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12 Oct 1886
Baldina Trip reported by the Roach Brothers
The Hundred of Baldina is divided into the inner and outer plains, which
have been under cultivation for about 12 years. The inner plain sloped
east, terminating in a low range called the Black Hills. This is excellent
agricultural country with fair rainfall, though lower than in Burra. This
inner plain has 3,000 to 4,000 acres under wheat. The outer plain is
saltbush country and is good for wheat, only the rainfall is quite
unreliable. In the 12 years of settlement it has had only one really good
crop - in the first year. A large proportion of settlers here have either
sold out or deserted their holdings. The remainder, principally Germans,
have about 3,000 acres under wheat in this outer plain. As a rule wheat
here is up by 1 May, but this year there was no rain till near the end of
July and the wheat broke through by the 1 August. The crops look healthy
and green, but at the same time rather lacking in strength and vigour.
They average only 6” high and yet with as many as 6 joints in the straw.
Yields are hard to estimate as the next few weeks will be vital, but 5-6
bushels per acres might eventuate.
14 Feb 1888
Baldina Plains School
Settlers there have petitioned for a school and the request has been
granted. Mr F. Budrian has been appointed. The settlers are mostly Germans
who are gladly availing themselves of the opportunity offered.
25 Oct 1893
Golden Wedding
Last Sunday the Golden Wedding of Heinrich Christian Wilhelm Fuss
and Freideriche Christiana Fuss was celebrated. They were married
at Neustatt, Harzburg, Germany, on 22 October 1843. They migrated to
Australia four years later in the Hermann Von Beckeratt. On reaching Burra
Mr Fuss became a miner, but was soon promoted to sole charge of the
smelting works charge yard, where he mixed the first and the last charge
for the furnace. He has 44 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. He is a
most successful gardener and when Burra could boast annual floricultural
shows Mr Fuss was the principal prize-taker. Even at the present time he
takes great interest in gardening operations and his clean neat beds of
flowers are admired by everyone. In addition to this he spends much time
reading. He had six sons and two daughters, all of whom are married. Mr
Fuss is 77 and his wife 76 and both are in excellent health. After the
suspension of work at the smelting yards Mr Fuss did a little farming at
Springbank for a few years, but he subsequently retired from that
operation and has since led a retired life.
1 May 1895, Obituary
Mr H. C. W. Fuss
It is our painful duty in this issue to record the death of Mr H.C.W.
Fuss, which took place at his residence, Redruth, on Thursday morning last
after a few weeks illness at the age of 79 years. The deceased gentleman
was a very old and respected resident of Burra, having arrived in S.A. on
1847 in the good ship Herman Von Beckeratt. Hearing so much at that time
of the famous Burra Burra Mine, Mr Fuss visited the town, and fortunately
found employment as a miner, but he only filled the position for a short
time, when he was promoted to one higher, having sole charge of the
smelting works charge-yard, and he mixed the first and last charge for the
furnace. After the smelters ceased operations Mr Fuss followed the
occupation of farmer at Springbank for a few years, and then retired to a
private and comfortable life. The deceased gentleman never took any active
part in public matters, but has always been known as an intelligent and
industrious gardener, and in years gone by he was very successful at
flower shows, and his generosity in imparting valuable knowledge
concerning the growth and cultivation of all kinds of plants won him the
respect and admiration of everyone who had transactions with him. On
Sunday, October 22 1893, the golden wedding of Mr and Mrs Fuss was
celebrated at Redruth. They were married at Neustatt, Harzburg, Germany on
October 22, 1843. Six sons and two daughters is the result of the
marriage, all of whom are married, and in addition to these 46
grandchildren and two great grandchildren have been born. One brother of
the deceased gentleman is still living in Germany. Up to the time of his
late illness Mr Fuss had enjoyed exceptionally good health. Much sympathy
is expressed for the bereaved family, especially for Mrs Fuss who has
reached the age of 79 years, but still enjoys fairly good health. The
funeral took place on Saturday afternoon and was largely attended, the
burial service being conducted by the Rev. A.G. King.
15 Feb 1899
The Eastern Country
There is a report on the country east of Burra, but it is not very
specific just where, though probably the inner east on the way to
Robertstown. It reports signs of hard work and difficult times and praises
the Germans for their hard work, tenacity, kindness and attention to their
animals and care to keep their implements under cover. It mentions an
early rabbit-proof fence of mallee stakes 2’6” long placed close together
against a three wire fence.
