Frank Henry Vogler 1847 - 1903

From Vineyards to Sheep Pens

Frank Henry Vogler was born in Hohenhaslach, Wurttemberg deep in the heart of southern Germany, 28 April 1847.

The small village renowned for its lush vineyards and fine wine is located in the rolling hills northeast of the Black Forest. Following a centuries old tradition Henry became a vineyard labourer in one of Germany's most successful wine regions.

Little is known about him, his family or why the eighteen year old left Hohenhaslach in search of a new life in Queensland.

Henry set sailed for Australia from Hamburg on 7 November 1863 with 230 of his fellow countrymen aboard the 414 ton barque Johann Cesar.

Barque Johann Cesar

The voyage was barely a week old when the barque was buffeted by violent gales off the coast of Great Britain. Fear of shipwreck forced Captain Falck to run for shelter at Cowes, in the Isle of Wight.

The Johann Cesar lay at anchor there for almost a month waiting for the weather to improve and did not set course for Australia until the 18th December.

One hundred and sixty nine days after leaving Hamburg the emigrants finally made landfall in Moreton Bay on Monday 25 April 1864.

Remarkably only two children under the age of six months died on the voyage.

After inspection by the Government Health Officer the 67 single men, 20 single women, married couples and families finally set foot on Australian soil.

Queensland Immigration Scheme

Henry was part of a State Government sponsored migration scheme that saw over 17,000 German speaking immigrants settle in Queensland between 1860 and 1870.

As part of the immigration agreement Vogler was required to work for two years for an employer he had never met and take on an unfamiliar job in harsh working conditions that were a far cry from his original occupation of vineyard labourer.

The Germans were considered "useful colonists" with a love for enterprise and adventure. They respected law and order and gained wide acceptance in Queensland by contributing to the Colony's agricultural development.

Premier, Sir Thomas McIlwraith, thought highly of them observing,"Having disembarked from the ships and spent one or two days in the Immigration Depot, the German immigrants disappear.

One hears or sees nothing of them for 18 months or a couple of years, when some fine day they return from the bush in their own attractive turn out, wife and children seated high, and all well-dressed and happy-looking."

Johann Christian Heussler

Johann Christian Heussler a wine merchant and importer arrived in Brisbane from Victoria in 1854. The businessman became a Government emigration agent in March 1861 and went to Germany to recruit immigrant workers for Queensland.

He was enthusiastically supported by newly arrived colonists who set up a number of organizations to promote the scheme throughout the Germanic States and Prussian Dominions.

These German Clubs hoped that, "... a knowledge of the colony, with regard to the geographical position, climate, capabilities, and resources of which the German peasant is far more ignorant than the most uninformed of England's husbandmen..." would encourage more immigration to Queensland.

Heussler's attractive deals, including free ship's passage, good wages, and the right to select land to the value of £12 enticed thousands of Germans to foresake the fatherland to make their fortune on the other side of the world.

His recruits were workers and agricultural labourers from the poor regions of Prussia, Pomerania, Silesia and Württemberg.

Large numbers settled in the Rosewood, Fassifern, Lockyer and Darling Downs regions, and later in Mackay, Bundaberg and Maryborough.

Born in Bokemheim, Germany, 15 June 1820, Heussler emigrated to Victoria in 1852 but poor health compelled him to move to Brisbane where he became a highly respected businessman and member of Parliament.

He was recognised as a founding member of the Queensland Club, Consul for the Netherlands, German Consul, and Emigration Agent for German shipping companies.

Dubbed the "Father of the Legislative Council" Heussler first took his seat in the Chamber in 1866.

Heussler ran into financial difficulties in 1872 when a pioneering sugar venture at Pimpana, Queensland failed. He was forced to surrender his property "Fernberg" to debtors and never returned.

Johann Christian Heussler died at his home in Christian Street, Albion, Queensland, 26 October 1907. He is buried in Toowong Cemetery.