there have any information about the Glindemann family came over in about 1864

    • Try the Queensland Archives, I’m sure they even have a photo on file somewhere of Conrad Glindemann, he has an association with Friedrich Wecker.

    • janelle groves

      I am the great, great granddaughter of Hans Frederick Glindemann and Weibke Henricks. please contact me , you may be able to help me as well

    • janelle groves

      I have a little info I would love to share with you!

    • Hello, I come from the Glindemann family, love to make contact cheers Grant

    • I have info on glindemann who came to Brisbane 1864.

      Peter
      eickenloff66@gmail.com

    • Peter Eickenloff

      I am looking at the glindemann family. My great grandmother was a glindemann. Let me know if you would like to share info.

    • Janelle Groves

      Hi, my name is Janelle Groves, my great ,great grandfather was Hans Frederick Glindemann. He and his family arrived in Moreton Bay on the” Peter Godefroy” in 1865. They were in quarantine for two weeks as there was an outbreak of measles on board ship. They lost two of their children on the voyage. Later settled in Highfields outside of Toowoomba. There was another Glindemann family that did come over in 1864 I believe, this family settled in Holland Park. I think they were brothers. The name Conrad comes to mind. Any way I hope this info helps you a little bit. Sorry for taking sooooo long to get back to you.I don’t go on this site very often. Cheers,Janelle.

  10. gail hambridge

    my great, great grandmother came out here on the Herder with her parents and older brother and sister – they were the beegling and they went from south australia to the tumut/adelong area of nsw. the year they came out was 1844

  11. Audrey Blinco

    I’m also a great-great granddaughter of Jakob & Katharina Rauchle.

  12. Sue Macrae

    Can anyone help me with history of German settlers in Crows Nest near Toowoomba, and the Schulte family who came out about 1872

    • Natasha (Mewing)

      I am related to the Mewing family who lived in Crows Nest. I have come across the most spectacular pristine old trunk of photos – around 900 of them between early 1800-current of a large number of families including Mewings, Armitage, Schmidt, Tweedale, Egan…the list goes on. I also have a large number of amazing portraits (postcards) sent to my Great Grandmother Margaret Mewing (Nee Egan) who married Percy Mewing. A lot of these postcards and photos are unidentified and I would love to get them back to ancestors. My Grandfather Kevin Egan Mewing is 94 next week and I have been doing a lot of working compiling digital copies of a lifetime of photos, including tracing 2 previous generations with original photos as well! It is truly a marvelous collection and I am very honoured to pass on this legacy to my own children to ensure their memories live on.

      • I was born in Crows Nest, however my German relatives, Heinrich Bartefeld (Henry Butterfield) and Elizabeth Heid settled in Haigslea and Walloon.

      • Hi Natasha,

        My name is John Mewing son of Robert Mewing of Crows Nest. He was the brother of Percy.

        I also am researching my ancestry so am very interested in your photo collection

        • Sandra McDonnell

          Hello John,
          I have been helping Cathy Mewing with her family tree and found you on this site.
          Your father Robert, was Cathy’s fathers cousin. Cathy’s father was Kevin Mewing. I don’t know whether you were close or not, but Cathy is getting together a heap of ancestors photos at the moment that she would not mind sharing.
          Cathy can be contacted at
          sailorgirl56@hotmail.com.au

      • Carolyn Mewing

        Hi Natasha, I’m researching the Mewings and would love to hear from you. My husband is the great grandson of Herman Mewing.

      • Anne-Marie Foster

        My great grandfather was a schmidt, he bred horses and was involved in the tobacco industry. I believe he was Heinrich and his son Gustave, daughter annette if anyone has any info would love to hear from you

      • Hi Natasha,
        Margaret Egan had a big brother Austin Egan. He had one child, Neville Egan. Neville is my father. I have been trying to track down dad’s Egan family for so long.

