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 Lothar Brasse summary

'The PINES'  Darby Rd, Hahndorf

 

 

 

 

South Australian Heritage Council 25 October 2013, Place No: 22797

 

 

 

 

In 2024 I had a number of conversations with Irma Constance PAECH [now Seidel & living in N.S.W.]  born 1931, thanks to an introduction by Lorraine KRAMM.  Irma talked to me about her childhood home and always referred to the home on Section 'The PINES'.

 

 

 

South Australia Gazette and Mining Journal [Adelaide [Adelaide, SA : 1847-1852] Thursday 23 August 1849 Page 3.

John Frederick PAECH [sic] purchases Section 4236, 50 acres, 50 pound, Section 4239, 64 acres, price 90 pound

 

 

 

 

Summary:

The following home off Darby Rd, Paechtown we have documented it using photography, measurements, drawings, genealogy, historic references & previous surveys to draw comparisons of technique & engineering that might attribute the pit sawn red gum timber structures to master carpenter Johann Carl Friedrich FAEHRMANN [1823-1896] of Tangermünde, Prussia.

 

 

Map of unknown date courtesy Tony FINNIS 2023

 

 

 

 

SAGHS Deaths Database: 'Johann Friedrich PAECH, died May 19, 1870, male 69 years, farmer at Friedrichstadt, cause of death 'White softening of the brain', death occurred at Friedrichstadt near Hahndorf.'

SAGHS Death Database: 'Rosine PAECH, died August 18, 1871, female, 98 years, widow of Gottfreid [sic] PAECH, usual residence Friedrichstadt, nr Hahndorf, cause of death natural decay, death occurred near Hahndorf.'

SAGHS Death Database: 'Anna Dorothea PAECH, died 23 June 1880, 77 years, widow of the late G [sic]  PAECH Friedrichstadt, usual residence Friedrichstadt, cause of death apoplexy, died at Friedrichstadt, informant W PAECH son Ravenswood. 

TROVE The South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Thursday 17 October 1861, page 4, Advertising.HUNDRED OF KUITPO - Part Section 3913, Johann Friedrich PAECH, Grunthal.

TROVE The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889) Monday 21 October 1861, Page 4 Classified Advertiser.  HUNDRED KUITPO Part Section 3913; Johann Frederich PAECH; Residence, Grunthal.

 

'The PINES' 

Irma Constance PAECH was born here in 1931 at 'The Pines.'  Irma told me that in a phone conversation in July 2024, from her home near Albury in Victoria where she has lived 'for the past 72 years.'

 

 

 

 

Anna Dorothea PAECH living at Friedrichstadt, South Australia, Probate records dated 13 September 1880, died 23 June 1880
Anna Dorothea PAECH widow deceased, in the Supreme Court, Testamentary Causes Jurisdiction.  Let it known that on the thirteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty Letters of Administration of all and singular the personal estate and effects within the province of South Australia and its dependencies which were of Anna Dorothea Paech late of Friedrichstadt, near Hahndorf in the said province widow deceased who died on the twenty third day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty at Friedrichstadt aforesaid intestate and possessed of personal estate only were granted by the aforesaid Court to Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Paech of Ravenswood near Hahndorf aforesaid farmer the natural lawful and eldest son and one of the next of kin of the said deceased he having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the said personal estate by paying the just debts of the said deceased and distributing the residue of her estate and effects according to Law and to exhibit a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular her said estate and effects and to render just and true account hereof whenever required by Law

 

 

Irma is the youngest of 5 children to Alwine Eleonore Constance BRAENDLER [1897-1978] & Johann Albert PAECH [1893-1972] they married on 7 May 1919 at the Monarto Lutheran Church.

On this land her father had 175 acres or 75 acres 'When they measured it they measured it on the top did not take into consideration the hills and valleys.  Dad had several horses, Charlie, Nugget, Boxer, Jessie and Kate and another one.  All Clydesdales.  Stud ones did not work like the ordinary ones. Ploughed with horses. 4 gallons of petrol a month, car and truck on it, milking machine took petrol so always short of petrol.'

