Rosewood History Qld.

The Farmers’ Inn, Tallegalla

© Jane Schy 2026

At Tallegalla, there was a public-house perched on one of the highest points of the range of hills that formed the Rosewood Scrub. It was situated immediately below the Tallegalla school on land originally selected by Nicholas Wiegand. It was described in 1883 as being surrounded by cultivated farms, and the outlook from the verandah embraced miles upon miles of the Scrub, with the level Brisbane valley beyond, and the bold range of mountains on its eastern banks forming a background.

I found it quite interesting to learn, as I was researching the hotel, that all of the licensees in its history, bar the last two, were associated in some way. The world was a much smaller place back then: less people, less of everything, yet surprisingly interconnected.

Nicholas WIEGAND (pictured at right), was a carpenter by trade. He selected 50 acres 35 perches, (Portion 524) for £7/12/6 in the parish of Walloon, on 26th June 1872. He immigrated with his wife Catherine and son Johann from Mörlenbach, Hessen, Germany per the Beausite in 1863. He farmed wheat, oats, lucerne, hay, grapes and pineapples amongst other things. When his son took up land adjacent to his land in 1876, Nicholas helped him build his house.  See Land Purchase

The settlers of the district agitated for a road to be formed from Rosewood Gate out to the back settlers of the Rosewood Scrub, so they could bring their produce to the railway station. It was decided that the new road would go through Nicholas Wiegand’s farm. He was very reasonable about it and only wanted £50 for the land required, and he offered to erect his own fence.

[Queensland Govt. Gazette, 22nd September 1877]
Department of Public Works, Brisbane, 15th October 1877
NEW ROAD, PARISH OF WALLOON, COUNTY OF CHURCHILL

Jacob RAABE (1878-1880)

It soon came to pass that another German immigrant, Jacob RAABE, who came to Queensland on the same ship as Nicholas, purchased a few acres of his farm – subdivision 2 on the map below.

Jacob had just married Rosina BRECHT on 14th April 1878, at the Lutheran Church in Ipswich. Rosina was the daughter of Carl and Elizabeth Brecht, the landlords of the Union Hotel in Brisbane Street, Ipswich. Previously her father was a farmer at Seven Mile Creek and Rosina was enrolled at the Ebenezer State School in January 1869. 

Carl Brecht died in September 1876. Interestingly, two years later his wife Elizabeth remarried to Johannes “John” Raabe (brother of Jacob Raabe), and the license for the Union Hotel transferred to John.

Jacob Raabe built a hotel on his land and and applied for a Country Publican’s License for the “Farmer’s Inn” at Tallegalla. On 8th October 1878, it was granted.

An old resident of Rosewood, James Scanlan, shared a memory of an incident that happened at the hotel, in a story published in the Queensland Times on Wednesday, 1st April 1931, on  page 3.
Mr. Jas. Scanlan, Wynnum South, related an amusing incident in the early life of the late Mr. T. L. Smith. The first time we met was at the opening of the Tallegalla Hotel, under the control of the late Mr. Jacob Raabe, in the early part of 1877 (sic). Bearded pioneers held the floor of the spacious ballroom, until the arrival of Mr. Smith and his friend, the late Mr. L. Larsen, of Glamorgan Vale; with a party of young bloods from Grandchester and Walloon, who had a knowledge of quadrilles cotillions &c. As the ladies desired to become familiar with figure dancing, the key of the ballroom was secured and the pioneers were locked out. Some futile attempts were made by the latter to regain possession, but the bar and the flowing bowl proved a greater attraction. Mr. Smith was a dark handsome type of English man, while his friend Larsen was a handsome Viking of the opposite type. 

At that time Thomas Lorimer Smith was a contractor and sawmiller at Marburg. He was known to be a bit of a prankster. Thomas also had a sugar plantation and was planning to open a sugar mill. Lars Larsen and his brother John Larsen built Smith’s sawmill and also built his sugar mill.

Michael GOOS (1880-1884)

In April 1880, Jacob Raabe gave notice that he intended to transfer the license for the Farmers’ Inn to Michael GOOS. Michael was Jacob’s brother-in-law. He married Jacob’s widowed, older sister Elisabetha, in 1867.

Nicholas Wiegand, Jacob Raabe, Johannes Raabe, and Michael Goos, were all from Hessen in Germany, and all immigrated on the Beausite in 1863.

