QUEENSLAND'S GERMAN CONNECTIONS - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Adolf Muller was raised and educated in the district, had a dairy farm and ran cattle near Boonah. From 1919 to 1933 he served on the Shire Council, its chairman from 1930. A foundation member of the Kalbar Show Society, he was for many years a member of the Queensland Butter Board, the Australia Dairy Produce Exports Board, the Australian Dairy Council and was also chair of the Queensland Farmers Co-operative Company. In 1935 he was elected to state parliament as the Member for Fassifern. Popular and respected, in 1949 he became deputy leader of the Country Party. After representing the electorate for 34 years he resigned in 1969, having served one term as Minister for Irrigation and Public Lands. Son Selwyn replaced him in the 1969 election, held the seat a further 14 years until 1983, and was Speaker of the Parliament from 1979 until his retirement. Friedrich Richter was the oldest of 17 children of a German immigrant family who selected land near Engelsburg (Kalbar). He established a coach- and body-building business, and not only parlayed his farming, mechanical and business skills into an award-winning export business which survived until the late 1980s, but also produced an only son who was knighted before his retirement from the Queensland parliament in 1972. Their stories are told later in this book. References: Pfeffer, Colin: The Fassifern Story, a history of the Boonah Shire and surroundings to 1989 M Jurgensen & Corkhill A (ed.): The German Presence in Queensland (Proceedings of an international symposium at the University of Queensland 1987) Johnson M and Saunders K: Working the Land, an historical overview of Boonah and its northern district Feeding many, many mouths

As well as maize, butter and eggs were produced for sale in Ipswich, though prices were low and transport slow and difficult. It was a long day to go to Ipswich, starting before daybreak and returning long after dark. Pig farming was important, particularly in the Teviotville district. A dairy industry began in the 1890s, but struggled with having to send cream by train to Ipswich until a butter factory was opened in Boonah in 1901. Ferdinand Lobegeiger tried to replicate his Logan sugarcane efforts and built a sugar mill, but the venture failed and the farmers reverted to maize, which comprised 90% of all cultivation by 1892. Later, potatoes, pumpkins and other vegetables became major crops, especially on the rich river flats close to water. Farmers, wagons and train at Teviotville, for ‘Hutton’s Pig Day’ ca 1898. Image (digital ID 2499) courtesy Queensland State Archives Copyright State of Queensland

As elsewhere, the Germans were devout, and both Lutherans and Baptists had large congregations. The first church in the region was the Engelsburg Baptist Church in 1877 and it served as the first school for the little settlement. Others were formed at Charlwood, Aratula and Boonah, and there were Lutheran churches at Hoya, Engelsburg, Milbong, Mt Alford, Dugundan and Teviotville. Pastor Carl Kruger served the Baptist congregations 45 years, Pastor H Bode the Teviotville Lutherans 53 years, and Pastor Finger the Engelsburg Lutherans for 45. Fassifern Germans included many notable citizens – and for quite diverse reasons. The Stephan family of Templin established an Australian record for family size. Between 1881 and 1913 Carl and his wife Johanne had 22 children. There were no multiple births.

The Fassifern Guardian 16 April 1990 Fassifern District Centenary 1844-1944, Fassifern Shire Council

ray cash photography / copyright state of queensland

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