Father had a cattle stud and Mum did the books. Men were working of an evening and my mother and sister milked about 50 cows.

One barn, one across the creek, and the bull yard, big trough for the cattle to drink from, my father grew a lot of potatoes, such good land, he made a lot of money on that place, beef cattle, Illawarra short horn, not good milkers, then a herd of Frisian cows, but I was already married then married 73 years.

 

 

[most Charlie Nugget and Jessie cow horses.  Not Clyde’s.]. Unsure of this meaning

 

Irma's paternal grand parents. [Johann Albert PAECH was this couples 1st of 2 children].

George Herman PAECH & Louisa Bertha JAESCHKE

• Born: 3 July 1859, Hahndorf, Adelaide. [SAGHS Births 14 Sept 2024]
• Married 2 November 1892 Lutheran Church Mannum, Talunga
• His name is recorded on marriage as George Hermann  [SAGHS Marriage 14 Sept 2024]
• 32 years of age when married to:
  • Louisa  Bertha JAESCHKE  [SAGHS Births 14 Sept 2024]
  • 18 years of age when married
  • Born: 20 November 1874 Moculta, Angaston. [SAGHS Births 14 Sept 2024]
    • Parents: Johann August JAESCHKE & Johanna Augusta HEUSLER [SAGHS Births 14 Sept 2024]
  • Died: 25 November 1950
• Died: 22 March 1939

Irma's fathers siblings

Johann Albert PAECH only had one sibling

Clara Ottilie Selma PAECH & Carl Edgar LIEBELT

• Born: 16 August 1904 [SAGHS Births 14 Sept 2024]
  • Nr Echunga, Mount Barker.
• Married: 22 September 1926, St Michaels Ev Lutheran Church, Ambleside.
  • Carl Edgar LIEBELT
  • Born: 22 May 1899  [SAGHS Births 14 Sept 2024]
    • Friedrichstadt, Nairne
    • Parents: Johann August LIEBELT & Ottilie Clara ALTMANN 
  • Died: 
• Died: 

Irma's paternal great grandparents  [George Herman PAECH was this couples 5th of 7 children]

Johann Georg PAECH & Johanne Karline HARTMANN. 

• Born: 14 December 1826 Kay, Prussia
• Married: 4 January 1850 Lutheran Church, Hahndorf by Pastor KAVEL
  • Johanne Karaline HARTMANN
  • Born: 24 February 1828
  • Died: 9 November 1898

• Died: 17 January 1908, Nr Hahndorf, at his residence, Nairne [SAGHS Births 14 Sept 2024]

• 81 years of age, death notified by Marie Caroline HAEBICH

  • 'Marie Caroline HAEBICH' is Georg PAECH's 4th child & older sister of George Hermann

  • Mary Caroline b 14 September 1856, Friedrichstadt, d 11 July 1940 [SAGHS Births, Marriages, Deaths 14 Sept 2024]

  • married 12 April 1877 Heinrich August HAEBICH [1851-1846] St Michael Ev Lutheran Church, Hahndorf.

Irma's paternal great great grandparents. [Johann George PAECH was this couples 4th of 5 children]

Johann George PAECH Snr & 1st wife Johanna Karaline KLENKE.  

• Born 1793
• Married:  1815 ca
  • Johanna Karaline KLENKE
  • Born: 1793
  • Bore 5 children, 4 of whom came to S.A.on the 'Zebra', 1838.
  • Died 1831 Prussia
• Died 1875

 

 

Irma's siblings were Ronald Sydney [1919-] m Juanita Dorothea HELBIG [1929 -  ], Sylvia Alberta [1923- ] m Gordon Julius STOLZ, Max Vernon [1924-  ], who never married & Sidney Walter [1927- ] who also never married.

Irma remembers the 'smoke house' amongst the red gum ceiling rafters as where sausages were smoked, and said 'but my father never used it'. Look carefully at the chimneys in this photo the larger one is from the smoke house in the roof space.  Johann Albert PAECH would say "I'm not having these fires in my house, next thing it will burn down."  Not that her father didn't have a smoker, it just wasn't that one in the ceiling, his was 'down past the cellar, a stone building with a cellar and a shed on top of it.'

