Advertising for the store of J. L. Frederich, Marburg
Marburg History. Qld
Rosewood History. Qld.
Johannes Ludwig FREDERICH and Zillah WAKEFIELD
© Jane Schy 2026
Name: Johannes Ludwig FREDERICH
Aka: John Ludwig Frederich
Occupation: Farmer; General Storekeeper and Produce Merchant, Entrepreneur
Birth: 1845, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Immigration: 9th September 1866, the Young Australia arrived at Moreton Bay, Queensland
Departed from Gravesend 8th June.
Death: 30th July 1909, at his residence in Marburg, Queensland aged 64 years.
Burial: 1st August 1909, All Saints Anglican Cemetery, Marburg.
Father: Wilhelm August Adolph FRIEDRICH (Landholder; Hotelier)
Mother: Wilhelmine Sophie Caroline ENGELBRECHT
Marriage: 25th October 1871, Brisbane, Queensland
Spouse: Zillah WAKEFIELD
Birth: October 1845, Bristol St Paul, Gloucestershire, England
Ref: Births – Oct Nov Dec 1845 – Volume:11 Page:180
Residence:1851, 66 Drivers Fields, Bristol St Paul.
Immigration: 16th December 1854, the General Hewitt arrived at Brisbane, New South Wales.
Departed from Southampton 14th August.
Death: 27th June 1900, at home in Marburg, Queensland aged 54 years.
Burial: 28th June 1900, All Saints Anglican Cemetery, Marburg.
Father: James WAKEFIELD (Mason)
Mother: Hannah SANIGER
Children:
Adolphus Ludwig FREDERICH (1872-1925) = Ada Ottaway McCLOY
Lilly Anna FREDERICH (1876-1937) = Samuel KENNEDY
Ida Beatrice FREDERICH (1879-1906) = William Millar REID
Eva Victoria FREDERICH (1881-1934)
Harold Paul FREDERICH (1882-1936) = Alice Caroline Henrietta FREDERICH
Percy Christian FREDERICH (1885-1885)
Victor Johannes FREDERICH (1887-1916)
The trim looking, yacht-like ship, the Young Australia, anchored at Brisbane roadstead at 7.30 p.m., on Sunday 9th September 1866 after a voyage of 90 days, and was cleared on Monday by Dr. Purdie. No accident of any kind or sickness whatsoever occurred during the voyage with the exception of two births, and not a stitch of canvas was lost. Aboard were: English, 234; Scotch, 10; Irish, 46; other places, 19; total 309 souls.
John Frederich was supposedly among those 19 souls from other places. I haven’t found John’s arrival in immigration records, or a passenger list for that particular voyage of the Young Australia. I am relying on the information given about John Frederich in an article written about him in the Brisbane Courier in March 1909. (1)
He was conveyed to Queens’s Wharf on 15th by the paddle steamer Kate. John arrived at a turbulent time when the Queensland Government Bank had been temporarily suspended, and he would have seen for himself the rioting in the streets of Brisbane about the financial difficulties of the Colony.
To gain some colonial experience, and some insight into his new country, John set off travelling about. He went as far west as Longreach before returning to Brisbane and starting a grocery business with Joshua Jenyns in Edward Street. The doors opened for business on 8th March 1869.
JENYNS AND FREDERICH’S READY MONEY GROCERY STORES Will be OPENED THIS WEEK with articles of the best description, purchased for cash from the best markets, and will be sold for the lowest remunerative profits, for cash only. J. and F. respectfully solicit a call to prove the fact. Note the address–Adjoining Mr. Steel’s, Chemist, Edward-street. (2)
(Joshua’s son, Ebenezer Jenyns, was a surgical instrument and corset maker. Ebenezer and his wife Sarah Ann established the firm, “House of Jenyns”.)
John Frederich was a subject of a foreign power, and as such, he didn’t have the same rights as British settlers, such as owning land, so he applied to become a British subject. He swore an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria and received his Certificate of Naturalisation on 7th September 1869. John soon bought some land. On 30th September he selected Portion 1, 156 acres for £74 at Mudgeeraba Creek, and left Brisbane to go into farming.
