Fix this text
A MEMOIR
Fix this textOF WILLIAM KIRCHNER
Fix this textBY HIS SON, MR. W. KIRCHNER,
Fix this textBELMONT.
Fix this textAt the invitation of the Clarence River
Fix this textHistorical Society, Mr. Kirchner writes:—
Fix this textIt will be necessary for me, before
Fix this texttouching on the Clarence River
Fix this textmemories, to give a short resume of my
Fix this textparents ’ history which leads up to their
Fix this textmigration to Australia and settlement at
Fix this textGrafton on the Clarence.
Fix this textOf German descent, my father was
Fix this textborn in the early 1800’s at Frankfurt on
Fix this textMain, a typical German city where the
Fix this textname of Kirchner was of long standing
Fix this textand high respect. Members of the
Fix this textfamily for two or three generations were
Fix this textLutheran ministers, and the principal
Fix this textstreet in Frankfurt is graced by a beauti-
Fix this textful monument of ‘ ‘ Pharrer Kirchner, ’ ’
Fix this textwhilst the main thoroughfare facing the
Fix this textgreat railway station bears the name of
Fix this textmy grandfather. Frankfurt at this
Fix this texttime was known as a free city and did
Fix this textnot become attached to Prussia until
Fix this textannexed by that power after the year,
Fix this text1866.
Fix this textYielding to the desire in later life to
Fix this textgo abroad in the interests of his educa
Fix this texttion and betterment my father went to
Fix this textLondon and at a city hotel got into con
Fix this textversation with two gentlemen resident
Fix this textthere. As the outcome of that casual
Fix this textmeeting he was invited to accompany
Fix this textthem to the shores of “Sunny Australia. ’’
Fix this textThis he did and his companions proved
Fix this textto be Messrs. Campbell and Walker, Mr
Fix this textAlec Campbell, a Sydney merchant of
Fix this textCircular Quay, and Mr. Walker the great
Fix this textgrandfather of Miss Eadith Walker. It
Fix this textwas in the year 1832 they arrived in
Fix this textSydney, where for several years my father
Fix this textserved as an accountant in Mr. Camp
Fix this textbell’s office.
Fix this textLater, as his financial means allowed,
Fix this textmy father was able to set up in business
Fix this texton his own account, and as far back as
Fix this text1836 was a merchant in Wynyard street.
Fix this textSydney, while his accountant then was
Fix this textMr. Wilkinson, later the general manager
Fix this textof the Bank of New South Wales in
Fix this textSydney.
Fix this textGERMAN SETTLEMENT AT GRAFTON.
Fix this textAlthough several years had passed the
Fix this textstrong ties of homeland ware not com
Fix this textpletely severed and consequently my
Fix this textparents made several trips to Germany,
Fix this textespecially Frankfurt. In the home town
Fix this textconditions were anything but pleasant
Fix this textand holding in his heart a very high
Fix this textplace for his fellow beings my father
Fix this textadvanced the idea of inducing several
Fix this texthundred German settlers to migrate to
Fix this textAustralia, where he foresaw suitable in
Fix this textdustry to place them in constant employ
Fix this textment. His agents at Hamburg, J. C.
Fix this textGodderfroy and Sons, the shipping com
Fix this textpany, showed interest in the venture and
Fix this texttwo ships, the Suzzanah Godderfroy and
Fix this textthe Frances Kirchner (named after my
Fix this textmother) sailed from Germany with their
Fix this texthuman cargo of broad-hearted settlers,
Fix this textbon voyage to Australia. They were
Fix this textsafely landed in the Clarence River dis-
Fix this texttrict and employed in and around the
Fix this textfactory situated at Grafton and owned
Fix this textby my father.
Fix this textThe writer was born at Sydney on Sep
Fix this texttember 28, 1851, and baptised at St.
Fix this textPhillip’s old church by the late Dean
Fix this textCowper’s father in November the same
Fix this textyear. I attended school at Macquarie
Fix this textFields and was a pupil under the Rev.
Fix this textGeorge F. McArthur for a period of two
Fix this textyears.
Fix this textTHE WRECK OF THE DARING.
Fix this textDuring these years of my early child-
Fix this texthood my father had been residing at Graf-
Fix this textton and at the close of the year 1859
Fix this textmother and I left Daning Point for his
Fix this textfactory in a crude steamer, the Orara,
Fix this textunder Captain Wiseman, who was a bluft
Fix this textScotchman of kindly disposition and was
Fix this textthen director with my father in the
Fix this textClarence and Richmond old company. I
Fix this textremember, very clearly, an incident of
Fix this textthat trip, for my parents’ furniture and
Fix this textall our treasured household things were
Fix this textsent on ahead of us in a small schooner
Fix this textcalled the Daring, and unfortunately be
Fix this textfore reaching the shelter of the Clarence
Fix this textRiver heads she was wrecked. As our
Fix this textboat steamed sluggishly through the heads
Fix this textCaptain Wiseman pointed out to mother
Fix this textand me the wreckage of the ‘'Daring’s
Fix this textlast dare,” the sight of which upset my
Fix this textmother, and I, in my childish way, took
Fix this texta temporary dislike to the captain.
Fix this textWhatever had been lacking in the short
Fix this textsea voyage up was restored to me a
Fix this texthundredfold on reaching our destination.
Fix this textWe were conveyed in two small boats up
Fix this textthe river to the site of the factory.