      • Kym Burkett

        Hi my name is kym Burkett . I have been tracing the mewing/hubner family for 3 years. I grew up in Beenleigh. Now live in Western Australia. I’m coming to Queensland mid August 2018. would love to contact you.
        please reply.

      • Hi Natasha. I also have unidentified photos . Did you have any luck tracing their origins?

    • I am a descendant of Wilhelm Stark born 1834 at Hohensarge, Stettin, Prussia, Germany and Dorothea Ernestine Schroder born 1837 at Petershagen, Prussia, Germany. They moved to Highfields / Crows Nest area. They had children: Auguste, Carl, August, Hermann, William and Christian. There is a book called “Stark Reminders” written years ago now. Hermann Stark is buried in the Crows Nest cemetery.

      • Jennie Davidson

        Hi Kay, My name is Jennie Davidson & I am the author of ‘Stark Reminders’ from 1989. Where do you fit into the family? My email is jennied5157@gmail.com, if you are still interested.

        • Larry Stark

          My great grandfather Karl Stark and son Carl Stark immigrated to the United States in 1885. My grandfather William Paul Stark immigrated to the United States at an earlier date possibly about 1880. They were all from Hohen Selchow Germany. I believe this is the same area of Germany your relatives are from. We may be related?
          My grandfather died At 52 years in 1916 and his brother Carl died in 1920 at 58 years. Little information was passed on about other relatives from Germany.
          If this message is of interest to you please contact me at:
          roundlaker47@gmail.com
          Larry Stark, Minnesota USA

      • Judy Phillips

        Hi Kay, is that book still available to purchase? If it is where can I get it from? Judy 0412826381

      • Hi, my great grandfather was Louis Robinson, born 1832 in Hannover or Posen , but lived in Hannover before leaving for New York at 15, then on to Victoria for the gold, then settled at Robinsons Rd Highfield, having married Harriet Ladner in 1860 in Victoria, where he farmed. My grandmother was Lucy Robinson, his youngest child, of 6. Louis probably knew Wilhelm. Louis surname was probably originally Rabenstein. He was involved in the Cabarlah Methodist church

      • Larry Stark

        My great grandfather Karl Stark and son Carl Stark immigrated to the United States in 1885. My grandfather William Paul Stark immigrated to the United States at an earlier date possibly about 1880. They were all from Hohen Selchow Germany. I believe this is the same area of Germany your relatives are from. We may be related?
        My grandfather died At 52 years in 1916 and his brother Carl died in 1920 at 58 years. Little information was passed on about other relatives from Germany.
        If this message is of interest to you please contact me at:
        roundlaker47@gmail.com
        Larry Stark, Minnesota USA

  13. great reading
    I think my grandfather was in the 1850 phase at Bethania queensland,

    • DONNA ARNOLD

      Hi Kim

      Carl Fien (arr 1864 – Susanne Godefroy) was pioneer of Bethania and is my 3 x G Grandfather.

      Which one of Carl & Louisa’s children are you from?

      Did you know there is a book about them and available to buy?

      Donna

  14. I’m writng a book about living in Toogoolawah where there were/are quite a few German settlers. I was interested to hearing when they migrated out here .Thank You.

  15. sandra johnston

    Johann & Johanna Jantzan [nee Schonknecht], are my great great grandparents. Johann Heinrich & Katharine Schonfeld [nee Dreier] are my great grandparents, peter & maria eva Hoffmann [nee eck] great great great grandparents, August Ernest Rano is my great grandfather, all born in Germany. does anyone have info on Rano?

    • Peter and Maria Hoffmann were my great great great grandparents too 🙂 I visited the grave today in Killarney

      • Marie Coman

        Hi there, the very start of my family lineage is with a “Gorgeina Hoffman” from around 1840 possibly. I have had no luck with her, however she married a Kampf and had at least 1 son by the name of Ernst Johanne Arnold Kampf, which is where my lineage takes off

    • Jennifer Youngberry

      August Ernest Rano was naturalized in Bundaberg I think Sandra.