Irma says 'but the PAECH'S that lived there before used it', the one in the roof space.

 

 

Killed a pig did it in what looked like a dunny.

Two rooms underneath and 4 on top.

Passage and stairs downstairs.

And stairs up to the loft.

No recollection of Faehrmann

Remembers Ossie, Fuhrmann,

New Glen because he married my mothers cousin,

Jeff, 

Lance

Plaster was on it ? Gommers did the plastering?

 

Top brick 

Bottom stone

Dr Anaesthetist and a nurse

Brother died and they bought the property.

Yvonne Patterson in MB is a relative,  may remember. A cousin.

Middleton house

Bottom house belonged to Len Darby

Top one was Ben Braendler, one daughter married Glenn Fuhrmann and the other married Jim Fisher.

One is Mrs Fischer….St Pauls cleaner

Maybe Cherie will contact her

SCHOOL was in the Hahndorf Public, behind the St Michaels Church.

Confirmed at Concordia College Chapel Adelaide.

Concordia for high school.

Brother died 1900, Sid, not married, 

Max and Ron had diabetes.

Edna Seidel died in rest home, i am the last one of that family.

Did not take cows to show but brothers did in mt barker show.

Plaster was put on, not the kitchen area, 4 years old when the kitchen and bathroom was put on, 1934.

Bottom not plastered, big sones 18” wide and a metre high.

Front left fire place, girls bedroom.

Opposite spare bedrooms

Round from the stairs the 3 boys.

Small room was the parents with the fireplace.

Little alcove by the fireplace, big grandfather clock standing in the alcove but it was her before her grandfather was there.

First two born double storey house, opposite that was baker peters, person who owned it, in HA, Max in the house, the top hotel, house next to the union hotel.  Mr Waller had it when I was a child.

Grandparents retired there to that house, Irma’s.

Bread and jam for the children after school.

Always took spare Sox, from mud from road.

Rode bikes from Darby Road with rain coats, in all weathers, 

My father had bikes for us but the braendlers Vera and they always rode ponies and darbys all rode ponies, Geraldine, nursing matron. ‘I think it’s a both’. 90 years ago.

Ruth, school teacher married later in life, Geraldine to Tasmania, Myles got the farm and lived in Adelaide they had 2 girls.

Went once a week Friday shopping, to Mt Barker. church Sunday.

Hahndorf bread came around with cart to the farm.

Mo sometimes made bread cos we asked her to.

Baker boy.

German favourites mother’s mother, half Irish and Scottish, parents only spoke German to their parents and only to pass on gossip we should not know.

Did not learn German

Oldes brother and sister spoke German they stayed a week in grandparents 

Sled in wet weather could not take truck out horses pulled it and took out the hay in it. 

Milked by hand and then someone was giving up dairying ??VH Dad bought the 49 cows and the milking machine. And could not strart machine

I wrote 28 she milked 27 cows… autumn, so a bit dried off, 2.5 hours 

Unscrew the jar…. Easily how can you do it. Strong wrists from milking.

Into Milk cans and it went to Amscol… and another one, wanted to make butter for Adelaide show, they asked father to milk some of his splendid cows by hand and make the cream from that and made butter, and won prizes at show.

Never got a ticket, 3 tickets and would not take milk any more.

Friends Eileen Wigg, married Hall, died 3 years ago, Beryl Thiele married Brian Braendler, Marg Petty married Kieth Langbein had hotel in Hahndorf, Edna married Seidel, and Lorna married a Nitschke from.

Every Sunday went to St Michaels

Knows Beryl’s parents.

 

 

https://data.environment.sa.gov.au/Content/Publications/22797_Research.pdf

 

Walter Paech, family history.

Pge 10

Johann Friedrich Paech, Senior, was born on August 18, 1800 and his wife Anna Dorothea, nee KRAMM, on Feb 2, 1803.

In Prussia Johann Friedrich was an elder of the Lutheran congregation at Rentschen.

