QUEENSLAND'S GERMAN CONNECTIONS - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Lutheran ministry efforts

Bloomfield (Wujal-Wujal) 1886-1901 Bloomfield River mission in the Daintree began as a well-funded government initiative during a period of rapid growth around Cooktown. It was then devolved into Lutheran care and underwent a parallel development with the Lutheran mission at Mari Yamba, although it cost the health and spirit of two successive missionaries. When the mission was wound down in 1901 most of the Kuku Yalanji refused to be shifted to Cape Bedford and they remained in the area in a number of small camps. In 1957 it became Wujal-Wujal and still exists as an Aboriginal community. Because it became a Lutheran mission only in 1887, it celebrated its The 15-year history of Mari Yamba mission near the present day Proserpine and Andromache State Forests has all the appearance of an ill-conceived and poorly managed project, resulting in the forced displacement of Aboriginal people from their homelands. Like several other missions, it quickly outlived its historical position at the frontier of settlement causing the Queensland government to withdraw its support. The Mari Yamba mission residents were relocated to Cape Bedford mission in 1902. Mapoon 1891-1919 This was the first Moravian mission in Queensland, and was intended to help supervise unscrupulous treatment of indigenous people in the pearling and trepang industries. Its success was largely due to the 28-year staying power of its first missionary, Rev. Nikolaus Hey, who implemented distinctly Moravian regimes and seeded a string of missions along the east coast of Cape York Peninsula. Weipa 1898-1919 Weipa became the first branch mission of Mapoon in a string of roughly equidistant missions along the West coast of Cape York under the direction of British Moravian Rev. Edwin Brown until 1919. Its purpose was to prevent recruiting for the trepang and pearling industry in the area. Aurukun 1904-1913 Aurukun on the Archer River was a mission marked by trouble during its first 10 years under Pastor Richter who strongly relied on ‘native assistants’ to mediate contact with indigenous communities that remained aloof. It was the third of four stations on the west coast of Cape York in the Presbyterian/Moravian string of missions consisting of Mapoon (1891), Weipa (1898) and Mornington Island (1914). After World War I the Germans withdrew from mission ventures in Australia and devolved their direction to Lutheran and other denominations. 100th anniversary in 1987. Mari Yamba 1887-1902

Zion Hill Mission 1838-1848 Zion Hill was initiated by Presbyterian J D Lang who recruited a group of German Pietists and Lutherans to form the fourth mission in Australia, to help prepare the Moreton Bay penal colony for civilian settlement. It had two ordained pastors and ten laymen, with eight wives and a group of children. Some of its missionaries became pioneer farmers, imprinting their names on the modern Brisbane map: Rode Road in Chermside and Wavell Heights, Zillman Road and Gerler Road in Hendra, Franz Road in Clayfield, Wagner Road in Clayfield, Niquet Court at Redcliffe, Haussmann Courts and lanes in Meadowbrook (Loganlea) and Caboolture. They are remembered as the first free settlers of Queensland, producing the first free-born settler children in Queensland. Bethesda Mission 1866-1881 Founded by Pastor Johann Haussmann from Zion Hill, Bethesda was the first mission established after the separation of Queensland from New South Wales, and one of the few missionary ventures in Queensland during the 1870s. Typically, it hovered precariously between an unfunded mission and a commercial enterprise trying to use cheap Aboriginal labour. Haussmann achieved more in ministering to the spiritual needs of the Germans in the Albert-Logan region, than with the indigenous population, with whom he had no success. Nerang Creek 1869-1879 The ‘Aboriginal Industrial Mission Reserve’ at Nerang Creek was a private initiative of Pastor Haussmann in association with his Bethesda Mission on the Albert River. It, too, was an attempt to start a mission in a funding vacuum. It received much criticism and little support, during a period when there were no other mission efforts in Queensland. Cape Bedford Mission (Hope Vale) 1886-1942 The first mission on Cape York, and the oldest surviving mission in the far north, was initiated by Lutheran staff from Cooper Creek. Two young missionaries, Rev. Schwarz and Rev. Poland, provided surprising stability, staying for 55 and 21 years respectively, The whole community was evacuated during World War II, and afterwards re-established on a new site at Hope Vale. The indomitable Father Schwarz is still remembered as “Muni” in this cohesive community which is home to a number of high-profile indigenous activists.

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