  16. Does anyboyd have any information about the Miezner family who settled in north Queensland around Townsville possibly Bowen. Just want to know who they are all i Know is they come form Germany and they are my dads family

  17. why were there 4 phases in the procedure and why did QLD part from NSW

  18. Christine

    Excellent website. I too have ancestors who settled in this region – though one of the initial three Schmidt siblings and his family settled in Cooktown. I hope you do not mind but I have put your map and an excerpt from your text on my ancestry.com tree.

  19. Karen Byrne

    Looking for information on Harstorf family arriving 1866 on board the Wandrahm

  20. Graham Stritzke

    My great grandfather immigrated from Gadankz in Poland ( East Prussia) somewhere around 1870,s. Any info from fellow Stritzke’ s would be helpfull. Thanks.

  21. looking for a copy of a picture of wandrahm please my family came on board this illustrious ship.

    any help please

  22. My great grand parents on my mothers side Otto Koehler Berlin Russia married Theckla Christiane Winkler in Brisbane. They later moved to Cairns. Don’t know what happened to Otto.
    Would love info

  23. Apologies, I didn’t obtain full info for you. This boat is a barque and has a long, interesting history which one can read at http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/ShipsWZ.shtml
    If you only want a image of that type, there were many German immigrant vessels that would suffice. When and IF I find one, I’ll try to send it along.

  24. HEISE / SIPPEL
    My husband is a descendant of Gustav Herman HEISE & Susannah (nee SIPPEL) We have never been able to find the final resting place of Gustav (Sometimes known as George HEISE / HEYES)
    ANY help would be appreciated.
    pascoesplace at g mail . com

    • HI GAIL, IF YOU GO TO AUSTRALIAN CEMETARIES (OR THE LIKE) JUST PUT IN THE LETTER “H” FOR SURNAME AND IT WILL BRING UP ALL NAMES STARTING WITH “H” AND THAT MAY NARROW THINGS DOWN. ALSO QLD BIRTHS DEATHS AND MARRIAGES SITE MAY BE HELPFUL AS WELL (COST $20 FOR CERT OF DEATH.JUST PUT IN THE YEAR RANGE AND NOT AN EXACT DATE AS THIS WILL NARROW YOUR SEARCH. GOOD LUCK

    • Finally found Gustav HEISE. AKA George HEYES.
      He had gone to Darwin NT, purchased acreage and set up Orchard. His family left in Kalgoorlie.
      He ended up dying on an island off Darwin town. (quarantined for Lepers.)

  25. I’ve done a few internet searches to try and trace my father’s German ancestors but just keeping finding American families. Any suggestions on how to proceed would be appreciated. His grandfather, Otto Hocker, apparently founded the German Club in Brisbane. Otto’s father John Hocker (only have the anglicised name) may have emigrated from Germany to Australia in the mid to late 1800’s. Many thanks.

    • wendy barlow

      my name is Wendy Barlow. My late husband David Watson mother Lorna Watson nee hodgson mother Ivy Norman Hocker is the daughter of the otto hocker you mention
      have some information if you are interested
      thanks

  26. My maiden name is “Frohloff”. Anyone wanting to know more please feel free to contact. My great-grandfather Herman Frohloff arrived on the ship “Quetta” into Brisbane on 15 Sep 1989.

  27. Sorry previous comment on arrival of Herman Frohloff on the ship “Quetta” should read “15 Sep 1889”.

  28. brian schmidt

    my great great grand parents arrived on Susannah godfry in 1865 and settled in cooktown

    • Hi Brian, I am a great great granddaughter of Johanne Caroline and Carl August Schmidt, who settled Cooktown. My grandmother May was born there 1887.

  29. roslyn galey

    Is anyone decended from Christian Jacob Xander Or Zander.who emigrated from Germany to Farm Creek SW qld in 1856 ?,He is my g.g. granfather

    • Sandra johnston

      I’m also great,great, great, great,grandfather,his daughter is my great great great grandmother Wilhelmine.

