27/07/2025
This wood engraving of Klemzig appeared in the SA Register in 1845. Certainly the early German colonist interviewed paints a promising word picture also. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1184416367046796&set=a.462729295882177
🗞"GERMAN EMIGRATION.
Letters of the most satisfactory kind have been received by the relatives of the Germans who immigrated into this Colony per the George Washington.
They were pleased with the vessel, with the passage, with their reception in South Australia, with the country itself, and with their own prospects. The natural consequence of this has been a confirmation of the desire previously felt, in many districts of the Prussian dominions, to emigrate to this "inviting" land.
The owner of the George Washington has been so far encouraged as to despatch another of his vessels (the Herjobhoy Rustomjee Pattell) to Port Adelaide, and she was intended to sail in March last. Two hundred emigrants may be expected in this ship, and many more are anxious to have an opportunity of following their countrymen. As a specimen of the accounts transmitted by the German immigrants, we subjoin an extract from a letter written by a respectable German gentleman, who arrived in this Colony nearly two years ago. The letter is addressed to the son of the Senior Burgomaster in Bremen, from Adelaide, under date September 10, 1844.
"This place pleases me much, I may say, better every day that I remain here. I do not at all regret having emigrated hither. The mines are now in full work, and appear to be very rich. There are at present 60O tons of ore lying here, and before the end of the year the quantity is expected to reach 3000 tons. Two ships have just left us with full cargoes, and a third is laid on for London, which is loading with copper ore, bark, gum, oil, whalebone and wool. We shall then be ill off with our accumulation of produce, unless we have a further arrival of vessels. The land here is admirably adapted for agricultural purposes, and whoever has a desire to work is sure to get on; but he must work, and must not be over nice in respect to provisions. I may just add here that quicksilver is said to have been found in some places."
The Captain of the George Washington had written to the owner in a still more gratifying strain; describing his trips into the inlterior, and stating how much he was pleased with the country, and with the harbour of Port Adelaide.
The two hundred emigrants who had been appointed to sail for this Province in the Herjobhoy Rustomjee Pattell, [sic] were chiefly of the labouring classes, but not exclusively so. One very intelligent gentleman accompanies the expedition, who is described as well acquainted with the process of smelting, and assaying ores, and with the construction of furnaces on the most approved principles, -in short, a talented and scientific gentleman, possessing a high degree of practical knowledge and a large experience; and one from whom great services may be expected in contributing to develop the mineral riches of South Australia, as well as in turning to the most profitable account the discoveries already made.
In further proof of the spirited manner in which the Germans are prosecuting, and contemplate prosecuting emigration, to South Australia, it is stated, that there is a probability of a literary gentleman arriving by the same ship, for the purpose of establishing a weekly newspaper in Adelaide, to be published ia German and English. The Germans in South Australia in general had found the change of country so beneficial, as to have strongly urged their relations and acquaintances to follow them to "the Land of Goshen"— and so numerous had been the applications for passage, per the Herjobhoy Rustomjee Pattell,[sic]that very many had been disappointed—and her owner, who is also that of the George Washington, had determined to lay her on again for Port Adelaide on her arrival from India : — so that she would in all probability be ready to take her departure for this Colony on or about the Ist July.
Since writing the above we have been put in possession of extracts of the latest advices received in this Colony, which not only confirm but surpass those from which we have just quoted. The substance of these extracts we now subjoin : — The Herjobhoy Rustomjee Pattell,[sic] Captain Laun was still, on the 18th March, frozen up in the Weser but would leave Bremen as soon as the weather broke up, her passengers, about two hundred and fifty in number, being ready for embarkation. The George Washington, Captain Probst, had not yet arrived from Batavia, but was already advertized to sail from Bremen for South Australia in all July, with a full complement of emigrants, the greater part of whom had already engaged their passages.
South Australia is exciting very considerable attention throughout Germany, and there is every reason to anticipate, that a large and constant accession of both labour and capital from the Continent of Europe to this highly favoured Colony will be the result of the judicious and zealous activity, with which correct information respecting it is now being systematically disseminated, throughout the length and breadth of Germany."🗞
South Australian Register, Saturday 26 July 1845, page 2
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27450633 #
📷"'Klemzig, German village on the Torrens', South Australia; a photographic reproduction of the sketch by F.R. Nixon." Circa 1845. SLSA. Enhanced by PASA.
