the world wars
By 1901 there were over 6000 Danish-born immigrants in Australia, which declined drastically over the next 45 years to under 3000. A few short-lived assisted immigration schemes in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania were cut short by the outbreak of war in 1914.
In the 1920s, the onset of the depression as well as a rapid industrialisation put another halt to another round of immigration schemes.
In the 1920s, the onset of the depression as well as a rapid industrialisation put another halt to another round of immigration schemes.
first world war
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When the First World War broke out, many young Danes enlisted in the Australian forces. Support for Australia was particularly strong in light of the two Schleswig-Holstein wars fought against Germany. Sadly, as an anti-German phobia spread across Australia, many of them were mistaken as Germans and detained by authorities and ostracised by friends and colleagues.
Mads Christian Ludolph Hansen fought with authorities for 20 years to prove his nationality. Finally in 1925 the Commonwealth of Australia acknowledged that he was a Dane and not German born. Another, Arne von Mehren, was taken for a German spy and ended up changing his name to a more Dutch-sounding name, Vanmehren. |
Mads Hansen's Certificate of Naturalisation dated 1905.
Officials only went as far as including a handwritten note (in 1920) stating the boundaries between Denmark and Germany at the time of his birth.
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Danes fighting for australia
One of the many Danes who enlisted in the AIF was J. C. Jensen who was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during the war. Sadly, he became a serious alcoholic as a result of his war experiences and died in his early 30s.
Frederik C.E. From (1892-1977) born in Hillerød, attended the Danish Officers’ School and emigrated to Australia just before the outbreak of WWI. He enlisted in the AIF also and went overseas with the 25th battalion and lost an arm in combat in France in 1918. Upon his return to Australia and despite his handicap he joined the Light Horse Regiment and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1937. He commanded the regiment until its disbandment in 1943 and was admired by all who knew or heard of him.
Wilhelm Schubert was born in Dragør, on 19 May 1885, the son of a baker. His mother died when he was just 3 and at the age of 6 he was sent off to a farm to work as a servant. In 1911 he emigrated to Australia and joined the AIF in 1915 aged 30. He fought in Egypt and France, was injured and also suffered from French fever, an illness many soldiers contracted in the trenches. In 1919 he was discharged, settled in Adelaide and lived till 1935.
Frederik C.E. From (1892-1977) born in Hillerød, attended the Danish Officers’ School and emigrated to Australia just before the outbreak of WWI. He enlisted in the AIF also and went overseas with the 25th battalion and lost an arm in combat in France in 1918. Upon his return to Australia and despite his handicap he joined the Light Horse Regiment and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1937. He commanded the regiment until its disbandment in 1943 and was admired by all who knew or heard of him.
Wilhelm Schubert was born in Dragør, on 19 May 1885, the son of a baker. His mother died when he was just 3 and at the age of 6 he was sent off to a farm to work as a servant. In 1911 he emigrated to Australia and joined the AIF in 1915 aged 30. He fought in Egypt and France, was injured and also suffered from French fever, an illness many soldiers contracted in the trenches. In 1919 he was discharged, settled in Adelaide and lived till 1935.
Niels hansen krøjer
Niels Hansen Krøjer before going off to war
Another Dane, Niels Hansen Krøjer, enrolled in the AIF in 1915. Krøjer was born in Dragør on 6 December 1888. In 1904, aged 16 and without an education, he started working on the coal ship ‘Albert’. Over the next five years he worked on many different ships sailing around the world before arriving in Australia in 1909. For the first three months he worked on the railway line in the Blue Mountains. He then joined a Norwegian ship sailing between South Australia and NSW but after being arrested in Newcastle (reasons unknown), he lost his job. Failing to find work again in Newcastle (due to a major a coal strike), he left Australia on board a ship destined for San Francisco.
In 1911, Krøjer arrived back in Australia and settled in Adelaide where his father’s half-brother Peter Johansen lived. In 1915, together with a fellow Dane, Martin Schubert, he enrolled in the Australian forces and left for Europe in 1916. He fought in France and Belgium and suffered gas poisoning, which blinded him for three weeks and led to many hospital stays. Eventually, he was discharged as an invalid and sent back to Australia.