      • roslyn galey

        Wilhelmine is my great grandmother Ernestine’s sister .Ernestine was my grandmother Charlotte Ann mother.

    • Susan O'Connell

      Hello Roslyn,
      He was my great great grandfather as well. His daughter Dorothea was the mother of my grandmother Elizabeth Dorothea.

    • DONNA ARNOLD

      Hi Roslyn

      My 2 x G Grandparents were Johan Adolph Zander (1836 – 1925) & Wilhelmine Zander nee Fien were pioneers of Beenleigh (1866) and their son (Bill) Zander first generation Beenleigh born is my G Grandfather.

      I haven’t researched much about Adolph but I think he arrived via the Sydney??

      I’d love to swap infomation.
      Donna

  30. Howard Cowling

    Writing a story about Charles DIFLO (DIFFLO) who arrived on ‘Aurora’ in 1855.
    Charles was in prison for contempt of court for over 2 yrs owing to a dispute over a gold nugget. He was released in 1862 and seems to have ‘disappeared’. Any further information would be appreciated.

    • Hello Howard
      I am a descendant of the Diflos and am also chasing info on Charles. On the papers that I have, there is a suggestion that Charles and Andreas are cousins. A family chart on RootsWeb also shows this link. There is an article in Trove dated Dec 1863 stating he acted as an interpreter in a court case. Unfortunately his english was no better that the defendant so he was dismissed. This shows that he was still around at the end of 1863.
      I have a death certificate for Matlene Diffolo 1862 C271 and I believe this is Charles’ wife. She died a month after giving birth.
      Would like to hear from you.

      Peter Hale

    • Peter Hale

      Hi Howard
      I am a descendant of Andrew Diflo but got side tracked on Charles Diflo as I believe he and Andrew were related. I have found a death certificate for Matlene Diffolo and have been to the Qld State Archives for an inquest file for Karl Deffler, died 15 November 1865 in Toowoomba. I suspect this could be Charles. Send me an email and I will give you as much of the details as I can.
      Regards
      Peter

  31. Neil Renaud

    I am descended from Abraham and Wilhelmine Renaud, German immigrants (from the Uckermark) who settled in Toowoomba in 1884, with their 6 children. Abraham was a farmer. The 6 children all married and had families, so there will be lots of descendants. I would like to contact as many as possible to continue my already considerable research.

  32. Brian Groth

    Hi to Len Brauer. I have a photo of the Wandrahm. Contact me on 0429453772 or email bcgrothy@gmail.com. Brian

  33. Georg Zimmermann

    This is an interesting article. I’m looking for any information on Johann Baptist Zimmermann, born 1865 in Bavaria. He emigrated to Australia. I still have a picture of him, the picture was taken in a photo studio in Perth. At bdm.qld.gov.au i found, that he died 1955 in Queensland. His Name is angliciced, John Zimmerman, his parents were Joseph Zimmermann and Anna Maria Hutter (angl. Ann Hutten). Maybe, that John Zimmerman had a son named John with Fanny (Frances) Cunningham (Thorpe), but i found no information about a marriage between John and Fanny. The son died 1946 as John Thorpe. I wonder, if there are still any descendents of John Zimmerman in Australia or elsewhere.
    Thanks for any helpful information.

    Georg Zimmermann

  34. lance shaw

    I am still looking for my ancestors…. fredericke beduhn, believed to have arrived at nundah, 1880’s….then went to minden later

  35. Pamela HIggins

    Hello, I am researching my Mothers family and would love to hear from anyone who has history on Otto Martin Ohlbrecht or Catherine Groth his wife. Catherine’s father was Friedrich Groth and arrived in Australia around 1873 – Otto’s father arrived Queensland 1872. Also Catherine’s mother Emily (mn Hammer) – her father John Hammer arrived Queensland 1864.

