QUEENSLAND'S GERMAN CONNECTIONS - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

From Moreton Bay to Maryborough

During 1860–1890, the promise of a Land Order to the value of £18 to buy Crown Land was a key incentive for many German people to seek a new life on the Fifth Continent. After two years, a further £12 Land Order could be claimed. Peter Ludlow compiled stories from four of the families across Southeast Queensland. The Vieritz family was one of those accepting the incentive, leaving their traditional home in Schonfeld in Prussia. The elder children were the first to venture to Queensland and with them came their spouses and the beginnings of their young families. Charlotte Vieritz, a widow after the death of her husband Wilhelm, apparently had quite a decided rule over her family. Unhappy with her son Frederick’s relationship with his girlfriend Wilhelmine Scharlan, she convinced him to accompany her to Australia. So in 1880 they sailed on the Earl Dalhousie for Brisbane. Charlotte became sick on the journey and the crew did not allow Frederick to enter her cabin. Charlotte died during the voyage and was buried at sea. Frederick related how the crew did not weigh her coffin down enough and he watched the coffin floating on the waves until the ship was out of sight of it. At that he threw himself down on the deck and “cried and cried”. By 1885 more of the Veritz family – Carl and Caroline – had arrived in the Merkara . This ship left London on 28 July 1885 and arrived in Brisbane seven weeks later. Christian’s wife-to-be, Auguste Louise Zimmerman, was also a passenger on this vessel. They married, three days after their arrival in Australia, in Caboolture on 25 September 1885. The Vieritz family members in Australia were engaged in mainly agricultural activities in the new farmlands of Caboolture and Peachester districts, where they established orchards and dairy farms. Christian and Frederick selected portions of land at Peachester. Frederick’s daughter, Lena Harris (nee Vieritz) recalled, “In 1887 my parents came from Caboolture in a German wagon with two horses and their goods. My mother said that the Old Pinch was so steep and rough that

The Vieritz’ first generation in Australia, like other German immigrants, maintained its traditions by living in predominantly German settlements and having German spouses who either came with them from Germany or were sent for in the first few years. After his arrival in Australia Frederick Vieritz nominated and paid for Wilhelmine and her son to come to Australia, and they were married in the Lutheran Church in North Brisbane, on 18 January 1884. Christian applied for naturalization on 4 March 1886, setting an example for the next generation, which tended more toward integration, and the following one, which largely married outside the German community. This process was hastened by the anti-German feeling in the country as a result of the First World War and to a lesser extent by World War II. At least two members of the Vieritz family served in World War I (Gustav and Emil, the sons of Carl Vieritz), as did many others in the Second World War. Contributed by Russell Turner John George Sheriff (Johan Georg Sharriffe) was born about 1833 at Stuttgart in Württemberg. His arrival in Australia is undated but he found work as a bullock driver and, in April 1858, married Eva Clarius in Dalby. The Clarius family had emigrated to Queensland on the Grasbrook , which arrived at Moreton Bay on 26 September 1855. John and Eva Sheriff lived at Juandah and later in Dalby. John George Sheriff carted timber from Ipswich to Juandah and Wandoan. They had eleven children. It is known that, of these, Henry was a grazier, while William and Charles were selectors. At age 65, John George Sheriff was kicked in the front of his head and died some 29 days later. They were living at Ranges Bridge outside Dalby at that time. Contributed by Gwen Sheriff Background: The elegant 1,047 ton Earl Dalhousie rides to her mooring. She was built in Dundee in 1862, and measured 191ft 6in (58m) long by 34 feet (10.4m) across the beam. Image (neg. 15494) courtesy of State Library of Queensland

the horses could not pull the load, so it had to be winched up. They stayed with Uncle Christie until they got a shelter for themselves.”

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