In 1911, Krøjer arrived back in Australia and settled in Adelaide where his father’s half-brother Peter Johansen lived. In 1915, together with a fellow Dane, Martin Schubert, he enrolled in the Australian forces and left for Europe in 1916. He fought in France and Belgium and suffered gas poisoning, which blinded him for three weeks and led to many hospital stays. Eventually, he was discharged as an invalid and sent back to Australia.
inter-war period
Saxil Tuxen
Between the two world wars, relatively few Danes emigrated to Australia and those who were second-generation assimilated well both bilingually and culturally. The largest majority of Danes was in New South Wales. The circulation numbers for the newspaper ‘Norden’ decreased significantly and as a result ceased publication in 1940. As a result, there are fewer public anecdotes about Danes during this time.
Several notable descendants of Danes who had settled in Australia before the world wars are worth mentioning such as the sculptress Ola Cohn (1892-1964), the daughter of the Danish brewer Julius Cohn and rugby player Mads Peter Madsen (1900-1979), son of Mads Mikkelsen Madsen. Saxil Tuxen (1885-1975), son of the Danish surveyor August Tuxen, was born in Ballarat and later followed in his father's footsteps when he trained as a surveyor and also gained qualifications in civil, municipal and hydraulic engineering. He became the first secretary for the Slum Abolition Board in 1914 and made a considerable contribution to Melbourne's town planning and slum-reclamation schemes over the next 50 years.
Several notable descendants of Danes who had settled in Australia before the world wars are worth mentioning such as the sculptress Ola Cohn (1892-1964), the daughter of the Danish brewer Julius Cohn and rugby player Mads Peter Madsen (1900-1979), son of Mads Mikkelsen Madsen. Saxil Tuxen (1885-1975), son of the Danish surveyor August Tuxen, was born in Ballarat and later followed in his father's footsteps when he trained as a surveyor and also gained qualifications in civil, municipal and hydraulic engineering. He became the first secretary for the Slum Abolition Board in 1914 and made a considerable contribution to Melbourne's town planning and slum-reclamation schemes over the next 50 years.
New South wales
Niels Peter Thomle was born in 1848 in Holbæk and arrived on the 7 February 1875 onboard the ‘Alexandrina’ as part of the Assisted immigration program to Queensland. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Danish Club ‘Heimdal’ in Brisbane and introduced the sport of target birdshooting to Queensland. Originally a cabinet-maker by trade he later changed his career to photography and making photographic equipment. In 1890 he moved to Sydney and was heavily involved in the Danish Club ‘Thor’ up until his death in 1918.
tasmania
A short-lived emigration scheme for Scandinavians moving to Tasmania was launched in 1912 but cut short by the outbreak of WWI. A small Danish community in Tasmania was mainly involved in farming around the Bismark area. After many years of petitioning the local Government, the Danes finally managed to have the German-sounding name changed to Collins Vale during the First World War.
Jens August Jensen (1861-1936), born on the Ballarat gold-diggings, also the son of Danish immigrants, left school at 11 to work as a stable-boy. In 1878 he moved to Tasmania and worked as a rabbit-seller and a miner. In 1896 he bought a hotel at Beaconsfield and became a successful hotelier. In 1903 he entered Tasmanian politics, later transferred to federal politics as a Labour politician and was made minister of the navy in 1915. In 1917 he was made minister of trade and customs but was dismissed in 1918 for acting without reference to and in opposition to the Board of Trade. He returned to Tasmanian politics and was eventually accepted back into the Australian Labour Party in 1927. He served in the House of Assembly from 1927 to 1934.
Jens August Jensen (1861-1936), born on the Ballarat gold-diggings, also the son of Danish immigrants, left school at 11 to work as a stable-boy. In 1878 he moved to Tasmania and worked as a rabbit-seller and a miner. In 1896 he bought a hotel at Beaconsfield and became a successful hotelier. In 1903 he entered Tasmanian politics, later transferred to federal politics as a Labour politician and was made minister of the navy in 1915. In 1917 he was made minister of trade and customs but was dismissed in 1918 for acting without reference to and in opposition to the Board of Trade. He returned to Tasmanian politics and was eventually accepted back into the Australian Labour Party in 1927. He served in the House of Assembly from 1927 to 1934.