    • DONNA ARNOLD

      Hi Pamela

      My ancestor Carl & Louisa Fien nee Hammer arrived in 1864 on the Susanne Godefroy.

      I am also interested if John Hammer is connected to my 3 x G Grandmother Louisa Hammer.

      Donna nee Magdalinski

  36. Thanks for this info. I’m a great great grand niece of Carl Stephan whose wife bore 22 kids. My great great GD was his older brother Friedrich Wilhelm – he & his wife only had 18 kids. Pathetic. Needed this info for German settlement research. Definitely useful.

  37. Rebecca Swayn

    I’m a descendant of Heinrich Scholl who married Ida Pauline Kampf, settled in Binjour plateau/Gayndah. Interesting article! Thank you x

    • Janet Neilsen

      Hi Rebecca i am the granddaughter of Frederick Herman Kampf brother of Ida. I would love to share information with you.
      Janet.

  38. Barbara Drew

    I am researching the Dittmann family. My Great Grandfather was August Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm Dittmann and he arrived in Maryborough in 1871. His first wife was Wilhelmina Carolina Schafer and second wife was Anna Goll.

  39. Elizabeth Bradbury

    My great great grand mother Elizabeth Theroucks believe her to be indigenious from a concubine relationship with property of Theroucks around 1880 Maryborough QLD, plus as there are no birth certificates, marriage to George berry (Wondai) or death certificates of her. Dreadful really . But her name on all great great uncles and my great great grandma Matilda Elizabeth Berry have noted on birth certificates mother Elizabeth theroucks or thurix they were illiterate at this time. No registration of birth marriage or death hence my belief that Elizabeth to be indigenous a nobody with no records and disgraceful really please desperate to have answers for only living aunty 80 this year my only relative . please help Elizabeth Berry , Bradbury Theroucks etc. Accepting that these things happened back then but want to find her with thanks Any support appreciated Elizabeth

  40. I am helping my cousin with her son-in-laws family history. Wilhelm Seiler and Bertha (Kahl) came to Australia in 1912 with 8 children 2 more born in Queensland. Richard Seiler is the person we are most interested in. He and his family lived around north coast – Kingaroy /Wondoan area. The family does not have any information. BMD says the parents came from Silesia, Germany. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

  41. My German ancestors are buried at Nundah Historic Cemetery. Johannes Zimmerle and Christina Friederika Zimmerle(Schwartz). Would love more info on them

  42. Denis J Bennett

    I have put two to three years aside to refurbish the whole lot of oakey historical museum, i am currently up to building a room to contain the history of the first settlers to this region,plus a follow on to this day,

    • Jill Moore

      Hi Denis I would be really interested to connect when completed. I have three German lines of heritage that settled in the Darling Downs (Gartner, Peters & Borgert) on my mother’s side. Oakey being an area of settlement for many of the Peters especially. All 3 families I believe immigrating in the 1860s or thereabouts. John & Johanna (née ?) Gartner (from Hamburg) / Johann & Antje Beate Borgert (née Muller) (from Holstein) & Johann Nicolaus & Elisibia Catherina Magdelina Peters (née Geitz ) from ? 😃

      • Janelle Groves

        Hi Jill, my German ancestors the Glindemanns also came from Holstein. Actually Schleswig. They arrived in Australia in 1865 on the “Peter Godefroy”. They were quarantined for two weeks as there was a measles outbreak on board ship. Went on to settle in Highfields. Cheers Janelle Groves

  43. Georgia Schneider

    Really interesting. My family is and has been a founding family of the Apostolic Church of Queensland since my ancestors immigrated from Germany.