In 1871 he married Zillah Wakefield. On the 25th October, at the residence of the bride’s mother, Leichhardt-street, Fortitude Valley, by the Rev. J. Kingsford, John Ludwig Frederich, Esq., of Mudgeerabah Creek, Nerang, to Zillah, youngest daughter of the late Mr. James Wakefield, of this city. (3)
Zillah was eight years old when she immigrated with her parents and siblings. Interestingly, Joshua Jenyns was also a passenger on the General Hewitt. They were landed at Queen’s Wharf, Brisbane by the steamer City of Melbourne on 22nd December 1854. Twenty months later Zillah’s father died. Her older brothers went into business in Brisbane as plumbers. One brother, Hiram, later became the Mayor of Sandgate.
John and Zillah named their home at Mudgeeraba “Beulah” meaning “married” (pictured below in 1874). Their son Adolphus was born there in 1872. Zillah bought Portion 1A (7acres 32 perches) at Mudgeeraba Creek in July 1874, as well as Portions 156 and 157.
In 1875, John and Zillah took Adolphus and went overseas to visit their former homelands. John’s mother died when he was 10 and his father remarried. Perhaps John wanted his father to meet his daughter-in-law and grandson and tell him that he was doing well in his new country? They returned as saloon passengers on the Isles of the South, which sailed from London 15th June 1875, arriving in Brisbane 7th October. John went back to Brisbane and briefly started in business again.
The Frederichs came to the Rosewood Scrub in 1876, to the locality that became known as Frederich. The settlement was situated among hills, and built on the banks of Black Snake Creek, a salty water stream which rose in the Tallegalla Hills, and after a northerly course of about 21 kms, entered the Brisbane River at Fairney View.
John bought a small part of Edmond Moriarty’s selection (Portion 464), and on this land he built a large store, a comfortable residence, a back store and stables. It was on the corner of what is now Queen Street and Edmond Street (originally Ipswich Street). [ X on map below] Scotland Yard Antiques occupies the site today.
The business (J. L. Frederich) was doing well by 1879. In his store John kept a good stock of drapery, ironmongery and groceries of all kinds, which he sold at reasonable prices. His store was the receiving office for mail. The name of the office was changed from Frederich, Rosewood Scrub, to Marburg on 8th September 1879.
As his emporium flourished and his business extended, John opened branches at Minden (1879) and Hatton Vale.
John acquired some more land:
- 3rd June 1880 – £12/8/6 – 497 acres – Portion 83, County of Churchill, Parish of Rosewood. It was a conditional purchase and he received his Certificate of Fulfilment in October 1883.
- 18th November 1881- £6/7/0 -241 acres 2 roods – Portion 95, County of Churchill, Parish of Rosewood. (Conditional purchase)
In the early days John assisted new settlers with advice, at times guiding his compatriots to success with their undertakings. He established a reputation for reliability, wisdom and sound judgment. Zillah was also ever ready to assist others.
John was the returning officer for the electoral district of Rosewood from the year 1880 until 1908. In July 1882, he was appointed as a member of the Frederich State School Committee along with George Dobson, Wilhelm Höhnke, Edmond Moriarty, and Wilhelm Shulz. (The school’s name changed to Marburg State School in 1888.) In May 1884, he was appointed as Assistant Registrar of births and deaths at Rosewood Scrub, for the registry district of Moreton West.
It was surprising to find John’s youngest brother, Albert Gustav Frederich, living with the family at Marburg. Albert died at their home on 2nd December 1883 aged 30 years. Albert arrived at Sydney as a saloon passenger on the Sorrento in October 1882. John paid his fare. Albert was born in 1853 at Küdde, Pommern, Preußen. This village is located 1.2 km from Groß Küdde, which is known today as Gwada Wielka. It is approx. 475 km away from Stuttgart where John said he was born. Albert was buried at the Haigslea Cemetery.
This sad event prompted John, Zillah and Adolphus to travel overseas again. They were passengers on the Archer from Brisbane to Sydney, arriving 21st April 1884, at the beginning of a lengthy holiday to the “Fatherland.” They boarded the Cuzo on 26th for London via Melbourne, Adelaide, Suez Canal and Naples. John’s father died in 1891, so this was to be the last time John saw him.
The S.S. Dorunda sailed from London on 12th January 1885, and the Frederichs were on board. They arrived at Brisbane early in March, feeling rested and refreshed from their time away.
In April 1884, John took two business partners Edward Carl Gustav Wiese and Albert Heinrich Sakrzewski. The business was then styled J. L. Frederich & Co., General Storekeepers and Produce Merchants. Albert had been running the the Minden store since it opened and was the brother of Otto Sakrzewski, proprietor of the Marburg Hotel.
Tragically, in November 1885, John and Zillah’s baby son Percy Christian died aged 9 weeks.