People registered as Danes based on ABS Census figures - 1910 to 1955 (SA, WA, TAS)
South australia
There were 262 Danish-born settlers in South Australia in 1901, which decreased to 143 by 1947. Most were involved in the shipping industry. Western Australia had seen more of an influx of Scandinavians because of the gold field areas. One of them was C.F. Mouritzen who established a porcelain factory using special earth he had found of rare quality and whiteness. He married an Australian and his son, Roy, was an officer in the Imperial Flying Corps when sadly he was killed in action on 5 June 1917, aged just 20.
victoria
In Victoria, the Danish philanthropist, Joseph Alexander Heyman (1856-1939), arrived in Melbourne in 1924, aged 68. He was under a contract with the American Geographical Society but decided to stay in Melbourne, severed his connection to the society and instead established a factory in Fitzroy where he made art metal work. He also made several commemorative plaques for historical places and events in Melbourne.
Another notable Dane around this time was Grethe Hjort (1905-1967) who was the first principal of Women’s College at the University of Melbourne.
Several second-generation Danes are worth noting as well. John F. Skjellerup, the son of Danish immigrants in Cobden, Victoria, trained as a telegraph operator. In 1900 Skjellerup went to Cape Town alongside 39 other telegraphists and became the foundation secretary-treasurer of the Cape Astronomical Association. He returned to Australia in 1927 and has the honour of being the second most successful Australian in finding comets. Between 1912 and 1941 he discovered seven comets, several of which bear his name.
Martin P. Hansen (1874-1932) was born in Heathcote, also the son of Danish immigrants. He was educated at Scotch College in Melbourne and after completing his teacher-training he taught at both state and private schools whilst studying arts and law part-time at the University of Melbourne. He was appointed chief inspector of schools in Victoria in 1914 and director of education in 1928, a post he held to his death in 1932.
Another notable Dane around this time was Grethe Hjort (1905-1967) who was the first principal of Women’s College at the University of Melbourne.
Several second-generation Danes are worth noting as well. John F. Skjellerup, the son of Danish immigrants in Cobden, Victoria, trained as a telegraph operator. In 1900 Skjellerup went to Cape Town alongside 39 other telegraphists and became the foundation secretary-treasurer of the Cape Astronomical Association. He returned to Australia in 1927 and has the honour of being the second most successful Australian in finding comets. Between 1912 and 1941 he discovered seven comets, several of which bear his name.
Martin P. Hansen (1874-1932) was born in Heathcote, also the son of Danish immigrants. He was educated at Scotch College in Melbourne and after completing his teacher-training he taught at both state and private schools whilst studying arts and law part-time at the University of Melbourne. He was appointed chief inspector of schools in Victoria in 1914 and director of education in 1928, a post he held to his death in 1932.
queensland
Harald Ingemann Jensen (1879-1966) was born in Denmark and emigrated to Queensland at an early age with his parents. He went on to win a state scholarship to the University of Sydney where he completed a science course in 1903. He was a demonstrator in geology and chemistry at the University for the next four years and was also on a fellowship from the Linnean Society of New South Wales. He completed his doctoral work in 1908 and won the Sydney University Science Medal and the Melbourne University Syme Prize. For four years he was attached to the Agricultural Department of NSW as a soil analyst and surveyor, followed by another four years as the chief geologist and director of mines in the Northern Territory.
He eventually returned to Queensland where his family had settled and devoted himself to work as a private geologist and to political economic questions. He tried unsuccessfully to stand as a parliamentary candidate for the Australian Labour Party in 1925. Harald also wrote many pieces on soils in NSW and the geology of Queensland and is most known for his work ‘Rising Tide of Labour’.
He eventually returned to Queensland where his family had settled and devoted himself to work as a private geologist and to political economic questions. He tried unsuccessfully to stand as a parliamentary candidate for the Australian Labour Party in 1925. Harald also wrote many pieces on soils in NSW and the geology of Queensland and is most known for his work ‘Rising Tide of Labour’.
People registered as Danes based on ABS Census figures - 1910 to 1955 (NSW, VIC, QLD)