  44. I am trying to track the german genealogy of my QLD parents – ie Marriage of Eric Loch and Nancy Metzger (Emerald /Rockhampton) and Hulle /Campbell , Radcliffe Marriages (mainly in Brisbane )
    I am interested in how and why and when the german individuals of these families came to Australia. Thanks June Campbell

    • Mary de Jabrun

      I am a descendant of these Mezgers. They dropped the T after a few years. Nancy’s father was William, his brother Louis was my grandfather. There were2 other boys, Charles and John. Their parents Johann and Crescentia came from Wittenberg to Brisbane in 1864. They went to Peak Downs on a 2 year contract and subsequently settled in Walkerson from where John as he became known was a carrier. If you are interested I have written a short history of the family.
      Mary de Jabrun

      • Hi Mary Sorry I just noticed your reply
        Thankyou I am interested in this history very much and knew nothing until 10 years ago about any family at now age 60!
        Are there any jewish family or stories where jewish and german chrustian families intermarried that you know of . My father was a reticent vague informer and mentioned a jewish ggg parent somewhere ! Thanks for your reply

        • How fascinating to know there is suspected Jewish heritage for the Mezgers. I would be very interested to see Mary’s reply to know of German / Jewish connections.

  45. Sandra aka Sandi McKenzie.

    My great great grandfather was Daniel Gotthelf aka Hermann GOELDNER. He arrived in Qld, about 1858 – living at German Station, later moving to his home “Toomba” at Junction Road, Eagle Junction. Same house is still there and I believe, is up for sale.Herman and wife- Emelia Caroline nee Jacob had 8 children. We had a Goeldner reunion on 29th July, 2017 at Kalinga Park. The day was so successful that another GOELDNER reunion is planned in 2years time – last weekend in July, 2019. Trying to contact as many Goeldners and their descendants as possible. Please contact me if you are related to these Goeldner Families. many thanks – Sandi McKenzie, nee Goeldner.

    • Kristi Madhok

      Hi Sandi,
      My Husband and I actually bought Toomba and have been on a mission to get together some historical information on the property and the Goeldner Family. I would love to meet with you and anyone else who would like to share information.

  46. Bronwyn Wedel

    I am trying to trace my family from north qld, William August Warnecke (Wilhelm Augustus ) who married Mary Elizabeth Roberts. I believe they settled in Gordonvale.

  47. I am researching the surnames MOHR, KRIESCH, UCKERMANN, BARBELER.
    I am happy to share any info I have.
    Thanks

  48. I am going at the glindeman family that settled in Holland park. The first sister Katherina came over in 1855 and was the first wife of Fred Wecker. Her two brothers can over 1864 and my great great grandmother who was also a Glindemann came over 1867. Other relations came over as well. If you are interested in Glindemann or even the Eickenloff line let me Know. Can be contacted at eickenloff66@gmail.com

  49. I have info on glindemann who came to Brisbane 1864.

    Peter
    eickenloff66@gmail.com

  50. My great grandfather Louis Robinson was born in Hanover Germany in 1832. He travelled to NewYork at the age of 15 years and in 1852 arrived in Aaustralia spending 10 years in the goldfields of Ballarat, Marayborough and Ararat. He then moved to Queensland where he took up residence on the Darling Downs as a farmer at “Janefield” at Taylor near Geham in the Highfield District as a farmer. He was a trustee of the Geham Cemetery where he was buried after his death in 1901.

  51. Jill Moore

    Are there any relatives of John & Johanna (née ?) Gartner (from Hamburg) / Johann & Antje Beate Borgert (née Muller) (from Holstein) & Johann Nicolaus & Elisibia Catherina Magdelina Peters (née Geitz )? All three families settled on the Darling Downs.

  52. Pingback: Germans to the Darling Downs in the 1850s – Christine's Compendium of Family History

  53. Glindemann’s lived next door in Alexandra Hills in the 1960s. Cyclists
    My ancestors settled in Maytown, Charters Towers, Rockhampton then Brisbane. From Schleswig-Holstein
    Meier, Moller, Ahlers…

    • Janelle Groves

      Hi . My Glindemann ancestors settled in Highfields, they too were from Schleswig, Holstein, Germany. Came over in 1865 on the “Peter Godefroy”. My GGgrandfather was Hans Frederick Glindemann and his wife was Veibke nee Jaeger. cheers Janelle

  54. Donna Anderson

    1886 the Bargenquast family arrived on the Allora and settled at Teebar, West Boompa.