The passenger list of the ‘Zebra’ mentions that he was a ‘citizen of Rentschen and formerly a farmer.’

It is unlikely that he had retired, since his age was given as only 36 years.  

He and his wife and their children (Johann Friedrich Wilhelm, Johann August and Johanne Dorothea, Johann Gottlieb and probably Johann Friedrich) left their former home and their relatives and friends, bound for Hamburg and from there to Australia.

 

Page 68

Johann Friedrich Paech ‘citizen of Rentschen in Prussia and formerly a farmer’.  Judging by the amount of land bought by him soon after his arrivalin Australia, it would appear that he was a man of means.

 

 

Summary

 

 

 

 

The family names that are mentioned in this article:

 

Aim of Article

 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

1.    Authors Note

 

Heritage Surveys

1.      

Mount Barker District Heritage Survey Stage 1 November 1983 by Hignett & Company 'Section 3908, 1849'
	Item Name 'Oakside Farm Complex' Page 146, Item Ref No 159	'Built by PAECH 1849.  This property is one of the few remaining of the German settlement of Friedrichstadt. House & barn [originally called "Clovershed"] are of traditional German design with red gum and brick-nog construction.  Renovations to house 1982.   [See Mt BarkerDistrict diagram 2 for location]  Section 3908 Owner: [House]: N.G. Duffield, Darby Rd, Hahndorf. [Barn] Don Nichols, Darby Road, Hahndorf.   Location: Extension of Darby Rd, off Echunga Rd, Hahndorf South.

 

 

 

 

 

South Australian Heritage Council

https://data.environment.sa.gov.au/Content/Publications/22797_Summary.pdf

 

 

 

SUMMARY OF STATE HERITAGE PLACE

REGISTER ENTRY
Entry in the South Australian Heritage Register in accordance with the

Heritage Places Act 1993

NAME: Former JF Paech house, stone outbuilding and two slab barns

ADDRESS: Darby Road, Paechtown area, near Hahndorf 5245 CT 5587/252, A83, Hundred of Kuitpo

STATEMENT OF HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE

PLACE NO.:

22797

South Australian HERITAGE COUNCIL

 

JF Paech’s 1840s property at Friedrichstadt is not only one of the oldest surviving German pioneer farm complexes in South Australia, but is also the first farm to be established in the settlements of Friedrichstadt and Paechtown. The place displays a number of significant early German construction techniques, including the half- hipped design of the three level stone, brick and timber house; uncommon features such as timber-shingle roofing and two timber slab barns; and a rare example of an internal loft smokehouse. The place has special associations with the pioneering German settlement of South Australia, a theme with significance for this state.

RELEVANT CRITERIA (under section 16 of the Heritage Places Act 1993)

1. (a)  it demonstrates important aspects of the evolution or pattern of the State’s history, representing the first decade of German farming settlement in the Hahndorf area and having significant associations with the theme of pioneer German settlement in South Australia.

2. (b)  It has rare, uncommon or endangered qualities that are of cultural significance, displaying relatively uncommon early constructions techniques (timber shingles and slabs and half-hipped roofing) and a rare loft smokehouse.

(d) it is an outstanding representative of a particular class of places of cultural significance, being an excellent representative of a pioneer German farm complex, and including a barn of exceptional quality.

Summary of State Heritage Place: 22797 1 of 7

Approved by South Australian Heritage Council on 25 October 2013

 

(e) it demonstrates a high degree of creative, aesthetic or technical accomplishment or is an outstanding representative of particular construction techniques or design characteristics, displaying early German design techniques (including the half-hipped three level design of the house), and several significant constructions methods including timber trusses, use of timber shingles for roofing and timber slabs for walling.

EXTENT OF LISTING

The extent of listing is the Former JF Paech house, stone outbuilding and two slab barns generally indicated on the site plan. The extent of listing excludes the 1920s addition to the rear of the house.