In January 1886, John built a “pretty cottage” at Burleigh Heads, the first private residence there.
John called residents of the district to a meeting in April 1886 to discuss the idea of a railway line through the centre of the Rosewood Scrub. Only 50 people attended. Apparently the German farmers were in favour of the scheme, but many of them did not take kindly to attending public meetings, especially where the discussion was in the English tongue. The meeting adopted the general principle of a line being constructed under the guarantee system, and running through the most populated districts by means of a branch railway line from Walloon to Fernvale via Marburg and Glamorgan Vale. They resolved to make every effort to accomplish the scheme.
John was also raising the ideas of butter making and forming co-operative butchering and baking companies. He was one of the organisers of the first Show in the Marburg district in July 1887, which was held under the auspices of the Marburg and District Agricultural and Industrial Association. Other organisers were T. L Smith, G. Dobson, F. Bielefeld and E. Moriarty. About 3,000 people attended.
In June 1888, one of John’s partners, Edward Carl Gustav Wiese, opened a store in Marburg on his own account, on the same side of the main street as the Queensland National Bank. In October John had a big clearing out sale and his other partner, Albert Sakrzeskwi, bought the Minden store from John and went into business for himself in the Shingle Inn.
That same month John bought the business, land and store in Rosewood from Frederick Christopher Emmott and took over on 1st November. The shop was closed for three days for stock-taking before opening to the public. John hired William Frederick Ruhno, who had been working in his Marburg store since 1884, as manager of the Rosewood Store.
In April 1891 John had a sale and closed his Hatton Vale store.
The Queensland Government Gazette of 25th March1893, recorded that Johannes Ludwig Frederich was appointed Chairman of the Board for the Division of Walloon.
A man named Hermann Nitz appeared before Mr. H. T. Macfarlane PM at the Marburg Police Court in May 1893. He was charged with receiving the sum of 11s.9d from John Frederich by means of false verbal representations. Michael Keneally, a clerk in the employ of John Frederich stated that Nitz came to the store on the 1st of May and asked him for 11s. 9d., saying that Mr. Frederich told him to go to the store and get the money. Believing it to be true, Keneally gave him the money. Herman Nitz was sentenced to three days’ imprisonment in the cells. (4)
The Lowood Dairy Company had two creameries, one at Marburg and one at Minden. Both were run by John Frederich. He was also running the creamery at Rosevale.
Here are two of his shop ads from 1894 and 1895.
Attention is called to the advertisement of Mr. J. L. Frederich, of Marburg and Rosewood. He is ready to supply seasonable goods and groceries of all descriptions.Cordials and preserves, cards, table fruits, dc., are ready for the purchasers. At the Rosewood store, of which Mr. W. Ruhno is the manager, a shilling table should be a centre of attraction. It should be noted in connection with this announcement that goods are to be supplied at town prices. (5) See the Ad here
Mr. J. L. Frederich, of Marburg and Rosewood, has put forth special efforts to cater for the wants of his numerous customers during the present festive season. He states by advertisement in another column, that each department at his establishment is replete with new goods of every description, including new fruits, nuts, cordial and assorted table fruits. He has laid in a large stock of Christmas and New Year cards, and a collection of fireworks and toys. At the Rosewood store on Christmas eve Mr. Frederich intends to have a Christmas tree loaded with an array of seasonable goods which cannot fail to have an attraction for both young and old. (6)
John applied for a wine license on 1st September 1896.
- for the Sale of Queensland Wine in the Premise situated at Marburg (at the corner of Queen and Ipswich Streets), adjoining the Premises occupied by the Applicant.
- for the sale of Queensland Wine in the Premises situated near Railway Station, Rosewood, adjoining land not occupied.
He decided to expand the Rosewood business and build a larger and better store. He employed Mr. George Brockwell Gill, a well known architect from Ipswich, to design and call tenders for the project. In December 1899, Messrs Hastie and Halliwell’s tender of £690, with a build time of four months, was accepted.