  55. gerard bowe

    Krugers -Carbrook
    Stenzil – crows nest

    plus heaps more

  56. Maag families (two brothers) emigrated from Switzerland via Hamburg 1872/3 and settled Meringandan, Darling Downs. My great, great grandfather was, according to family lore, a teacher in ‘the old country’, attempted farming, operating a bakery before doing the only other thing his skills set allowed … carpentry. We are now to 6 generations of builders. A paternal story also indicates my great grandfather received letters from family written in German, and censored, during WW2.

    • Pamela Diane Maag

      I have important health information for Maag family members

      • Pamela, I am so sorry for the late reply. I only just saw your comment. I have enjoyed researching my Maag family history and found such interesting information about them once they arrived in Australia but I would be interested to know what details you might have as far as the family’s health is concerned. Looking forward to your response.

  57. My mothers family are Buchbach they settled on Pimpana Island and surrounding area
    One of my uncles was Luhrmann I beleive they settled around Stanthorpe if anyone has any info on either family they would like to share I am very interested

    • Narelle Millward

      Hi Kym,
      My Great Grandmother was a Buchbach and she was from the family who settled at Pimpama. I have information I can share about some of the Buchbach’s if you would like it.

  58. Lyndall J Madden

    I am searching for my paternal grandmother’s parents who lived on the Darling Downs. Her father’ Sname was Joseph HALTER born 5 October 1858 Biberach Wurttenburg Germany and married Angelina Elizabeth Kate MARSHALL on 24 March 1887 T St Pauls Lutheran Church Toowoomba. Family Search helped withnhis ancestors, but I don’t have more recent history here in Australia.

  59. Dianne Dunn

    I am a granddaughter of Heinrich Scholl and Ida Pauline Kampf, who settled in Binjour plateau/Gayndah. My mother is Evelyn Dowe nee Scholl. Loved reading this article and would love to know more of my family’s history! x

  60. I am a descendant of the Cyrach’s, Wengel’s, and Schneider’s who arrived and were founding settlers in the Binjour region. I have some info though not much

  61. Leo Phelan

    My mother’s family Friedrich & Katharina nee (Heuschele) Bauer arrived in Sydney in May 1855 and started their new like in Middle Ridge Toowoomba

  62. Diane Treichel

    Hello Kym. My mother’s great-grandfather was Wilhelm Pflugradt who migrated with his family on the Wandrahm in 1865. The electoral rolls seem to show he was living on Pimpama Island during the 1870s. One of his daughters, Maria Louise Pflugradt married Wilhelm Friederick Rudolf Buchback in 1877. They had one chiild, Louisa.

    • Hi Diane
      My mother’s great-grandfather was also Wilhelm Pflugradt who migrated on the Wandraham in 1865. Mum’s grandmother was (Anna) Annie Pflugradt who lived in Bundaberg at the time of her father’s death. I’m trying to track family history using Ancestry and wondered if any family had photos of Annie or the family.
      I stumbled on your message on the website mentioned below.

  63. Carol Fazel

    Researching Heinrich Fehsel, arrived “ La Rochelle “ from Hamburg, In 1862 with a Land Order
    Male, 37 yrs, Landman, from Sichelstein, Hanover..
    No record of him until marriage in 1868 in Taroom Qld.
    Changed name in 1880’ s to FAZEL.
    On Qld Electoral Rolls from 1879 with Logging Business in Townsville/ Charters Towers area.

