gold, gold, gold
The first Danes, that we know of, in Australia came for a variety of reasons. Some were convicts and sentenced to Van Diemen's Land, such as Jørgen Jørgensen and Samuel Wolff, a watchmaker, born in Copenhagen and later a resident in England, who was convicted of 'unlawful pawning'.
Other Danes left Denmark behind with the hope for a better and healthier life in Australia, including Edward Knox who arrived in 1840, settling in NSW and Ferdinand von Muller who arrived seven years later in Adelaide. Both would later be knighted in Australia for their extraordinary contributions in their individual fields.
The Schleswig-Holstein wars in 1851 and 1864 led to many more leaving Denmark behind. The Cohn brothers, Moritz, Julius and Jacob (who had taken part in the First Schleswig War), who would become known for their brewing business in Bendigo, arrived in 1853. Others were seamen, sailing under British flag. Upon arrival in Australia many would either desert or, if they were lucky, be discharged from their ships. One of them was Claus Grønn who arrived in Melbourne in 1854 and who, for many years, tried his luck in the gold diggings with varying degrees of luck.
Other Danes left Denmark behind with the hope for a better and healthier life in Australia, including Edward Knox who arrived in 1840, settling in NSW and Ferdinand von Muller who arrived seven years later in Adelaide. Both would later be knighted in Australia for their extraordinary contributions in their individual fields.
The Schleswig-Holstein wars in 1851 and 1864 led to many more leaving Denmark behind. The Cohn brothers, Moritz, Julius and Jacob (who had taken part in the First Schleswig War), who would become known for their brewing business in Bendigo, arrived in 1853. Others were seamen, sailing under British flag. Upon arrival in Australia many would either desert or, if they were lucky, be discharged from their ships. One of them was Claus Grønn who arrived in Melbourne in 1854 and who, for many years, tried his luck in the gold diggings with varying degrees of luck.
gold rush in new south wales and victoria

Gold was first discovered in NSW in 1851 and shortly afterwards in Victoria, which led to an influx of immigrants. New South Wales did not have a scheme of assisted immigration, most of the Danes settling here had started off in other colonies. Other than Sydney, other major settlements were in Newcastle and Broken Hill. Danes worked mainly in farming or shipping.
Interest was greater in Denmark than the other Scandinavian countries, which was in part due to the proximity to the port in Hamburg in Northern Germany, which had sea links to Australia. According to the diary of Claus Grønn, the educational standard of most of the Scandinavians arriving was fairly low with 50% of them deserted/discharged seamen, 20% labourers, 15% peasants and 15% artisans. Only 7% had received upper secondary education.
Interest was greater in Denmark than the other Scandinavian countries, which was in part due to the proximity to the port in Hamburg in Northern Germany, which had sea links to Australia. According to the diary of Claus Grønn, the educational standard of most of the Scandinavians arriving was fairly low with 50% of them deserted/discharged seamen, 20% labourers, 15% peasants and 15% artisans. Only 7% had received upper secondary education.
Danish settlements in victoria
Charles (Carl) Tolstrup from Ribe in southern Jutland arrived in Melbourne in 1854 and settled in the Castlemaine area like most of his fellow Danes. After years of mining he went into business at Campbell's Creek setting up a general store. He opened up his house which became a social centre for young Scandinavian diggers in the area whilst acting as their legal advisor.
After 12 years, he became a mining agent/manager and was appointed a government municipal auditor. In 1875, he was appointed secretary to the Mount Alexander Shire and a Justice of the Peace. He lived till 1890, and was a highly respected member of the community. |
There were so many Danes in Castlemaine, who between them owned general and hay/corn stores, a smithy, hotels and two shanties, that it became known as 'Copenhagen'

Other Danes in the Castlemaine area included Thomas Petersson, another migrant from Schleswig-Holstein who arrived in 1853. After years of gold-digging he turned to carrying goods to the goldfields, and later settled at Campbell's Creek as a blacksmith and owning a hay, corn and produce store. In 1873 be bought land at Strangways near Newstead focusing instead on general and dairy farming. Another Dane, Hans J. Appel bought a hotel at Fryer's Creek and later acquired the Five Flag Hotel at Campbell's Creek, where many of the young Schleswigers would get together.
Another Dane who became a successful hotel owner was Andreas Kofoed Michelson, born in 1836 on Bornholm, who arrived in Melbourne in 1857. After 20 years on the diggings (first gold and later quartz mining), he also turned to the hotel trade. He built his first hotel at Chinaman's Flat and was a successful owner of the McIvor Hotel in Maryborough, the Carisbrook Hotel in Carisbrook and also the Southern Cross Hotel in Ballarat. The latter was rebuilt in 1888 and advertised as one of the best hotels in the district. Andreas (Andrew) died in 1905, leaving his three sons Harry, Willie (both of whom later lived and worked in South Africa) and Alf with a sizeable estate of £4000.
Another Dane who became a successful hotel owner was Andreas Kofoed Michelson, born in 1836 on Bornholm, who arrived in Melbourne in 1857. After 20 years on the diggings (first gold and later quartz mining), he also turned to the hotel trade. He built his first hotel at Chinaman's Flat and was a successful owner of the McIvor Hotel in Maryborough, the Carisbrook Hotel in Carisbrook and also the Southern Cross Hotel in Ballarat. The latter was rebuilt in 1888 and advertised as one of the best hotels in the district. Andreas (Andrew) died in 1905, leaving his three sons Harry, Willie (both of whom later lived and worked in South Africa) and Alf with a sizeable estate of £4000.
Next stop: Queensland and Western Australia

