Klemzig, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Klemzig is a suburb of Adelaide
in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield
. It is the location of the first settlement of German emigrants to Australia in the 19th century and is named after a village near the city of Zuellichau
in southeastern Brandenburg
in the German state of Prussia
, where they originated from. The village of Klemzig is today located in western Poland and is now known by the Polish name Klępsk
.
settlement in the South Australian Colony is attributed to a decision by Pastor August Ludwig Christian Kavel
. Pastor Kavel was determined to help his loyal parishioners emigrate from Brandenburg
, Posen
and Silesia
to escape religious persecution by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia
.
Pastor Kavel initially planned to move his parishioners to Russia
near the Black Sea
, where there were already numerous German settlements
, but that had proved not to be feasible. Early in 1836, Kavel travelled to Hamburg
to investigate possible emigration to America
, but lack of available financial assistance caused this plan to collapse.
Whilst in Hamburg, Kavel heard of the wealthy philanthropist, George Fife Angas
, who was Chairman of the South Australian Company and likely to assist the Old Lutherans with their migration plans.
Kavel and a representative of his congregation travelled to London in March 1836 and met a very sympathetic George Fife Angas. Angas was a Baptist
and was convinced the Old Lutherans, who placed such high value on their religious beliefs, would make excellent settlers in the South Australian Colony.
Angas persuaded the Directors of the South Australian Company to support him in chartering and fitting out the barque
Sarah which was to proceed to Hamburg. Here, 370 Old Lutherans were to set sail for South Australia on 8 June 1836. However, Prussian authorities refused to grant the necessary passports until finally, after a distressing delay of nearly two years, the Prussian Government relented. Over the next six years, many ships brought Kavel's Old Lutheran parishioners to the South Australian Colony.
completed surveying Kangaroo Island
, Encounter Bay
, Port Lincoln
and the Adelaide Plains
. Light eventually chose the Adelaide Plains as the most suitable location for the capital.
The first groups of Old Lutheran emigrants arrived in Port Misery
between October 1838 and January 1839. With the assistance of George Fife Angas, many attempted to integrate into the local community by becoming tradespeople and labourers. Due to the scarcity of work, the lack of English as their preferred language, and the prejudice from the already established British
farmers, many Old Lutherans found settlement increasingly hard.
In 1838, Klemzig was founded by these emigrants after George Fife Angas offered a section of land bordering the Torrens River, a few kilometres to the north-east of Adelaide.
, commemorating the British victory in the Third Battle of Gaza
, in which Australian troops had a major role. Though it reverted to its original name in 1935, through South Australia's Nomenclature Act of 1935, the local football club still bears the Gaza name. Klemzig kept its original German name throughout the Second World War.
of the O-Bahn Busway
.
Torrens Linear Park
borders the O-Bahn
and River Torrens
through the suburb and provides easy access to the CBD
as well as neighbouring suburbs.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield
City of Port Adelaide Enfield
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield was established on 1 January 1997 by the amalgamation of the City of Port Adelaide and the City of Enfield, and is one of the larger metropolitan councils within South Australia....
. It is the location of the first settlement of German emigrants to Australia in the 19th century and is named after a village near the city of Zuellichau
Sulechów
Sulechów is a town in Poland, in Lubusz Voivodeship, in Zielona Góra County. It is the administrative seat of the Gmina Sulechów.-History:The area by 990 had been conquered by Duke Mieszko I of Poland and from 1138 was part of the Duchy of Silesia....
in southeastern Brandenburg
Province of Brandenburg
The Province of Brandenburg was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1815 to 1946.-History:The first people who are known to have inhabited Brandenburg were the Suevi. They were succeeded by the Slavonians, whom Henry II conquered and converted to Christianity in...
in the German state of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, where they originated from. The village of Klemzig is today located in western Poland and is now known by the Polish name Klępsk
Klepsk
Klępsk is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Sulechów, within Zielona Góra County, Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland. It lies approximately east of Sulechów and north-east of Zielona Góra....
.
Background
The initial establishment of Klemzig as an Old LutheranOld Lutherans
Old Lutherans refers to those German Lutherans who refused to join the Prussian Union in the 1830s and 1840s.Attempted suppression of the Old Lutherans led many to immigrate to Australia and the United States, resulting in the creation of significant Lutheran denominations in those countries.The...
settlement in the South Australian Colony is attributed to a decision by Pastor August Ludwig Christian Kavel
August Kavel
August Ludwig Christian Kavel . Pastor Kavel was a founder of Lutheranism in Australia.-Training and Early Ministry:Kavel was born in Berlin, Germany 1798...
