A page from the Deutch-Australische Post.

(1906). Deutsch-Australische post : wochenschrift = German-Australian Post : weekly (Sydney, NSW: 1893–1906). https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-title1600

A page from the South Australian Newspaper in German.

(1901). Australische Zeitung (Adelaide, SA : 1875–1916) nla.news-page23339361 

A page from the Adelaider Deutsche Zeitung, 1851.

(1851). Adelaider Deutsche Zeitung (SA: 1851–1862). https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-title277

Newspaper Resources

Australische Zeitung

Adelaider Deutsche Zeitung

Deutsch-Australische post

German Settlement in Australia

German migrants came to Australia as founding pioneers following colonisation, with 10,000 migrating during the gold rushes of the 1850s. The world wars changed societal treatment of German migrants in Australia to one of suspicion and isolation. Many German families anglicised their surnames, which resulted in much of the history of German migration from that period disappearing. After World War II, many Germans arrived in Australia because of being displaced by the war. These groups were able to settle, and this enabled their churches, cultural institutions and schools to re-emerge. On such institution to take hold in Australia was the Melbourne German Gymnastics Club was originally founded in the 1860s at 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy; it closed in 1916.

A small drawing or print advertising the Melbourne German Gymnastics Club.

Beyer, E. artist. (1907). Melbourner Deutscher Turn Verein, 1907 = Melbourne German Gymnastics Club, 1907 / E. Beyer. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-153092113

Activities:

  • Have students write an article about a mystery (real or imagined). Use this exercise to make students consider writing style and tone. Students will need to demonstrate a range of writing and grammatical styles and consider the tone of the article, the audience and the purpose of the article.
  • Discuss the ways different language newspapers might be affected by the delivery of information from the land of origin.
  • Explore the articles and content of the newspaper resources linked above.

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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