COMMENTARY ON THE LISTING
Description and notes with respect to a place entered in the South Australian

Heritage Register in accordance with the Heritage Places Act 1993 Physical Description

This group of historic farm buildings comprises a house, stone outbuilding and two timber slab barns. The house is constructed on three levels with coursed random rubble basement walls and red-brick upper walls tied with substantial timbers. [Exterior has been rendered, although render is not part of original fabric and is not significant]. The house has a half-hipped timber shingle roof covered by later cgi cladding, painted red-brick chimneys, and timber-framed door and window openings with timber doors and windows (some have been replaced in the 20th century). Internal features include a loft with unusual smokehouse and dowelled jointing. [A separate dining and service building has been built alongside the house in the c 1920s].

The three early farm buildings comprise an outbuilding and two barns. Barn 1 is a timber-framed structure on a stone and brick base with vertical slab-clad walls, timber-framed openings and timber doors, and a cgi-clad gable roof. Barn 2 is a timber-framed structure with some timber slab cladding and some cgi cladding and some open sections, with a cgi-clad gable roof. The outbuilding is a two level building constructed of local stone with red-brick dressings, timber lintels, timber- framed openings and doors, and a relatively shallow-pitched cgi gable roof.

The components which are intrinsic to the heritage significance of the former JF Paech house, outbuilding and barns are:

 House: stone, brick and timber walls [excluding render], cgi and shingle half- gable roof, timber-framed openings, surviving original windows and doors, chimneys, loft smokehouse and timber doweling.

Summary of State Heritage Place: 22797 2 of 7

Approved by South Australian Heritage Council on 25 October 2013

 

•   Stone outbuilding (aka dairy): two-level stone building with red-brick dressings, timber lintels, timber-framed openings and doors, and shallow-pitched cgi gable roof.

•   Barn 1: Timber-framed structure on a stone and brick base with vertical slab- clad walls, timber-framed openings and timber doors, and cgi-clad gable roof.

•   Barn 2: Timber-framed structure, timber slab cladding and cgi gable roof. The extent of listing includes the following interior features:

  •   Rare loft smokehouse within upper level of house

  •   Original timber frames and features within barns 1 and 2.

    History of the Place

    Johann Friedrich Paech, one of South Australia’s earliest German pioneers, arrived in South Australia and settled in the village of Hahndorf in 1839. In 1846, Paech bought 13 sections of land between Hahndorf and Echunga, establishing a farm at Friedrichstadt. It is not clear whether this location was named after himself or the emperor. During the following decades, he sold or leased parts of his land to members of his family or other likeminded settlers who wanted to establish farms (such as the Liebelts). The farm group now known as ‘Oakside’ (State Heritage Place) was constructed soon after JF Paech’s original house and farm buildings, as were Glendarra/Glenmona (Local Heritage Place) and the buildings at Paechtown (two of which are State Heritage Places).

    References

    This Record is based on the assessment in:

 Heritage Online 2004, Mount Barker Heritage Survey

Additional references include:

•   Australian Heritage Commission, Register of the National Estate, Report no. 7556.

•   Berry, D W & S H Gilbert 1981, Pioneer Building Techniques in South Australia.

•   Butler, Reg 1989, A College in the Wattles: Hahndorf & its Academy.

•   Faull, Jim & Gordon Young, 1986, People Places & Buildings, pp 89-98.

•   Historical Research: Anni Luur Fox & Reg Butler.

•   Local History Centre, heritage files & photographs.

•   Schubert, David 1985, Kavel’s People, from Prussia to South Australia.

•   Schubert, J C 1964, Lutheran Pioneers in Australia, the emigration, landing and establishment.

•   www.slsa.sa.gov.au, www.southaustralianhistory.com.au

•   Young, G et al 1981, Hahndorf Volumes 1 & 2.

