Research about German Culture and Language in the Hunter

"Zur Bewahrung der deutschen Sprache und Kultur"

German immigration to the Hunter region can be traced back to the 1830s. This page provides an overview of popular and academic literature that is available about German immigration to the Hunter region and the culture and language of the following generations.

History and Language Project

Were you born in a German-speaking country and now live in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region?

Did you come to Australia before 1973?

If you answer yes to both of these questions, researchers at the University of Newcastle would like to hear from you about your memories of life before coming to Australia, your experiences of moving here, connections you may have with your country of birth (travel, family, friends, etc.), if or how you use the German language today.

Please contact me, Dr Jaime W Hunt (Learning and Teaching, University of Newcastle), if you are interested in taking part in this project

Phone: 4921 6885

Email: Jaime.Hunt@newcastle.edu.au

Project approved by the University of Newcastle Human Research Ethics Committee, Approval No. H-2022-0099

Publications

Grabau, W. (2007). The first 50 years 1957-2007: A History of the Germania Club Newcastle. Germania Club Newcastle, Warners Bay, NSW, Australia. Link: download

Hunt, J. W., & Davis, S. E. (2022). 'So, mein Deutsch ist schlecht...': Echoes of societal attitudes and education language policies within the family language policies of second- and third-generation German speakers in Newcastle, Australia. International Journal of Multilingualism, 19, 233-250. doi:10.1080/14790718.2022.2037609

Hunt, J., & Davis, S. (2019). Social and historical factors contributing to language shift among German heritage-language migrants in Australia: An overview. Linguistik Online, 100(7), 159–180. https://doi.org/10.13092/lo.100.6025

Knodler, G. J. E. (1995). The Knodler Family History and Register 1612-1995. Valentine, NSW, Australia. Link: https://www.ihr.com.au/KnodlerFH.pdf

McIntyre, J., & Germov, J. (2018). A common people's paradise: German immigration from 1849. In Hunter Wine: A History (Ch. 5, pp. 136-157). NewSouth. ISBN-13: 978-1742235769

Parkes, W. S. (1986). German immigration to the Hunter Valley in the mid-19th century. Journal of Hunter Valley History, 2(1), pp. 1-29.

Popular Media

Mueller, W. (2018). German heritage: Newcastle University is looking for Australian-born residents of German parentage from the Hunter Valley for a research project. SBS German. Link: https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/german-heritage

Dutch-Australian Weekly (1961). Where time stood still. Dutch-Australian Weekly, 10(49). Link: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225949376

NEMO (1855). To German immigrants and their agent. Maitland Mercury (Wednesday, May 9). Link: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/701243

Wuering, C. (1855). To the population at large. Maitland Mercury (Saturday, May 12). Link: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/701336

Picture Gallery: Photos in the University of Newcastle History Collection

The photos in this gallery are from the University of Newcastle History Collection, held at Special Collections, University of Newcastle Australia. Living Histories is the digital home of the University of Newcastle's Special Collections.

Award Ceremony | 1982

Award Ceremony | 1987

Award Ceremony | 1988

Award Ceremony | 1989

Award Ceremony | 1990

Stories of German Migration to Australia

Oskar Speck (4 March 1907 - 27 March 1993) was a German canoeist who kayaked from Germany to Australia
- Ketterer, S. (2013). Extrempaddler Oskar Speck: Im Faltboot nach Australien. Der SPIEGEL. https://www.spiegel.de/geschichte/oskar-speck-von-ulm-nach-australien-im-faltboot-a-951224.html
- Museum Collections: https://collections.sea.museum/en/people/6904/-/objects/images
Hans Bertram and Adolph Klausmann were rescued from a remote coastal area of the Kimberley region in Western Australia in 1932. They had attempted to circumnavigate the world in a Junkers W 33 seaplane.
- 1932 Kimberley Rescue

Other

University of Newcastle (1982). Goethe prize. The University News, 8(4), 1-15 Apr. Link: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/59594#idx138088

University of Newcastle (1987). Businesswoman studies German successfully. Bulletin, 9, 2-16 June, p. 7, Link: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/56474#idx60400

University of Newcastle (1987). German community prize. The University News, 13(9), 15-29 June, p. 6, Link: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/59708#idx139600

University of Newcastle (1987). In Germany after Christmas. The University News, 13(16), 28 Sep - 12 Oct, Link: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/59715#idx139711

University of Newcastle (1988). Germans have valuable links with the Uni. Campus Bulletin, 11, 31 Oct - 11 Nov, p. 6. Link: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/56481#idx60514

University of Newcastle (1989). Germania Club Goethe Institute scholarship. Bulletin, 18, 16-30 Oct, p. 10, Link: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/56438#idx59778

University of Newcastle (1990). Exciting time to go to Deutschland. Bulletin, 18, p. 7, Link: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/56437#idx59754

University of Newcastle (1990). Prizes awarded in German section. Bulletin, 20, p. 9, Link: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/56447#idx59946

University of Newcastle (1991). Goethe Institute prize. Bulletin, No. 18, 4 Nov, Link: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/56400#idx59141a

University of Newcastle (1992). German students receive award. Bulletin, 12, 3 Aug, p. 14, Link: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/56420#idx59477