21 Mar 1900, Obituary
G.A. Gebhardt died on Friday [16 March]. He was born at Duderstadt,
Hanover, Germany in 1833 and arrived in SA in the Ohio in 1858. He
proceeded to Burra and took up butchering before turning to pastoralism.
He bought Mt Cone from the Crown and leased Pualka [check Pualca?] soon
after – sold and now known as part of the Paratoo Run [check the sense of
this] He then purchased Markaranko Station, a lease on the Murray, which
he held for 19 years. He worked very hard improving his properties and
fighting vermin and other odds, like bad seasons. He added to Mt Cone by
purchasing land from Mr Lewis in 1871 (Wildotta), where he built his
residence of Mackerode. On retiring he went to live in Glenelg. At one
time he had the best flock of Lincolns in the colony, but the run was
later restocked with Merinos. He recently acquired both Pareora and
Corryton Park. In 1875 he and his family took a twelve month trip to
Germany. He leaves a widow and seven children: Messrs Charles E., L.W., &
A. Gebhardt of Mackerode and A.G. of Pareora (Pt Wakefield). He also
leaves two brothers and sisters. He was, in retirement, a member of the
Lutheran Church in Flinders St, Adelaide.
18 Apr 1900, Obituary
Mrs Henrietta Eichler, mother-in-law of the Town Clerk, Mr A.
Bartholomæus has died aged 88 years 7 months. She fractured her hip 11
weeks ago and never recovered. She left Clausthal, Germany, in late 1851
and arrived in SA in January 1852 and proceeded to Burra where her husband
gained work in the mine. When the Victorian gold rush was on Mr Eichler
went there for three years and on returning worked at the mine as a
timberman until the mine closed. Mr Eichler died 11 years ago. She is
survived by four sons and two daughters as well as 34 grandchildren and
about 50 great-grandchildren. Rev. W.H. Rofe officiated at the funeral.
10 Jul 1901, Obituary
Mr Carl Oppermann
Mr Carl Oppermann of Llwchyr died on Thursday aged 74. He arrived in Burra
in 1854 by the ship Johann Caesar. He was born at Claustal in the Hartz
Mountains, Hanover on 21 June 1827. He worked for some time at the Burra
Mine and also for the Main Roads Board and most recently with the Burra
District Council. He was much respected for his straightforwardness and
integrity. He was a keen floriculturalist, winning many prizes at the
local flower shows. He also grew many kinds of fruit. He was known to all
as Charlie Oppermann. Married in St Mary’s on 21 May 1855 by Rev. J.H.
Ibbetson and had ten children. Survived by 3 daughters and 4 sons: Mrs G.
Dow (Burra), Mrs Topperwein (Parkside). Of the sons only Mr W. Oppermann
is married and lives in Burra. Mr M. Oppermann of Wolloway is a brother of
the deceased. He joined the Burra Burra Lodge 43 years ago.
XV, 501, 12 Feb. 1902, page 2-3
Marriage
On Thursday at World’s End Miss Johanna Louisa Martha Rooke married
Frederick William Duldig. These are the children of some of the
most enthusiastic toilers of the soil in the eastern country and their
farms are models of ingenuity and hard work. Machinery, horses, cows, pigs
and fowls are all cared for meticulously. The marriage was carried out in
true German style. A large number of traps assembled at Mr Rooke’s at
about 12 o’clock where the festive part of the ceremony took place. A
start was then made for the Baldina Church. Horses, traps and whips were
decorated with yards of ribbon, with green the favourite colour. An hour
and ten minutes drive got the party to church. The church was handsomely
decorated reflecting to the credit of Miss C. Kickebusche. The ceremony
was performed by Rev. T. W. Leidig. The eight mile return trip, as is the
general rule, saw drivers attempt to pass each other and the journey took
only half an hour before the traps passed under a large arch made at the
gate. The pedestrian entrance to the celebration was also arched and in
true German style no one was admitted by five little girls dressed in
white with blue sashes, until they had placed something in the hat. The
seventy to eighty guests then partook of a sumptuous spread in a tent some
50-60 feet long. Singing and music followed with games and then tea, after
which there was an evening of singing, recitation, music and choruses, all
nicely rendered. Mr Duldig amused the gathering with his comic recitation
of The Baker and Mr R. Pfitzner also entertained with his German and
English recitations. The bride was dressed in a beautiful black lustre
nicely trimmed while on the crown of her head was an orange blossom wreath
and a long fall almost touched the ground. At 11.30 p.m. a large spread
that would have done credit to any banquet in the state was provided – the
tables laden with every kind of eatable. The interior of the tent had the
appearance of a magic cave. Custom places the couple under the care of
their respective parents until the bride exchanges her orange blossom for
a hat and the groom puts on a cap. The rest of the night passed pleasantly
with refreshments constantly served, and on Friday morning visitors began
to return to their homes, though some remained to complete the third day’s
ceremony.