  Summary of State Heritage Place: 22797 3 of 7

  Approved by South Australian Heritage Council on 25 October 2013

PHOTOS

Former JF Paech House, Outbuilding and Two Slab Barns PLACE NO: 22797 Darby Road, Paechtown area, near Hahndorf 5245

 

           

    

           

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

In 1892, H. PAECH married Bertha JAESCHKE, whose SCHULZ ancestors had arrived in SA with Hermann's mother Hannah HARTMANN aboard the Prince George in 1838.  George PAECH settled on his son the 'Rentschener' PAECH farm at nearby Friedrichstadt, which old scholar FW PAECH sold when he realised that his life's work lay in Parliament and not on the land.  In old age, the Hermann PAECHs retired to the old scholar BORCHER's former home in Hahndorf's Main Street.

Through Teacher BOEHM's efforts, GH PAECH became extremely fluent in English.  As as JP, he was in great demand to witness wills and furnish other legal advice to neighbours.  Hermann also gave greatly valued service as an elder of St Michael's Congregational school and it was his melancholy duty to help arrange for its forced closure in 1917.  

 

The JAESCHKE Connections Family History by Dulcie LOVE 1987 

Extract page 323: Luise Bertha JAESCHKE m Hermann Georg PAECH

'When she married, Bertha went to live not far form where her great grandfather Johann George JAESCHKE first settled in South Australia, at Paechtown, named after her husband's pioneer ancestor, [Authors Note: his grandfather], Johann George PAECH'.   Irma SEIDEL writes of her grandmother Bertha, "My grandmother Bertha was known the length and breadth of Hahndorf for her compassion, kindness and charity.  Anyone sick or in distress called for her assistance.  She was also a midwife and assisted at the births of her grandchildren.  Children adored her, and her grandchildren's friends and neighbour's children called her 'Mutty PAECH'.  She was a great influence, both morally and spiritually on the lives of her family, also a great raconteur; her stories, both Biblical and  of her early life, spoken in her light silvery voice, left her listeners spellbound".  

Hermann was a general farmer but particularly kept dairy cattle.  He was the son of Johann George PAECH and Johanne Caroline [nee HARTMANN] who had arrived on the Zebra from Kay and Schwiebus in Prussia at the end of 1838.' 

 

George Herman PAECH & Luise Bertha JAESCHKE 2nd child Clara Ottilie Selma PAECH who married 1926 Carl Edgar LIEBELT

Clara Ottilie Selma PAECH b 1904.

Extract page 325: 'Selma went to St Michaels school in Hahndorf until the Lutheran schools were all closed down in 1917 by the Government then she finished her schooling at the local State school.  When her brother Albert married and took over the PAECH farm, her parents took over a small block on the Echunga Road but because of a stroke her father had to leave most of the work to his wife and daughter.  So they sold the block and retired to Hahndorf.  Selma also often helped in Albert's farm and home.  She also took courses in dressmaking the School of Mines in Adelaide for one full day a week.  As a skilled dressmaker she was often called on to make wedding outfits.  Her husband's critical opinion on the finished article was expected by every bride-to-be.  

• Selma and Edgar were married in 1926.  He was the son of Johann August LIEBELT and Clara Ottilie [nee ALTMANN].  They lived on a dairying and potato growing property on the Echunga Road but sold it later as there were no sons to carry it on.  After living for ten years at Mount Barker where Ed worked as a painter, they settled into their own house in Hahndorf.  There they constructed their own private bowling rink in the back yard and maintained a well kept garden.  Ed made many fine fretwork articles over the years including fretwork picture frames to house the family portraits.  Selma still lives in the Hahndorf house although Ed died in 1985.'

Eldest child

Johann Albert PAECH b1893.

Extract page 324: 'Living in Hahndorf area all his life, Albert worked on his parents farm at first.  At the time they grew quite a bit of hay which was then chaffed and delivered by waggon to the market gardeners of the Piccadilly Valley and other places. It was fed to their horses with which they worked their land.  Cows were always a main part of the farm enterprises and later Albert grew potato crops and onions.  

• As rabbits were very numerous they were killed for extra meat, until Myxomatosis was introduced as an extreme measure to control their plague numbers.  Albert also successfully fished in the Onkaparinga and Murray Rivers. '  

 

 

Johann Albert PAECH & Alwine Eleonore Constance BRAENDLER's 1st child Ronald Sydney PAECH who married 1948c Juanita Dorothea HELBIG.

