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Heimat MelbourneA History of the German-speaking Community of Melbourne 1855 to 1865 by Volkhard Wehner (Author and Publisher, PO Box 1002 Hartwell Victoria 3124 Australia, 2010). As a reviewer, I am facing the problem that this book "Heimat Melbourne" is almost impossible to summarise. Its 285 pages of text are packed with important and interesting historical information relating to Germanic and Wendish settlement here in Melbourne and at the end of the book are an additional 21 pages of end-notes, 13 pages of select bibliography and 12 pages of index. It is clear that this book is the result of 35 years of steady and exhaustive research. However, I can, as Professor Clyne did in his talk at the book's launch on 29 May 2010 at Monash University, draw attention to its wide-ranging contents. Volkhard has certainly included a wealth of material on the "old country", emigration, destination "Marvellous Melbourne", community associations, the germanic press, religious institutions, education, medical services, the business community, musicians, painters, architects, writers, poets, publishers, scientists, engineers, explorers and community leaders. Many very informative biographies are included, which will be of great interest to the many descendants of these pioneering germanic and wendish settlers. The best thing I can do is to offer the advice to (a) read and study this book's vast amount of information about the German-speaking Community of Melbourne 1855-1865 and (b) buy a copy now, before its first print-run is exhausted!
Reviewed by John Noack. |