On 7th June 1900, the Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser announced: The commodious premises erected, by Messrs. Hastie and Halliwell, of your town, to the order of Mr. J. L. Frederich, are now completed. The building, which is to serve as a drapery and grocery establishment, with a large bulk store at the rear, has been erected on the site of the former one, directly facing the railway station. It is a very decided improvement to the township, and serves to show the importance of the trade done in this district. The length of the structure is 72ft. by 45ft., height of walls 18ft.; the walls and frame being of first-class hardwood. The building is supported on 154 blocks, some of them being dowelled on to thick planks to prevent the superstructure from sinking. The roof is a principal one, and has a large lantern top. The sashes for the lantern light are of cedar, and the glass is protected by galvanised wire netting. The lining and ceiling are of dressed pine with ventilators fixed in the latter. Ventilation is also secured by means of Boyle’s patent ventilator from the roof and also a fanlight in the side of the building framed in cedar and also protected by wire netting. The shop has a large parapet front and a 12ft. awning over the footpath. The front windows are of the very best plate glass, protected by wire guards. The main roof and the roof over the lantern are covered with 24 gauge corrugated iron and the awnings with similar curved iron. The store is properly fitted throughout with fine shelving and counter provided with numerous small drawers. The cashier’s office is of tongued and grooved pine, finished with balusters and moulded capping, also of pine, and contains a desk fitted with a burglar’s alarm till. The exterior of the building is painted with three coats of paint, except in the case of the weather boards, and the interior fixings, office, &c., are varnished with best copal varnish. The premises are well drained with earthenware glazed drain-pipes, and the footpath under the awning has been asphalted by Mr. B. Hedge. An awning 12ft. square has also been erected over the door of the bulk store, and will serve as a protection during wet weather. The plumbing was done by Mr. J. Cuthbert, of Ipswich, and the painting by Mr. H. Catlow, also of Ipswich. As before stated, the contractors are Messrs. Hastie and Halliwell. They also supplied all their own joinery work, and the whole structure reflects very great credit upon their workman ship and upon the skill of the architect, Mr. G. B. Gill, of Ipswich. The business has meanwhile been carried on in the Victoria Hall, but I am informed that the manager, Mr. Ruhno, intends removing to the new premises next week. The Victoria Hall has thus been occupied for four or five months past, and, in consequence, there has been a lack of amusement.
A couple of weeks after his new store opened, John’s wife Zillah died at their home in Marburg. She had been ill with heart problems and was under the care of Dr. Dunlop from Ipswich. During her illness Zillah had been attended unrelentingly by her family members. She was to be greatly missed, not only by her family, but in many other circles.
Marburg Butter Factory – Mobsby Collection, Fryer Library, UQ
John Frederich was indeed an exceptionally busy man and a key driver of economic growth. He contracted Messrs. Waugh and Josephson to build a butter factory for him at Marburg. The factory began operations on 2nd October 1901. The butter was first class and had an excellent flavour because most of the cream suppliers lived close to the factory and could deliver the cream several times a week. Fresh cream was assured. The factory was a credit to the manager, Jens Peter Jensen, who had the happy knack of being able to satisfy both the suppliers and John Frederich. Everything was clean and in good order, regardless of what time the factory was visited. The Marburg Butter Factory was greatly appreciated by the farmers in the neighbourhood.
Sixty-one pigs were trucked from Walloon station to Messrs. Howes Bros. by John Frederich in June 1901, and sixty-four were trucked from Rosewood to the same firm. The price paid was 2d per lb. and 1s. extra per pig.
In June 1905, John called a meeting of farmers in the Marburg School of Arts to establish a cattle-dip in Marburg. He explained the working of the new dip at Rosewood and the one at Mudgeeraba. It was unanimously decided that it was necessary to form a co-operative dip. (8)
A person using the pseudonym, “The Stranger” wrote to the paper about his visit to Marburg in November 1907. This is an extract. Everybody seemed busy; work was the order of the day, and hence Marburg’s prosperity. Why, Frederick’s big store in itself is sufficient to convince anyone as to the business done. Never have I seen so small a place (the township, that is) with so big a store so well stocked. It was another revelation to me, for generally in places so small general stores aren’t set up to much, yet here was a well equipped, well-stocked, business mart such as one would find on a large gold-field or a populous Sydney suburb.
John put his Minden farms up for sale in 1907. They were chiefly dairies with the best of herds.
On the 1 December 1907, John Frederich sold his Rosewood store to William Ruhno. It then became known as the “The People’s General Supply Store.”
Having sold my business at Rosewood to Mr. William Ruhno, as from the Ist instant, I take this opportunity to thank my friends, customers, and public generally for their liberal patronage and support accorded me in the past, and trust they will continue to extend the same to my successor, who has managed my business here successfully for the past 19 years. J. L. FREDERICH. Rosewood. 23rd December 1907. (9)
John’s son Adolphus had been working in the Marburg store from about 1896. Along the way he assumed more and more responsibility until he became the manager of the store with its various departments. John passed the Marburg store and butter factory to Adolphus when he retired from storekeeping at the end of 1907.