By the 1860s, there was a noticeable decline in mining in NSW and Victoria. Some Danes stayed in the Castlemaine area, others went home whilst some tried their luck in QLD and WA where gold was discovered in the 1870s and 1890s, respectively.
The first organised Danish group of emigrants left Hamburg, Northern Germany on November 12, 1870 on the ship Reichstag. Their destination was Hervey Bay, Queensland where they arrived on March 10, 1871. 125 Danes were on board.
It is estimated that between 1870 and 1879 some 4,500 Danes emigrated to Queensland alone, before official census figures were available.
From the 1870s till the turn of the century, many Danes found their way to Australia through the assisted passage programs, particularly to Queensland (which in 1859 had separated from New South Wales to become an independent state). The so-called Immigration Act of 1863 provided free passages for farmers and farm labourers, artisans and domestic servants. The voyage cost only £2, which was paid to the agent. Married couples were allowed to bring two children with them whilst people over 50 had to pay £16 but were still given land grants. Upon arrival in Australia, immigrants received a land grant of 40 acres, while blocks of 160 acres were made available on the fertile Darling Downs. Many Danes settled here such as Mads Mikkelsen Madsen. Others were attracted to the goldfields at Charters Towers, Gympie, Mount Morgan and the Palmer.
In Western Australia, most Danes were seamen who had deserted their ships. Apart from a few who remained in Fremantle working in the ports, the majority went to the goldmines.
The first organised Danish group of emigrants left Hamburg, Northern Germany on November 12, 1870 on the ship Reichstag. Their destination was Hervey Bay, Queensland where they arrived on March 10, 1871. 125 Danes were on board.
It is estimated that between 1870 and 1879 some 4,500 Danes emigrated to Queensland alone, before official census figures were available.
From the 1870s till the turn of the century, many Danes found their way to Australia through the assisted passage programs, particularly to Queensland (which in 1859 had separated from New South Wales to become an independent state). The so-called Immigration Act of 1863 provided free passages for farmers and farm labourers, artisans and domestic servants. The voyage cost only £2, which was paid to the agent. Married couples were allowed to bring two children with them whilst people over 50 had to pay £16 but were still given land grants. Upon arrival in Australia, immigrants received a land grant of 40 acres, while blocks of 160 acres were made available on the fertile Darling Downs. Many Danes settled here such as Mads Mikkelsen Madsen. Others were attracted to the goldfields at Charters Towers, Gympie, Mount Morgan and the Palmer.
In Western Australia, most Danes were seamen who had deserted their ships. Apart from a few who remained in Fremantle working in the ports, the majority went to the goldmines.
Thorvald Peter ludwig weitemeyer

