My previous Family Home post showed the childhood home of
Catherine Ellen Dawson. After leaving Tasmania Catherine moved to Melbourne with her mother and siblings after the death of her father Dr William Lee Dawson.
Catherine married Gustav Baumgarten in Melbourne on 30th November 1876. They lived at Pleasant Bank Vineyard at Barnawatha.
According to the Cyclopedia of Victoria they had 180 acres of vines, 465 acres of agricultural and grazing land and a further 300 acres under cultivation.
During 1908 the Baumgarten family moved from Barnawatha to Moolan Downs, near Meandarra west of Dalby. They left a thriving business with an established homestead and moved to western Queensland. One of their first tasks when they arrived was to build the dwelling shown below.
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| Original dwelling at Moolan Downs - c1908 |
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| The second house at Moolan Downs |
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The final homestead at Moolan Downs
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One can only admire our early pioneering families. Gustav died at Moolan Downs only four years after their arrival in 1912. I'm not sure if the final homestead was built before his death or not. Catherine lived there until her death in 1943. Both Catherine and Gustav are buried on the property.
You're very lucky to have this series of photos. Excellent blog.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have those photos! yes all our pioneering ancestors were incredibly tenacious. I wonder why they made the long distance move.
ReplyDeleteThat could be another blog post. Take a look at Ned Kelly's Jerilderie Letter. Not sure if that's the answer but could be part of it.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting - no new information but still interesting to me. My husband and I currently own Moolan Downs and often visit the graves.
ReplyDeletePleased you found the post interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe below might interest you re Pleasant Banks:
ReplyDeletehttp://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/100768601
Thanks for this link.
ReplyDeleteHi my parents bought Engelbach from the Baumgarten family in the 1950's, at Meandarra, Queensland, Western Downs near Roma. I have their original marriage certificate, and a couple of business letters, and a very old newspaper clipping. Phone me on 07 46547164.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any information on any Aboriginal people born, living or working at "Moolan Downs"? I have an Aunty (deceased) who it is recorded (http://www.cifhs.com/qldrecords/chendtoowoomba.html) as being born at "Mooldan Downs" but I am sure this is a spelling mistake. Cleven/Cleven/Clevin/Clevins family.
ReplyDeleteSorry I don't know anything that would help you with this.
ReplyDeleteI owned Erinvale for 40 years just over the Parrie Moolan creek from the old house, can remember visiting the house when I was a kid, the walls were hession and mud brick. Was quite spookie if I remember right. Greg Cover
ReplyDeleteThanks for this information. Unfortunately, I haven't been to Moolan Downs. I can imagine that being spooky for a child. Would love to go there.
Deletethe house where katherine dawson lived in franklin tasmania (1861-1870s) is marked with a plaque referring to her father dr william lee dawson - house would have been significantly modified and extended over the years and is located on the huon highway est. 50 metres north of the franklin hotel and est. 80 metres north of the franklin town hall. this house was first built by katherine's mother emma seabrook's brother george smith seabrook ( visiting from hobart). and the land < 1 acre - would have been bought at an auction by fred merry of the franklin exchange at franklin in 1859
Deleteafter william lee dawson died in 1870s they moved to melbourne near her mother emma dawsons sister emily lowe and her brother
wonder why they left barnawatha for queensland in 1908?
Mike, I wonder who managed to locate where the Dawson house stood? I'd like to see their research process to identify it. I heard many years ago, that many people who had connections to Ned Kelly moved to western Queensland. The Baumgartens fit the bill there.
ReplyDelete