Fix this textSituated near the pleasant Clarence River
Fix this textin a most picturesque spot of the 840
Fix this textacre property, my father’s factory marked
Fix this textthe centre of activity for the German
Fix this textimmigrants. I can remember the works
Fix this textbeing in full swing on the day of our
Fix this textarrival and all hands working at full
Fix this textpressure milling logs, for local use and
Fix this textexportation; making soaps, scented and
Fix this textcommon; and manufacturing stearine
Fix this textcandles. The head soapmaker’s name
Fix this textwas Muir; in charge of all the depart-
Fix this textments and branches of the works were
Fix this textcompetent overseers appointed by my
Fix this textfather, and such a delicacy as a 44-
Fix this texthour week was never even dreamed of by
Fix this textthese keen workmen who toiled for 12
Fix this texthours per day and were happy.
Fix this textNear the factory was a large expanse
Fix this textof swamp where thousands of swans,
Fix this textcranes and ducks had their abode. Many
Fix this textwere the pleasant days I spent in com
Fix this textpany with my brother Edward, who was
Fix this textsix years my senior, in the vicinity of
Fix this textthat swamp, which provided fine sport.
Fix this textMy task was generally to row the small
Fix this textpunt whilst he, being a crack shot, had
Fix this textthe rifle and played havoc with the
Fix this textgame.
Fix this textARGYLE VILLA.
Fix this textNot very far distant from the factory
Fix this textmy father had been instrumental in the
Fix this texterection of a fine stone mansion, which
Fix this textwas our home and is still standing to-day.
Fix this textAfter our removal from the town this
Fix this textmansion became the residence of the
Fix this textfirst Bishop of Grafton, and I believe was
Fix this texttill lately occupied by Miss Cameron.
Fix this textI attended the Grafton National School
Fix this textat this time where the headmaster was
Fix this textMr. James Page, grandfather of the
Fix this textpresent Leader of the Federal Country
Fix this textparty, Dr. Earle Page. Mr. Thomas
Fix this textFisher, a very jovial fellow, was in
Fix this textcharge of the Steam Navigation Com
Fix this textpany. The telegraph master was well
Fix this textknown to me, though his name is lost
Fix this textto my memory. It was always my de
Fix this textlight to visit him for occasionally half
Fix this texta crown was pressed into the ready palm
Fix this textof ‘ ‘ young Kirchner ’’ to buy sweets. I
Fix this textowned a little white pony of Arab breed
Fix this textwhich was a favorite with the townsfolk
Fix this textand his name was Schmill. The main
Fix this textthoroughfare, Prince street, is vivid in
Fix this textmy memory and many of the early build
Fix this textings still form a background for my re
Fix this textflections. There was a German boat-
Fix this textbuilder named Schwonberg, who had his
Fix this textworks on the banks of the Clarence and
Fix this textwas very kind to me. My nurse was
Fix this textknown to me as ‘ ‘ Gretchen. ’ ’
Fix this textTHE AGNES IRVING.
Fix this textMy father’s brother, George Kirchner,
Fix this textwas in charge of the working of the fac
Fix this texttory in the absence of my father, and
Fix this textlater on leaving Grafton, moved to Syd
Fix this textney, where he became secretary of the
Fix this textMasonic Club and remained in that posi
Fix this texttion for many years. We left Grafton
Fix this textlater and returned to Sydney to live. The
Fix this textboat, Agnes Irving, which brought us to
Fix this textour new home, was damaged on her next
Fix this textventure out at a place called Ulmarra
Fix this textowing to the bursting of a boiler.
Fix this textIn 1863 my father was made Commis-
Fix this textsioner of Stamp Duty at Brisbane by Mr.
Fix this textArthur Palmer, afterwards Sir Arthur.
Fix this textActing on the influence and advice of his
Fix this textemployer my father sailed for London
Fix this textand thence to Germany where he again
Fix this textnegotiated with a shipping company and
Fix this textinduced more Germans to migrate to Aus
Fix this texttralia and these immigrants were placed
Fix this textin the Queensland settlements.
Fix this textPossibly I am the only one of these
Fix this textearly settlers living who had any con
Fix this textnection with the founding of the soap
Fix this textand candle manufacturing enterprise in
Fix this textthe Clarence district. I am now 82 years
Fix this textof age and have very vivid recollections
Fix this textof the years spent in company with my
Fix this textparents and the other German immigrants
Fix this textin opening up the River district in the
Fix this textvicinity of Grafton. If by chance any
Fix this textof the German immigrants known to me
Fix this textare living I would be pleased if they
Fix this textwould communicate with me.
Fix this textW. G. KIRCHNER
Fix this textMain Road.
Fix this textBelmont, N.S.W.
Fix this textNote. —The telegraph master’s name
Fix this textwas Pizey.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2353782812
Kirchner, W. (1934). A memoir of William Kirchner Retrieved February 21, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2353782812
Kirchner, W. A memoir of William Kirchner : , 1934. Web. 21 February 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2353782812>
Kirchner, W. 1934, A memoir of William Kirchner , viewed 21 February 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2353782812
{{Citation
| author1=Kirchner, W.
| title=A memoir of William Kirchner
| year=1934
| section=1 leaf ; 29 cm.
| publisher=
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2353782812
| id=nla.obj-2353782812
| access-date=21 February 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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