The first organised Danish group of emigrants left Hamburg, Northern Germany on November 12, 1870 on the ship Reichstag. Their destination was Hervey Bay, Queensland where they arrived on March 10, 1871. 125 Danes were on board.
Weitemeyer, born in Copenhagen in 1850, was in one of these first organised groups. In his book from 1892 (Missing Friends: Being the Adventures of a Danish Emigrant in Queensland), he recalls how, after absconding to Hamburg at the age of 21, he saw a large placard in a window, advertising “Free Emigration to Queensland, Australia.”
After reporting to the agent’s office the next day he was told that he would be getting food for the whole journey, bedclothes and cutlery and once he reached his destination he would be in first-class hotel accommodation until work could be provided. A decision had to be made quickly as the next ship was to sail a fortnight later, and Weitemeyer signed himself up as an agricultural labourer.
Conditions on board the ship was a great deal different, no food was served the first day and when it finally was given to the passengers, it consisted of daily rations of salted pork or mutton with a little sauerkraut and weekly rations of one tablespoon of sugar and a supply of biscuits. A couple of months into the trip, the ship’s doctor had made himself the boss of the ship and one day he roped a girl to the mast in front of the ship’s irate 600 passengers and crew. This almost led to a rebellion and Weitemeyer wrote a complaint to the Danish consul in Australia.
Weitemeyer started off working at Bowen as a carpenter and then went to Townsville where he spent some time in the gold-diggings. In 1878 he married Jane Borthwick (nee Bell). The family settled in Bundaberg (1880-85), then moved to Brisbane (1885-87) and were the first settlers of the Montville area in 1887. Their youngest son Henry was the first white person born on the Blackall Range in 1888.
Thorvald was widowed and married Mary Wynne in 1900. The marriage did not last long and Thorvald moved to New Zealand for a number of years. He later returned spending some years in the Maleny district in 1913-14 and then Herbaton on the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland. He opened a joinery shop and stayed until suffering health problems. His son Christian brought him back to his residence in Bundaberg where he died six months later on the 6th June 1919.
Weitemeyer, born in Copenhagen in 1850, was in one of these first organised groups. In his book from 1892 (Missing Friends: Being the Adventures of a Danish Emigrant in Queensland), he recalls how, after absconding to Hamburg at the age of 21, he saw a large placard in a window, advertising “Free Emigration to Queensland, Australia.”
After reporting to the agent’s office the next day he was told that he would be getting food for the whole journey, bedclothes and cutlery and once he reached his destination he would be in first-class hotel accommodation until work could be provided. A decision had to be made quickly as the next ship was to sail a fortnight later, and Weitemeyer signed himself up as an agricultural labourer.
Conditions on board the ship was a great deal different, no food was served the first day and when it finally was given to the passengers, it consisted of daily rations of salted pork or mutton with a little sauerkraut and weekly rations of one tablespoon of sugar and a supply of biscuits. A couple of months into the trip, the ship’s doctor had made himself the boss of the ship and one day he roped a girl to the mast in front of the ship’s irate 600 passengers and crew. This almost led to a rebellion and Weitemeyer wrote a complaint to the Danish consul in Australia.
Weitemeyer started off working at Bowen as a carpenter and then went to Townsville where he spent some time in the gold-diggings. In 1878 he married Jane Borthwick (nee Bell). The family settled in Bundaberg (1880-85), then moved to Brisbane (1885-87) and were the first settlers of the Montville area in 1887. Their youngest son Henry was the first white person born on the Blackall Range in 1888.
Thorvald was widowed and married Mary Wynne in 1900. The marriage did not last long and Thorvald moved to New Zealand for a number of years. He later returned spending some years in the Maleny district in 1913-14 and then Herbaton on the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland. He opened a joinery shop and stayed until suffering health problems. His son Christian brought him back to his residence in Bundaberg where he died six months later on the 6th June 1919.
anders nielsen

Census figures show that the number of Danes in Queensland was 4 times higher in 1881 than a decade before. Another Dane, Anders Nielsen, was born in 1849 in the little village of Tudse. After completing an apprenticeship in coach building, he went to work in a tramcar factory in Copenhagen. He moved to Schleswig during the Franco-Prussian War where he worked for two years and got married.
Together with his wife he emigrated to Australia arriving in Maryborough in July 1873. After working at a station in Pialba and later in Maryborough as a carpenter and cabinetmaker, he became a wheelwright.
Trying his hand at farming with little success he decided to return home to Denmark but Queensland was too much of a pull and they decided to re-emigrate. Writing to a friend in Rockhampton, he obtained tickets for himself, his wife and a number of relations and friends, totalling 40 people. Paying just £1 each, their documents arrived but the Danish authorities got wind of his plan, and summoned him to appear before court for being an unlicensed emigration agent. Before the trial date, Nielsen was already on his way with his party of 40. Arriving in Rockhampton, everybody obtained employment.
Nielsen ended up establishing himself in a coach-building business, employing 17 workers after 4 years. After 15 years, Nielsen sold out and retired just before the motor trade was beginning to affect the coach trade.
Together with his wife he emigrated to Australia arriving in Maryborough in July 1873. After working at a station in Pialba and later in Maryborough as a carpenter and cabinetmaker, he became a wheelwright.
Trying his hand at farming with little success he decided to return home to Denmark but Queensland was too much of a pull and they decided to re-emigrate. Writing to a friend in Rockhampton, he obtained tickets for himself, his wife and a number of relations and friends, totalling 40 people. Paying just £1 each, their documents arrived but the Danish authorities got wind of his plan, and summoned him to appear before court for being an unlicensed emigration agent. Before the trial date, Nielsen was already on his way with his party of 40. Arriving in Rockhampton, everybody obtained employment.
Nielsen ended up establishing himself in a coach-building business, employing 17 workers after 4 years. After 15 years, Nielsen sold out and retired just before the motor trade was beginning to affect the coach trade.