On 20th April 1880, at the monthly Licensing Court in Ipswich, Michael Goos was granted a Country Publican’s License for the Farmer’s Inn, Tallegalla. Jacob Raabe not only transferred the licence, but he sold the freehold of the hotel property to Michael GOOS on 31st July 1880.

Jacob and Rosina went on the land farming and dairying at Stone Quarry for eight years, then moved to Teviotville and finally to Roadvale. Rosina died in December 1914, and five months later Jacob followed. Prior to his death, Jacob went to stay with their adopted son William Raabe, a chauffeur, who lived at Tooley Street, Maryborough, which is where he died. Consequently, Rosina is buried in the Milbong Lutheran Cemetery and Jacob is interred at the Maryborough Cemetery.

According to the publication, Tallegalla Centenary 1879-1979,  Michael Goos purchased the remainder of Portion 524 from Nicholas Wiegand on 25th May 1881 for £250. One of the first things Michael did was plant an acre of grape vines.

Some memories of the hotel from Mr. Herbert Embrey (1880-1981) were also disclosed in the book. He spoke of the balls that were held at the Inn and the “jolly good brawls” that took place there, and how one of his early teachers would stroll down and visit the Inn on some evenings. School would rarely begin on time the morning after. He recalled that on some days the bullock drays, some empty, and others loaded with timber, produce and other goods, lined the road from up past the Tallegalla school, down past the hotel, and around the corner, as their drivers refreshed and rested on their way through the Scrub.

The close proximity of the school must have been a welcome advantage to the families who lived at the hotel, and their surnames can be seen in the enrolment register for the school.

It was normal practice for hotels to host various events, and the hotel accommodated more than its fair share of German patrons who populated the area. Politicians and other dignitaries, as well as correspondents reporting for newspapers, stopped at the Inn for lunch on their tours through the Rosewood Scrub.

In 1881 there was a sale of farm animals. (see ad at right) Sports, shooting matches, and a ball were held at the Farmers’ Inn on Whit Monday, the 29th May 1882. On Whit Monday night in 1883 (Easter), there was a ball and supper at Michael Goos’s hotel. Dancing began at 7 o’clock.

On 6th June 1882, Michael was robbed while he was in Brisbane. The case was heard at the Criminal Sittings at the Southern District Court in Brisbane on 19th June, before Acting Justice Charles Edward Chubb.

[Brisbane Courier (Qld.), Tuesday 20 June 1882, page 2]
LARCENY FROM THE PERSON
James Brown as charged with having stolen the sum of £14 from the person of Michael Goss (sic) at Brisbane on the 6th June.  

Mr Miller prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr. Swanwick defended prisoner, who pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutor said he was a publican residing at Tallegalla; on the day before the robbery he had come into town and had £15 with him; on the following morning lent a £1 note to a man named Holburn, and kept £14; at about 6 o’clock a.m. was walking along Queen-street near the new Queensland National Bank building; prisoner whom he had never seen before, walked across the road to him and asked him to have a nip to which he replied that there was no public-house near, they then at prisoner’s suggestion went up to the Belfast Hotel, when they went into the hotel witness had the £14 (notes) in a bag in his right side coat pocket; as soon as they got to the bar prisoner took the money from witness and went through the passage; witness complained to Mr. Cutbush, the landlord, who said in reply, “Clear out or I’ll kick you out;” witness was making a great outcry; he went out of the hotel and met a constable to whom he complained; accompanied the constable along to Rumpf’s boarding-house in Edward-street, where they saw the prisoner; pointed him out to the constable and said, “That’s the fellow who took the money;” prisoner said nothing in reply; the constable arrested the prisoner and all went round to the police office where witness signed the charge-sheet.

Cross-examined by Mr Swanwick, witness said it was ten or fifteen minutes after the robbery that he told the landlord of it; he did not point Mr. Cutbush out in the police court as the man who had robbed him.

Constable Siever corroborated prosecutor as to the matter of information having been given of the robbery; prosecutor was sober; when witness told prisoner he was accused of stealing £14 prisoner replied, “I never had £14 in my life,” told prisoner he would have to arrest him, and prisoner replied, “All right, do your duty;” when prosecutor was in the Belfast Hotel he was making a great noise, and Mr. Cutbush told him not to create such a disturbance; on searching prisoner at the lockup found 1s. 5d. on him.

