|
|---|
Moculta
|
Some of the earliest leaseholders in the Moculta area were migrants from Ireland, England, Scotland and Germany. Amongst the very first were Joseph Keynes of North Rhine, now Keyneton, William and Abraham Shannon and Pulteney Murray, all from Gumeracha but originally from England, Ireland and Scotland. Joseph Keynes arrived in 1842 followed by William Shannon in 1843. William's son Abraham, although he had migrated before his father, settled in the Moculta area in 1845. Pulteney Murray arrived in 1847 and took up land next to the Shannons. By the early 1850s land was also taken up by German migrants who had already settled at Hahndorf, Hoffnungsthal and Bethany. Several of them had been previously known to each other as they had sailed to South Australia on ships like the Skjold, La Rochelle, Zebra, Prince George and the George Washington. Abraham Shannon, originally from Ireland, arrived in South Australia in 1839 and first lived at Gumeracha where he was later joined by his brother David. In 1843 their father William also migrated, with his second wife Mary Moore, his first wife Jane Hopkins having died in England, and settled near Angaston on land which they called Duck Ponds. The Shannon family soon became very friendly with their neighbours, the Murrays. They had a school built on the border of their properties and employed a teacher to educate their numerous children. Three of Abraham's eldest children married Murray children. Abraham did well. He leased and bought more land and built a substantial house of 11 rooms. Abraham married Eliza Mahood, fourth child of John Mahood and Catharine Wallace. Abraham tried his luck at the Victorian gold rushes and was later appointed a Justice of the Peace. Abraham also had part of his property surveyed, by Carl von Bertouch in 1865, for a township which was called Moculta. The blocks went on sale on 21 October 1865. Some of the earliest residents were, Franz Brezinsky, Eduard Cowland, Hermann Dannenberg, C. Jacobs, T. Jaehne, B. Kraft, August Linke and Annie Winter. Abraham also planned to build a family mausoleum on his property, but died before it could be realised. It was his wife who carried it out. The 20 sided mausoleum was completed in 1876 and has room for 80 internments. So far only 24 have been interned, the last one, Gladys Jean Dean in July 1962.
If you like to find out more,
|
|---|