Johannes Ludwig Frederich, one of the most popular residents of West Moreton, died at his residence in 1909 from heart failure. A letter of condolence was sent to his family from the Rosewood Shire Council and a number of councillors spoke in the warmest terms of his sterling qualities.
He was remembered as a man who set an example well worthy of emulation by every citizen who wanted improvement in the existing conditions and the heightening of the moral tone of the community. John always took great interest in public affairs, and in his role as a justice of the peace, gave useful service in the community. On many occasions he was asked to contest the Rosewood seat as a candidate for Parliament, but he always declined. It could be truly said of John Frederich that he had the welfare of the district at heart, doing everything possible towards its progress. He had a kind word for everyone he met and demonstrated to young men what could be done by energy and perseverance.
His funeral cortege was the largest ever seen in the district, and left from his residence for the Anglican Cemetery. Scholars from the Lutheran Church led the way and the Church bell tolled continuously until the lengthy procession had passed. You can see the list of tributes and telegrams here if you wish.
It was fitting that he and Zillah were laid to rest in the All Saints Anglican Cemetery at Marburg. The family had been highly involved with the Church since it opened in 1891 and John and Zillah’s daughters were married there. John was Superintendent of the Sunday School for several years and he provided the annual picnic for the Church members.
At the time of his death, Frank (Franz) Bielfeld, sen.had worked in John’s Marburg business for 23 years. Others had been in his employment from eight to thirteen years, and as a mark of their esteem, they contributed a most beautiful wreath enclosed in a glass case, which was placed on John’s grave.
His sons, Adolphus and Harold, and his son in law Samuel Kennedy (Bank Manager), were the executors for his estate. Harold inherited the property at Mudgeeraba. (Subdivision1 of portion 3, portions 2, 27v, subdivisions 1 and 3 of portion 5, and portion 1, county of Ward, parish of Mudgeeraba.)
In September his Marburg property was put up for sale by auction.
At this juncture I feel that I haven’t yet done proper justice to the story of Johannes Ludwig Frederich and that there is still more to tell. However, I will finish with a little of what happened to the store.
Half a hour after midnight on Christmas Day in 1914, the worst fire that had ever occurred at Marburg, burned Adolphus Frederich’s store to the ground. The origin of the fire was a mystery and nothing could be done to save it. With some difficulty, the neighbouring business places were saved. The loss was estimated at £5,000, and the insurances totalled £3,825. Could it be possible that it was a case of arson? Given the feelings that were developing against German folk after the start of the Great War, fuelled by the propaganda machine, it does make one wonder.
After the fire, Adolphus became a commission and insurance agent. Mr. William Henry Dance built a store on the site of John’s old store.
On 6th May 1920, Adolphus’s butter factory burned to the ground.
In September, the family left Marburg and moved to a new home, which they named “The Haven.” It was in Prospect Street, Sherwood. They moved again, this time south to Sydney. In January 1925, Adolphus was employed as a traveller for a Sydney firm of hide and skin merchants. He was ill on his return to Sydney and was admitted to a private hospital at Little Bay with pneumonia. At about 2 o’clock one morning he was missing from his bed. It was presumed that he became delirious and walked out of the hospital, as he was found lifeless in a lagoon in the vicinity the hospital. Such a tragic end for a man who, from what I’ve read, possessed many of the qualities of his father. He was 52 years old.
See more advertisements from J. L Frederich.
References:
(1) Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 – 1933) Saturday, 27 March 1909, page 12
(2) The Brisbane Courier (Qld.) Wednesday, 10 March 1869, page 1
(3) Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 – 1933) Saturday, 4 November 1871, page 4
(4) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.) Tuesday, 20 June 1893, page 3
(5) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.) Thursday, 20 December 1894, page 3
(6) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.) Saturday, 21 December 1895, page 3
(7) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld) Thursday, 19 December 1901, page 10
(8) The Brisbane Courier (Qld.) Wednesday, 21 June 1905, page 6
(9) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.) Tuesday, 31 December 1907, page 1
Queensland, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
Queensland, Australia, Passenger Lists, 1848-1912
Queensland, Australia, Naturalisation Index, 1851-1908
Pomerania, Germany, Parish Register Transcripts, 1544-1883
New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915