August Holburn (a blacksmith from Rosewood) deposed to having borrowed £1 from prosecutor and having seen other money in his possession.

A man named McKinlay gave evidence to having seen a man with prosecutor in the yard of the Belfast Hotel but it was a bigger man than prisoner. Mr. Cutbush, the landlord, deposed that at the police court he was pointed out by prosecutor as the man who had committed the robbery, but he afterwards corrected himself and pointed prisoner out.

This closed the case for the Crown. Mr. Swanwick called no evidence, but addressed the jury for the defence. His Honour summed up, and, after a brief deliberation, the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was discharged.

This advertisement was published in the Queensland Times and General Advertiser on 6th May 1884 on page 2.
WANTED TENDERS, not later than 4 o’clock p.m. on MONDAY, 12th  May instant, for the ERECTION of a TWELVE ROOM HOUSE and KITCHEN at Reilly’s Hill, Tarampa (present terminus of Brisbane Valley Branch Railway). Plans to be seen at Mr. MICHAEL GOOS’S, Tallegalla. Tenders to be sent to Mr. MICHAEL GOOS, Tallegalla.

On 14th October 1884,  Michael applied to the Ipswich Licensing Board for a license for the Sale of Fermented and Spirituous Liquors in the house and appurtenances thereunto belonging, situated at Lowood, containing the number of rooms required by the Act, and which I intend to keep as an lnn or Public-House, under the sign of the Railway Hotel.

Michael went to Lowood where he conducted the Railway Hotel, the first hotel in Lowood. It stood on the site where the police station was later built.

Martin BEAVIS (1884-1886)

Martin BEAVIS was granted a license for the Farmers’ Inn in November 1884. Martin had the license of the Rosewood Hotel prior to taking the lease of the Farmers’ Inn. Once again there was a connection. Martin and Zillah Beavis’s son Robert was married to Annie Catherine Goos, the daughter of Michael and Elisabetha Goos.

On 21st April 1885, at the licensing meeting held at Marburg Police Court, the application to renew Martin’s licence was adjourned for two months to give him time to improve the house. He must not have had the money for the repairs. In August he had a clearing out sale. The family moved to Bundamba where Martin purchased a large house and he became a storekeeper for a short while. In October he put his property at Bundamba up for sale, but it did not sell.

On 18th February 1886, Michael Goos took Martin Beavis to the Petty Debts Court in Ipswich, claiming £12 15s rent due for the Farmers’ Inn. A verdict was given for the amount claimed, with £2 3s. costs. Martin appealed the verdict and they went to court again in May. Mr. O’Sullivan appeared for Martin (the plaintiff) and Mr. Cardew for Michael.

The grounds for appealing were:-
I. That defendant was not entitled to set off a claim for damages against the plaintiff’s claim.
2 That there was no proof of an agreement to repair by plaintiff.
3. That there was no proof of non-repair by plaintiff.
4. No proof of damage to defendant by reason of non repair or otherwise.
5. That the verdict was against the evidence. 

After hearing arguments on either side, the Judge said that there was no evidence that the plaintiff ever did refuse to do the repairs, and that the set off was inadmissible. The order was that judgement be reversed with costs, a verdict to be entered for plaintiff for £12 l5s, including the amount paid into Court. The defendant was to be nonsuited as in the set off, without prejudice to his bringing a fresh action; the appellant to be allowed £3 3s. costs of appeal.

Martin died at his residence near Bundamba, Ipswich on 20th October 1886.

Heinrich DÖLLING (1886-1888)

Heinrich “Harry” DÖLLING took the lease of the Farmers’ Inn. Harry was also connected to the other licensees. His wife was Maria, was the daughter of Elisabetha RAABE (Mrs Michael GOOS). Harry and Maria had five children and were living and farming at Tallegalla at the time. One of those children was William Dölling, who later owned Argyle House (my home in Rosewood). Harry had prior experience as a publican as he was part owner of the Prince of Wales Hotel in Rockhampton for many years, and also had the lease of the Melbourne Hotel there.

The Hon. Samuel Walter Griffith, Judge, former Attorney General and soon to be Premier of Queensland, along with his accompanying party of M.L.A.’s, visited Marburg and Rosewood on his western political tour in December 1882. On the way through the Scrub, they had lunch at the Farmers’ Inn.

Harry hosted a concert and ball at the Farmers Inn on the evening of Tuesday, 4th October 1886. The music was provided by the Marburg and Kirchheim Brass Band.