Ronald Sydney PAECH b1919

Extract page 324: 'Following his father's footsteps Ron and his wife set up in a dairy farm at Echunga but in the early 1070's he sold the Echunga property and bought a larger property at Frances on which he mostly runs sheep and a few cattle.  Nita is the daughter of Reinhard Alfred HELBIG and Elizabeth Lydia [nee DOECKE]'

 

 

 

 

 

Alwine Eleonore Constance BRAENDLER & Johann Albert Jack PAECH 

https://top10.australia247.info/explore/south_australia/the_rural_city_of_murray_bridge/monarto/monarto_lutheran_church.html

Authors Note: John's grandparents were Alwine Eleonore Constance known as 'Connie' BRAENDLER b1897 Monarto, & Johann Albert Jack PAECH b1893 Western Flat, Mt Barker, died 14 September 1972.  They married at the Zion Lutheran Church Monarto, Nairne 7 May 1919.  

Lothar BRASSE and I were privileged to explore 'The PINES then owned by Rosemary & .  This was in the context of the architecture of the old home possibly built by Johann Carl Friedrich FAEHRMANN, my great, great grandfather. I asked John about a frame work in an old shed which looked like a sledge and he included it in his own story below.

John Douglas Alfron PAECH b1971, grew up on a farm on Oinns Road near Echunga, 3 miles from his grandparents farm on Darby Rd.  In February 2025 John provided this postcard photograph of his grandpa while he was still a single man, and where he has signed it 'Ben'.  John also recalled his memories of 'The Pines' and his family living there. 

 

Reverse of photograph on left.'JDA PAECH Collection' "Dear Connie I am sending you one of my photos in return for the one I got hope you will recognise me Albert and I intend coming down to your place Saturday evening are going hair shooting to Hartley first so hope this finds you in good health and spirits kindest regards from Ben xx". Date unknown, before 1919.

 

‘THE PINES’  Darby Road, Hahndorf by John PAECH

" As we lived a couple of miles from my Grandparents farm “The Pines” at Hahndorf, I have some wonderful memories. Grandpa would place me on the back of one of the Clydesdale horses as we went up the hill with the sledge to feed the cows, and horses. Chains from the horses collars were attached to the sledge.  The farm with rich soil could grow anything".

 

Scullery Days Vintage's post Facebook, November 12, 2024.

Museums Victoria Collections Ehive.

Authors Note: re Facebook post on left. 'Les Peters from 'All Our Yesterdays: restored images of early South Australia November 11, 2024. "Two farm workers bagging grain from a horse drawn stripper in about 1910

" Grandpa and his sons grew a lot of oats, then using the 'Sunshine' binder made sheaved hay for chaff cutting, when I was old enough I also helped cut chaff.

Scullery Days Vintage's post Facebook, July 15 2022Originally the 'Dutch Bros Chaff cutter' was driven by a big international stationary engine, all the sheaved hay was stacked across the creek in the barn that's where we cut chaff.  

Authors Note: re Facebook post on left  this chaff cutter .... "Made by Dutch Brothers Ironworks of Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills.  From 1850 the foundry was known for its many inventions"

Grandpa fed the chaff cutter while Uncle Sid put the sheaves on the platform and Dad was on the bagging off.  Grandma always had a wonderful spread of sandwiches and cakes for our breaks.  

The chaff was used to feed the cows, while being milked placing a nose bag over the cow’s head with oaten chaff inside. The milk originally went into ten gallon milk cans and Amscol milk company picked it up.  It went to Adelaide.  Grandma used to take cream off for butter.   Most of the neighbours milked cows, I don't know when they went to milking machines, I can only remember milking machines being in use.  In the mid 1960's  refrigerated milk vats came in and milk tankers began picking up bulk milk.   The chaff was also used to feed the work horses, Monty, Ruby & Chief in the stable.  

A lot of chaff was sold to Wittwer’s in Hahndorf. Potatoes and onions were also grown on the farm, they were harvested by hand till chained potato diggers came in.  Potatoes and onions were taken by truck to east end market in Adelaide.    Mt Barker sub clover was also grown and the family bought a Kaesler bros clover thresher to clean the seed."

