Young men and boys were facing compulsory army service, so Henry & Catherine decided to send their family to Australia. The ARCHER Bros. needed experienced farm men to herd their sheep as Asian employees were unused to sheep and lost many.
The KAHL brothers eventually sailed from Germany on the Grasslerook and docked at Hervey Bay in 1858. The KAHLs were part of a group of 15-20 German migrants whose passage had been paid so that they could work at FARRIS (GRACEMERE), which was owned by the ARCHER Bros. The ARCHER Bros. planned to raise sheep on the homestead block and their twenty five outstations. They changed to cattle and a lot of their property was resumed by the government for other settlers. This meant that many of the migrant settlers moved to their own properties at PINK LILY. PINK LILY was first settled in 1860. These pioneers raised cattle, ran dairies and grew crops such as bananas and pineapples.
On 22nd March, 1872, Matthais August KAHL married ANN ARMSTRONG at the home of his brother John Julius in a Primitive Methodist service. (Ann had migrated from Ireland in 1870). Matthais and Ann lived on the banks of the Pink Lily Lagoon in a wooden house, which was relocated to Haig Street, WANDAL and is still standing. They had ten children, one of which was lost at the age of 13, when he fell from a boat on the Lagoon. He had been trying to retrieve an oar and was caught in the lily fronds. Many KAHLs lived in PINK LILY and most or all came from the same small district in Bavaria.
Matthais KAHL was a carrier and used an oxen team and huge wool wagons to carry wool from West Queensland to the Coast. The work was lonely and dangerous, and took months to complete. On One occasion, they lost all the oxen due to an illness and Matthais had to wait months with the wool, while the other man went to Rockhampton for replacements. The Aborigines were interested in the oxen and wanted them for food. They were also fascinated that the wagon had one set of wheels larger than the other. One ran beside the wagon shouting "Go, little fella. Big fella can't catch you."
Matthais spent his last working years working for Livingstone Shire Council, so he could be nearer his family. Both Matthais and Ann died in their PINK LILY home. Matthais died 8th August, 1916, aged 73 and Ann died 7th January, aged 81.
Matthais and his sons built the road to Ridgelands. They used huge drays and horses and were referred to as the "Road Party".
My father, John Julius (Julie) KAHL was the eldest son of Matthais and Ann. He bought a farm at Alton Downs in the early 1900's, which he called "Sunny Dale" (now Marieka Downs.), 9 miles from Rockhampton. He also leased a neighbouring farm. It was infected with prickly pear, and the rule was it had to be cleared in five years. Others before him had failed to clear it and did he. He was thus forced to surrender the lease in 1925. About 1929, the cacto blastis bug was releases and it soon did the job of killing the pear which was so thick in some places, it was impassable.
Julie married MARY ANNE GOUDIE in September,1920. They lived at "Sunny Dale" until 1952 and had four children, John Julius, Frances, Ella and Marion. Their first son, John Julius was drowned in 1940 during the flood in the Dawson River, Baralaba. Because of the severity of the flood, his body wasn't recovered for nearly a week. He was 19 years old. Frances and Marion became nurses and Ella, a shop assistant.
Julie wasn't a born farmer, though he loved the land. He did extra work like fencing and logging. He also made a lot of harnesses. For many years he was herdsman for the Fitzroy Council's Angle-Island Reserve. This was on the Fitzroy River (at the end of McKenzie's Road). The main area was called the Angle and this included the Island. Neighbouring farmers would agist their cattle there to fatten. Julie's job was to maintain the tip and the yards and once a month, all the men would come and a muster would be done. The dipping was then carried out, dues paid and the cattle taken home. It was interesting day and I was often taken along. Water had to be pumped from a large lagoon, a short distance from the yards. Dad would prime the pump and pump for a while, then he'd pass it over to me, and toddle up to see how the water level in the dip was. Trouble was, he would get engrossed in other jobs and my arms would nearly fall off! You couldn't have a rest as the pump would have to be re-primed! After the muster and cattle were yarded - lunchtime. All the men would sit around under the huge gum trees and share yarns and news. Dad boiled a big billy for tea. One man, Mr W. Booth, wouldn't join in. He sat away from the other men and drank hot water! One day there exclamations and the men yelled" Hey, Julie, what have you done to our tea?" Finally, they worked out that one of the men had brought some milk in a vanilla bottle and it had flavoured the tea. I'll never forget their laughter!
On his younger days, Julie used to complete at Sports Days. Tents pegging was one of his favourite sports. He also competed in races, particularly at Waroula. In later years, he acted as Clerk of the Course. He continued doing this until he was so crippled he had to mount the horse from a stump. Because he had to be mounted all day, when he finally got home, he could hardly get out of the saddle. Mum finally had to say "Enough" Julie and all the KAHL men loved horses.
Julie passed away suddenly at his daughter's home in Rockhampton, shortly after leaving his farm. He was 73 years old and died in April, 1953. Mary, his wife passed away in May, 1980, aged 88, after a long battle with cancer. She was cared for by me for many years and the last four years she was confined to bed.
MARY ANNE GOUDA was born in Mt Morgan in 1891 and was only 7 years old when her father, William Murdoch GOUDA died. Hard times were ahead as there was no Social Services in those days. Mary's mother was pregnant when her father died and the four children ended up in an orphanage, where they were treated harshly. Mary was only educated to Grade 3 and then sent out to work as a children's nanny.
At about the age of 13, she was sent to ALTON DOWNS to help with the children of CAMPBELL and MARY MURRAY. They were wonderfully caring people and treated Mary like one of the family. She never forgot their kindness and help, and remained close to them all her life.
Mary took up photography while living at FITZROY PARK - taking photographs and developing them. She took many photographs of people of the district and was still taking photographs when she was 80. She used to ride side saddle all over the district.
The loss of her only son, John Julius was a terrible blow and it took her many years to recover from this tragedy. The attempted abduction of her daughter Frances, aged 5, by gypsies was also a dreadful shock to her. Despite these personal tribulations, she was always known for her hospitality and her generous natured smile. She was also well remembered for driving a buggy with two ponies. When I was born in 1933, she would put me in a big basket on "town day" and I'd travel under the seat. During World War II, many American soldiers were camped in Rockhampton and many would hitch a ride on the buggy. Children also had many rides.
Mary was a superb cook (having cooked for the Murray family before her marriage). She made chutney, relishes ,jams, cakes and pastries. She also used to make soap in a big tube, salt and cure meat and garden. Even with limited water, she had a great garden. Various citrus tress, mangoes, bananas, vegies and pot plants galore. I still have some of the plants she potted - hydrangeas, euchoris, lillies and ferns.
She was a special friend of MARIE SHELDRAKE. They shared the same birthday and were close all their lives. Marie pre-deceased her by a few years, from the same type of cancer. Mary taught Sunday school at St. James Church of England before her marriage and she collected all the money to pay for the font.
Julie and Mary's children all attended ALTON DOWNS SCHOOL.