Michael Goos put the property up for sale in June 1888. The ad pictured at right appeared on 2nd June in the Queensland Times. It was called the “Tallegalla Hotel” in the ad. It was sometimes referred to in that way, probably because of its location, but when the license was applied for and granted, it was always under the name of the Farmers’ Inn.

Michael Goos died on 20th June 1888 at his residence in Lowood.
Michael, the beloved husband of Elizabeth Goos, aged 50 years. “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away.” 

His estate consisted of the Subdivisions 1, 2, and 3 of portion 524 in the parish of Walloon, along with his other property holdings at Lowood. Jacob BORN, a grocer of Ipswich, was the executor for his estate.

Charles PRASKE (1888-1890)

At the Police Court at Marburg on Wednesday 4th July 1888, before Messrs. C. G.F Wiese and John Lane, JJP., the application of Heinrich Dölling for the transfer of his license to Charles PRASKE was granted.

Charles Praske was from Brisbane and had a wife and two children. He had never held a license before. Charles was born about 1859 at Bernau, Brandenburg, Germany. He immigrated from Hamburg on the Fritz Reuter, arriving in October 1877 at Rockhampton. Charles married Sarah Alumward Housley in June 1885. He was a Sawyer by trade. His German origin is the only similarity to the previous landlords of the Farmers’ Inn.

On Thursday, 1st November 1888, Charles Praske advertised that there was to be a dance at the Farmers’ Inn that evening.

All persons interested in a branch line from Lowood on the Brisbane Valley line, to Rosewood on the Southern and Western Railway, via the Back Plain, Minden and Tallegalla, were called to a monster meeting at the Farmers’ Inn on 24th March 1890. J. M. B. Lambert, M.L.A. chaired the meeting. It was instigated by the Rosewood Farmers’ Club and the outcome was that fifty-one men signed a petition to present to the Minister of Railways. They asked for a better road by which they could get their produce to market, and for a survey to be made for a railway between Lowood and Rosewood.

Charles Praske did not attend the Marburg Licensing Court on 5th April 1890, to hear the result of his application for his license to be renewed. It was stated that certain improvements had yet to be made to the hotel, and so the Bench adjourned his application for a month. In May, Charles withdrew his application for the Farmers’ Inn, Tallegalla.

By January 1898, the Praskes were living on Selection 43, portion 4, at Gundiah, which is located roughly halfway between Gympie and Maryborough. Charles was naturalised in 1901 at age 41 while living at Gundiah. He died in 1940.

Hugh MORTIMER (1890-1891)

The next publican of the Farmers’ Inn was Hugh MORTIMER (1854-1918), a Scotsman from Edinburgh. Hugh had held the license for the Queensland National Hotel in Laidley for some considerable time. Hugh leased the Farmers’s Inn from Mrs Elisabetha Goos in July 1890.

Hugh’s brother, Thomas Mortimer, had the license of the Royal George Hotel at Marburg, and he was in the process of liquidation at the time.

Hugh married Ann Clare in 1878 and they had seven children. One daughter, Lily Ann, was born in 1891 while they were at the Inn. 

This is where things became a little unclear and we come to the end of the hotel’s story.

Hugh is listed in the Queensland Government Gazette, Part A, 31st January 1891, as being a Licensed Victualler at the Farmer’s Inn.

The Queensland Times, Monday, 27th April 1891 on page 2 provided this:- The following tenders were received on Saturday last by Mr. E. Wyman (architect) for the construction a new hotel at Laidley, for Mr. H. Mortimer: The overture of B. Green £445, thirteen weeks, was accepted.

Hugh is listed in the Queensland Government Gazette, Part A, 30th January 1892, as being a Licensed Victualler at the Wilmott Hotel in Gatton. Hugh Mortimer still had the Wilmott Hotel in 1895. When he left Gatton, he was presented with a Malacca walking-stick, on which was a silver shield inscribed as follows: “Presented to Mr. H. Mortimer by his Gatton friends 31-10-00.”

The publication, Tallegalla Centenary 1879-1979, gives the following information about what happened to the Farmers’ Inn.
The building was then used as a domestic dwelling for several years by Michael Goos jnr., who in about 1899 demolished the Farmers’ Inn and used much of the timber to build a new colonial style home on another site. This house stood until 1952 when Cecil Else, a son-in-law of Michael Goos jnr. built a new home in its place. Some of the original pine timbers from the old Farmers’ Inn were still in such excellent condition, that they were re-used.