Authors Note:  

https://ehive.com/collections/5882/objects/1094686/kaesler-bros-subterranean-clover-thresher (see Golden Memories Millthorpe Museum, NSW.) 

See also https://www.ahmrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/KaeslerThresher.pdf the provenance of this Kaesler Clover Thresher made in Hahndorf, 1926c and owned by the Adelaide Hills Motor Restorers Club Inc, who hold the annual Power of the Past exhibitions in Milang, S.A. in March. 

The  interesting thing is that this machine was sold to H.B. KRAMM on 17 October 1935 and it was acquired by the AHMRC at the KRAMM clearing sale in 1993.  The clubs website says 'The KRAMM property was on Echunga Rd, Hahndorf'.   

H.B. KRAMM refers to Herman Bernhardt KRAMM born 1903 on this same property his mother being Anna Bertha LIEBELT born 1867 also on this same property, who inherited this property from her parents LUBASCH & LIEBELT (the original pioneer settlers) and who shared the property with her husband Carl Reinhold KRAMM b1866 in Prussia when she married him in 1895. John PAECH who is telling his story above and below is a 3C3R of Herman's wife Alwine Florrie HENNIG.  

Their property off Echunga Rd was known as 'Balgara' and the home was almost certainly also built by my great great grandfather Johann Carl Friedrich FAEHRMANN.  

 

 

"Grandpa loved his large vegetable garden, along with fishing and shooting. I also remember helping him feed chaff to the horses in the stable. My grandparents milked quite a few cows then changed to Friesian cows for better milk supply.

Gray's Inn, Mt Barker S.A.

The calves they did not need were taken to the fortnightly market at Mt Barker held by Bennett and Fisher stock agents. This was at the bottom end of Mt Barker's Main Street, between Gray's Inn Hotel and the Courier Newspaper.  The market consisted of most types of cows, steers, bulls etc, and sheep and sundries, most of the bobby calves were bought by Jacobs Smallgoods of Mt Barker.

It was a social event with neighbours and friends meeting up and talking about events, then after the sale they meet at Gray’s Inn hotel for a drink. My Grandma was an active outdoor person, and loved her cooking, some Sundays after church our family were invited for lunch with roast goose and roast homegrown vegetables. Grandpa bred the geese and killed them, while grandma dressed them, sometimes with my help.  We always ate in the big dining room next to the kitchen.  Grandma would cook up all types of cakes and desert, my favourite was Streusel Kuchen or German cake and cream jelly lilies.

Our family has always been involved in St Michaels Lutheran Church since the beginning.

Pig killing was quite an event with all family involved in making sausages, white and black puddings, then smoking hams, and bacon in the smoke house.  The place where the pigs and sheep were always killed was referred to as the 'gallows', and the meat was hung there in bags for two or three days.  Everybody came to help make the smallgoods.  I remember my Mum also helping grandma clean the pig runners for sausages and puddings, yes we still eat puddings.

As a child I liked playing in the two rooms below the bedrooms of the old house on the ground floor. The room on the left was the Parlor which was the original kitchen with open fireplace, which was lined to the very top of the chimney, with steel doors in the loft for smoking meat.

The other ground floor room was Grandpas gun room, and it had an assortment of guns in it.  Grandpa would smoke in the saloon which was the original kitchen.  The chairs in the saloon were large velvet arm chairs where he would entertain his male visitors, smoke & drink port. 

I played up in the attic a lot when younger intrigued by exposed beams and the original shingle roof covered by galv iron.

When grandpa died in 1972, (I was 17 years old), Uncle Sid (Grandpa's youngest brother Sidney Walter, who would have been 45 years old & never married) looked after Grandma, who was 75 years old. 

In the late 1980's, when my own boys John and Mark were little we would come back to the farm where Uncle Sid’s now lived on his own.  The boys loved sliding down the stairs from the loft to the ground floor two flights of stairs in their sleeping bags. The time I spent there is something I will never forget".