. Pastor Kavel was determined to help his loyal parishioners emigrate from Brandenburg
Province of Brandenburg
The Province of Brandenburg was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1815 to 1946.-History:The first people who are known to have inhabited Brandenburg were the Suevi. They were succeeded by the Slavonians, whom Henry II conquered and converted to Christianity in...
, Posen
Province of Posen
The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....
and Silesia
Province of Silesia
The Province of Silesia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1815 to 1919.-Geography:The territory comprised the bulk of the former Bohemian crown land of Silesia and the County of Kladsko, which King Frederick the Great had conquered from the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy in the 18th...
to escape religious persecution by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia
Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
.
Pastor Kavel initially planned to move his parishioners to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
near the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
, where there were already numerous German settlements
Black Sea Germans
The Black Sea Germans are ethnic Germans who left their homeland in the 18th and 19th centuries, and settled in territories off the north coast of the Black Sea, mostly in southern Ukraine...
, but that had proved not to be feasible. Early in 1836, Kavel travelled to Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
to investigate possible emigration to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but lack of available financial assistance caused this plan to collapse.
Whilst in Hamburg, Kavel heard of the wealthy philanthropist, George Fife Angas
George Fife Angas
George Fife Angas was an English businessman and banker who, from England, played a significant part in the formation and establishment of the Colony of South Australia. He established the South Australian Company and was its founding chairman of the board of directors...
, who was Chairman of the South Australian Company and likely to assist the Old Lutherans with their migration plans.
Kavel and a representative of his congregation travelled to London in March 1836 and met a very sympathetic George Fife Angas. Angas was a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
and was convinced the Old Lutherans, who placed such high value on their religious beliefs, would make excellent settlers in the South Australian Colony.
Angas persuaded the Directors of the South Australian Company to support him in chartering and fitting out the barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
Sarah which was to proceed to Hamburg. Here, 370 Old Lutherans were to set sail for South Australia on 8 June 1836. However, Prussian authorities refused to grant the necessary passports until finally, after a distressing delay of nearly two years, the Prussian Government relented. Over the next six years, many ships brought Kavel's Old Lutheran parishioners to the South Australian Colony.
Ships
Some of the emigrant ships included:- The barque BengaleeBengalee (ship)The Bengalee was a three masted barque weighing 304 tons, owned by Hamlin and Company, Greenock. It was principally used as a supply ship, although it did carry human cargo also...
departed Hamburg on 16 July 1838 and after a seven day stop off at KingscoteKingscote, South Australia- Facilities :Kingscote has a school offering years 1 to 12, a hospital, supermarket, post office and Government offices. It is the administrative centre for the Kangaroo Island Council, whose offices have recently undergone a significant upgrade....
(Kangaroo Island) arrived in Port AdelaidePort AdelaidePort Adelaide is a suburb of Adelaide lying about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and is the main port for the city of Adelaide...
on 16 November 1838. On board were 27 passengers.
- The passenger ship The Prince GeorgePrince George (ship)The Prince George was a three masted barque weighing 317 tons, owned by H Wright. It measured It was manufactured in 1828 at Newcastle upon Tyne...
departed Hamburg on 13 July 1838 and arrived in Port Adelaide on 18 November 1838. On board were 207 passengers including Pastor Kavel.
- The passenger ship ZebraZebra (ship)The Zebra was a three-masted ship, built in 1818 and weighing 350 tonnes. On 12 August 1838, the Zebra, captained by Dirk Hahn, departed from Altona, Hamburg for its voyage to Port Misery, South Australia. The ship arrived at its destination on 28 December 1838. On board was a crew of 16 and 188...
departed AltonaAltona, HamburgAltona is the westernmost urban borough of the German city state of Hamburg, on the right bank of the Elbe river. From 1640 to 1864 Altona was under the administration of the Danish monarchy. Altona was an independent city until 1937...
on 28 August 1838 and arrived in Port Adelaide on 27 December 1838. On board were 191 passengers. A listing of the ship's cargo log also reveals on board were 40,924 bricks presumably for the establishment of new dwellings.
- The barque Cathrina departed Hamburg on 15 September 1838 and arrived in Port Adelaide on 20 January 1839. On board were 122 passengers.