  64. Patricia Smith

    I am trying to find out who is buried in the “REDVALE” Cemetery near Binjour Plateau area. At this point in time I am able to prove 4 persons only. Hearsay says 14 at least buried there. It is still a registered Cemetery hearsay owned by the Binjour Apostolic Church of Queensland now. I have been given a copy of “Binjour Community Centenary 1909 to 2009” booklet. The Redvale Cemetery burials are not mentioned. Apostle H.F. Niemeyer (known then as the Apostolic Unity Church) encouraged about 50 families settles in this district. A church was built opposite the cemetery, later taken to Toowoomba. The Cemetery is only mown around an area surrounding 5 existing headstones of which only one has a Memorial, that of Christian Gossling died 24/12/1918 aged 80y 2m 18d. Is anyone able to inform me as to who is buried there and are records held in Queensland or even Germany to help give the persons buried there a name?

  65. Roger Goebel

    HI, I am a direct descendant of Johann Michael Goebel(1823-1889) and Caterina,nee Fett (1828-1884) of Hesse-Kassel electorate Germany arrived Brisbane 5 or 7th August 1863 with 8 children and 3 more born in Australia. Some are buried in the Mutdapilly Cemetery west of Brisbane. I am keen to contact Goebel descendants from this family.

  66. Jancine Harrison

    Hi Roger, I too am a direct descendant of Johann Michael Goebel & Catherina Fett, through their son Johann Heinrich Goebel

  67. My g father otto carl heinrick Lihs my g mother Augustte Dorette (Volbom) Lihs lived in Bundaberg cane farmers. Came to Australia from Prussia, 1887. He was a Deacon in the apostolic church bundaberg. Elliott heads qld.

  68. DONNA ARNOLD

    Hi everyone,

    This has been such an interesting read and i have repied to possible distant relatives.

    I have 3 German families to follow.

    Carl & Louisa Fien arrived Susanne Godefroy 1864 and were pioneers of Bethania.

    Bill Zander travelled around SE Qld -Beenleigh (born) – Roma – settling in Murgon to mention a few places. He was the son of Beenliegh pioneer Johan Adolph Zander (who arr Sydney abt 1860s).

    Magdalinski – arr Nundah 1876 and travelled with some sons/brothers settiling in Marburg/Brightview region, Maryborough and pioneer farming in Murgon (my grandfather).

    I’d love to connect with anyone in these families especially with the Lockyer Valley as the names Beutels and Neuendorfs are connected through the women.

    Donna nee Magdalinsk

  69. DONNA ARNOLD

    Hi all

    I’m helping a friend who has ancestor from Maryborough – Name
    Dethlef Hansen
    Birth 1814 Germany
    Death 8 Oct 1896 Maryborough, Queensland, Australia

    He arrived from Germany 1840s into Qld.

    Does anyone have info of the ship or info in Germany/parents etc?

    thanks
    Donna

  70. My grandmother was Agnes Mengel who married Ferdinand Gustav Liesch. Her father Heinrich I believe travelled out with his younger brother Jacob Mengel. Do you have much information on the Mengel’s. I have some but none on the Liesch family in Germany. I would appreciate any help at all in tracing the Lieschs . His father Ferdinand Ludwig Liesch settled at Tent Hill with his wife Johanna nee Schroeder. Any ideas?

  71. Julie Timmins

    Hi I am looking for information about
    Christian Batzloff
    Birthdate: 1812
    Birthplace: Brussow, Brisoff, Germany
    Death: June 20, 1885 (72-73)
    Westbrook, Queensland, Australia
    Immediate Family: Husband of Caroline Rogo and Caroline Rogge
    Father of Wilhelmine Erdman; Auguste Batzloff; Frederick Batzloff; William Batzloff and Luise Wilhelmine Batzlaff

    Christian Batzloff would be my 3rd Great Grandfather
    apparently from Zuesedom Prussia to Australia
    sailed on the “Cesar Godfrey from Zusedom Prussia 1861, Arrived in Australia with wife and married daughter “Whilelmine-17 and her husband Friedrich Erdmann, also Wilhelm-13, and Freidrich-9 years ”

    Also in particular their daughter Whilehline Erdmann and husband Friedrich Erdmann – I have not knowledge of where Friedrich originated possible the same town of Zusedom?

    Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou

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