9 Dec 1903
The Old Bakehouse on the eastern side of Henderson’s Bridge has become
historical. The baker before Mr Ullmann was so disturbed he made a quick
and lively disappearance. Mr Ullmann was frightened by the capers
of some young men [who assaulted him] that he returned to Germany. Mr
Charlie Morgan took over and has become somewhat afraid to stop in the
building alone any longer, so has taken a trip to the ‘United States’.
[i.e. married]
Burra Record, 7 Aug 1907
Golden Wedding of Mr & Mrs Bruse
Mr Bruse came to SA from Rostach (Germany) in 1846 and soon went to the
diggings. In 1849 he came to Burra for the first time, but in a short time
went to Bendigo, returning to Adelaide in 1852, where he worked as a
cabinetmaker. He went to the diggings for a third time (and each was
fairly successful). He married M. Daw in 1857, who came from Penzance in
Cornwall. He has now been a resident of Burra for 53 years. Mrs Bruse is
71 and he is almost 81. They have five sons and four daughters.
19 Aug 1908, Marriage
Mr Herman Schwarz of Eudunda married Miss Bertha Ottilie Duldig,
3rd daughter of F. Duldig of World’s End, in the Bright Lutheran Church.
Rev. Hansen officiated. Light refreshments preceded the dash to the home
of the bride’s father. A dozen vehicles tried to pass the bride and groom,
but their leading trap had too much pace and the happy couple arrived
first. Dinner was immediately served in a galvanized iron room built
specially for the occasion. There were four highly decorated tables. In
less than a quarter of an hour 70-80 people were served with poultry,
vegetables, etc. A collection was made for the home Mission. After dinner,
with its attendant speeches, games of cricket and football were played as
well as games like twos and threes and scores of others. Refreshments were
served at intervals with a sumptuous tea at 6 p.m., after which there were
songs and recitations in both English and German, character sketches and
other amusements in the house’s front room and a short farce: The Black
Doctor, was well received. Supper was served just before 12 o’clock and at
midnight the wreath was taken from the bride’s head and the buttonhole
from the groom, marking the release of both from their parents’ care.
Parlour games continued through the night with refreshments. Breakfast was
served at dawn. Many then went home, but others stayed to continue the
amusements and feasting.
20 Mar 1912, Obituary
The late Mrs J.W. C. Lowe aged 79 and a resident in Burra for c. 62
years, migrated from Germany with her parents in 1849 and married Mr Lowe
in old St Mary’s c. 60 years ago. Her husband died about 53 years ago. She
leaves two sons: Cr C.H. Lowe of Redruth and A.W. Lowe of Broken Hill.
Burra Record, 11 Sep 1912, Obituary
Frederick John Bernhardt died in Burra on 31 August aged 72. He was
born in Germany in 1840 and arrived in SA 29 April 1857 in the Nugget. He
leaves a wife, 8 daughters and 4 sons: Carrie (Broken Hill), Amelia (Baldina),
Louie (Adelaide), Annie, Bertha, Selina, Myrtle & Violet (Burra), Fred,
Francis, Robert (Burra) & Charles (Broken Hill). There are 3 sons-in-law,
2 daughters-in-law and 12 grandchildren.
2 Apr 1913, Obituary
Miss Christina Behla, an early resident of Burra, but recently of
Kiata, Victoria, died last week aged 81. She came to Adelaide in 1855 from
Werben in Germany with her husband who died 15 years ago. They lived at
Burra in the early days of the mine and she was well known south of Burra
where her husband later farmed. She is survived by a son and three
daughters. |