The property became known as Else Farm and is still in the hands of the Else family today.

Some interesting genealogy.

Name: Johannes RAABE (1808-1871) (Tile Maker)
Spouse: Catharina DIETSCH/DIETZ (1813-1871)
Children:
1. Elisabetha RAABE (1832-1923) = 1. Heinrich SCHMIDT 2. Michael GOOS
2. Maria Margaretha RAABE (1834-1893) = Johann Luther MULLER
3. Weigand RAABE (1837-1883) = Auguste Ernestine ZELLMER
4. Wilhelm RAABE (1838-1926)
5. Elisabeth RAABE (182-1908) = Peter KLUPFEL
6. Johannes Henry RAABE (1845-1901) = Elizabeth BRECHT née OEHL ER
7. Carl Vivian RAABE (1848-1941) = Christina Dorothea SUHL
8. Jacob RAABE (1850-1863) = Rosina BRECHT
9. Wilhelm RAABE (1853-1926) = Elizabeth Rachel BURROW
10. Anna Elizabeth RAABE 91856-1931) = Carl KLEWE

Johannes and Catharina Raabe, arrived at Brisbane on 5th September 1863, per the Beausite from Hessen, Germany with seven of their children. 

First child, Elisabetha Raabe, had two daughters by her first marriage to Heinrich Schmidt i.e. Maria Dölling and Katharina Kucks. Nurse Katharina Kucks established St. Florence Hospital on her property at 45 John Street, Rosewood in 1911. 

Third child, Wiegand Raabe, built the Marburg Hotel  in 1880.

Eighth child, Jacob Raabe, built the Farmers’ Inn at Tallegalla.

Name: Jacob RAABE
Occupation: Station Hand, Licensed Victualler, Farmer
Birth: 7th October 1850, Simtshausen, Hessen, Germany
Immigration: 5th September 1863, the Beausite arrived at Moreton Bay from Hamburg
Death: 28th April 1915, St. Mary’s Private Hospital, Maryborough, Queensland
Burial: Maryborough Cemetery
Father: Johannes RAABE (1808-1871)
Mother: Catharina DIETSCH/DIETZ (1813-1871)
Marriage: 14th  April 1878, German Church, Ipswich
Spouse: Rosina BRECHT
Birth: c. 1859, Ipswich, Queensland
Education: enrolled 4th January 1869, Ebenezer State School
Death: 3rd December 1914, Boonah Hospital
Burial: Milbong Lutheran Church Cemetery
Father: Johann Carl BRECHT (1826-1876)
Mother: Elisabeth Barbara OEHLER (1830-1901) Later Mrs John RAABE

Name: Michael GOOS (1837-1888)
Occupation: Farmer, Licensed Victualler
Birth: 1st December 1837, Wollmar, Marburg-Biedenkopf, Hessen, Germany
Immigrated: Arrived at Brisbane on 5th September 1863, per the Beausite.
Death: 20th June 1888, at home in Lowood, Queensland
Burial: Bethel Lutheran Cemetery, Lowood, Queensland
Father: Christoph GOOS (1812-1888)
Mother: Gertrude SEIBEL (1816-1861)
Spouse: Elisabetha RAABE
Birth: 7th February 1832, Simtshausen, Hessen, Germany
Immigrated: Arrived at Moreton Bay on 17th August 1865 per the Sophie  with daughters Maria and Katharina.
Death: 29th January 1923, At home, Railway Workshops Estate, North Ipswich.
Buried:  Ipswich General Cemetery
Father: Johannes RAABE
Mother: Catharina DIETSCH

Children:
1. Anna Catherine GOOS (1867-1941) = Robert BEAVIS
2. Michael GOOS (870-1957) = 1. Mary FELDHAHN 2. Louise SCHULTZ
3. Jacob GOOS (1873-1952) = Minnie FELDHAHN

If anyone has further information about the old hotel I would love to hear from you. My email: hello@rosewoodpasttimes.com

The photo on the left depicts Mrs Elisabetha GOOS (1832-1923) and her sister Mrs Anna KLEWE (1856-1931).
The photo on the right depicts Michael GOOS jnr. (1870-1957) (Rosewood Scrub Historical Society)