- The passenger ship SkjoldSkjold (ship)The Skjold was a Danish three mast Barque, built in Sundeborg 1839, and weighing 460 tons. It was owned by C. Petersen, Sundeborg.-Voyages:...
departed Altona on 3 July 1841 and arrived in Port Adelaide on 27 October 1841. On board were 241 passengers. Official records show the three month journey claimed the lives of 41 people.
- The passenger ship Taglione departed London on 20 June 1842 and arrived in Port Adelaide on 13 October 1842. An unknown number of passengers were on board.
- The passenger ship George Washington departed Hamburg on 23 May 1844 and arrived in Port Adelaide on 12 September 1844. On board were 184 passengers.
- The schooner Joseph Albino departed London on 4 July 1845 and arrived in Port Adelaide on 8 December 1845. On board were 7 passengers.
Settlement
In March 1837 Colonel William LightWilliam Light
Colonel William Light was a British military officer and the first Surveyor-General of the Colony of South Australia...
completed surveying Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
, Encounter Bay
Encounter Bay
Encounter Bay is located on the south central coast of South Australia, some 100 km south of Adelaide, South Australia. It is named after the encounter on 8 April 1802 between Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin, both of whom were charting the Australian coastline for their respective countries...
, Port Lincoln
Port Lincoln, South Australia
- Transport :Port Lincoln is the port for the isolated narrow gauge Eyre Peninsular Railway.There is also a subsidiary port at Proper Bay which may be restored to use for iron ore traffic. The export of iron ore through Port Lincoln has been approved by the South Australian Government. Port...
and the Adelaide Plains
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. Light eventually chose the Adelaide Plains as the most suitable location for the capital.
The first groups of Old Lutheran emigrants arrived in Port Misery
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a suburb of Adelaide lying about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and is the main port for the city of Adelaide...
between October 1838 and January 1839. With the assistance of George Fife Angas, many attempted to integrate into the local community by becoming tradespeople and labourers. Due to the scarcity of work, the lack of English as their preferred language, and the prejudice from the already established British
Anglo-Celtic
Anglo-Celtic is a term used to describe people of British and Irish descent. The term today is mainly used outside of Britain and Ireland, particularly in Australia but also in Canada, New Zealand and the United States, where a significant diaspora is located....
farmers, many Old Lutherans found settlement increasingly hard.
In 1838, Klemzig was founded by these emigrants after George Fife Angas offered a section of land bordering the Torrens River, a few kilometres to the north-east of Adelaide.
Renaming
Due to anti-German sentiment during the First World War, the name of Klemzig was changed, as were many other German place names in Australia at the time. Between 1917 and 1935, Klemzig was renamed to GazaGaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
, commemorating the British victory in the Third Battle of Gaza
Third Battle of Gaza
The Third Battle of Gaza was fought in 1917 in southern Palestine during the First World War. The British Empire forces under the command of General Edmund Allenby successfully broke the Ottoman defensive Gaza-Beersheba line...
, in which Australian troops had a major role. Though it reverted to its original name in 1935, through South Australia's Nomenclature Act of 1935, the local football club still bears the Gaza name. Klemzig kept its original German name throughout the Second World War.
Transport
Klemzig is currently serviced by several bus routes including 271 and 273 along North East Road and 281 on McLauchlan Road, and also includes a stationKlemzig Station
Klemzig Station is an interchange of the O-Bahn Busway, belonging to the Adelaide Metro in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the first stop when departing from the Adelaide CBD. The next stop is Paradise Interchange....
of the O-Bahn Busway
O-Bahn Busway
The Adelaide O-Bahn Busway is a guided busway located in Adelaide, South Australia. The O-Bahn – from the Latin omnibus and the German bahn – was conceived by Daimler-Benz to enable buses to avoid traffic congestion by sharing tram tunnels in the German city of Essen.The route was introduced in...
.
Torrens Linear Park
Torrens Linear Park
The Torrens Linear Park was completed in 1997 as the first of its kind developed in Australia where it is the largest hills-to-coast park. It began as a flood mitigation scheme along the River Torrens running from the Adelaide Hills, through the city of Adelaide, to the sea...
borders the O-Bahn
O-Bahn Busway
The Adelaide O-Bahn Busway is a guided busway located in Adelaide, South Australia. The O-Bahn – from the Latin omnibus and the German bahn – was conceived by Daimler-Benz to enable buses to avoid traffic congestion by sharing tram tunnels in the German city of Essen.The route was introduced in...
and River Torrens
River Torrens
The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
through the suburb and provides easy access to the CBD
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
as well as neighbouring suburbs.