The Marburg Hotel ca. 1890. State Library of Queensland – Neg 21505

Marburg History

The Marburg Hotel

© Jane Schy 2025

The Marburg Hotel has always been an integral part of Marburg’s social and recreational life. Travellers from Brisbane would pass right by the hotel, as this was the main road to Toowoomba until a bypass opened in 1971. Marburg was a popular stopping place to rest and refresh. 

Toowoomba also had a Marburg Hotel from 1904, on the corner of Ruthven Street and Bridge Street, until its name was changed to the Railway Hotel in 1919.

The story of the Marburg Hotel at Marburg, begins with a German immigrant named Wiegand Raabe who was born 13th March 1837 at Simtshausen, a small, rural village located within the municipality of Münchhausen am Christenberg in the Marburg-Biedenkopf district of Hessen, Germany. Wiegand arrived at Moreton Bay on 5th September 1863 per the passenger ship Beausite. He was farming at Kirchheim when he married Auguste Ernestine Zellmer on 27th August 1872 at Walloon. Auguste was born 24th August 1854 at Lübben, Germany and arrived with her parents on the Reichstag in 1872.

Wiegand and Auguste had six children:-
Annie Wilhelmine RAABE (1873-1894)
Johannes RAABE (1875-1948) = Ethel Elizabeth TOOLEY
Carl Wilhelm RAABE (1877-1953) = Annie O’MARA
Pauline Albertine RAABE (1878-1969) = Johann Heinrich Kaspar VERRENKAMP
Frederick Wilhelm Heinrich RAABE (1880-1880)
Emilie Auguste RAABE (1881-1959) = Albert BALLIN

Wiegand Raabe built the Crown Hotel at Kirchheim (Haigslea) and held the license from 13th November 1877. The hotel was situated on the main road leading through the Rosewood Scrub. He also owned a store next door. These were situated on two acres of land:- Resubdivision A of Subdivision 1 of Portion 409, Walloon. He also had a farm of 120 acres: Subdivision 2 of Portion 409, Walloon.

Wiegand’s original selection of 160 acres, Portion 409, is shown on the map below. See Land Purchase (31st January 1877).

Wiegand faced insolvency in 1879. William Amour, the trustee of his estate, put the hotel, store, and farm up for sale in March. His younger brother John (Johannes) Raabe of the Union Hotel, Ipswich, bought the hotel and shop, paid his debts then set about calling them in. John put the hotel and shop up for sale at an auction in June. A certificate of discharge was granted to Wiegand in July 1879, after which he was granted a license, but now he was renting the hotel. 

In mid 1880, Wiegand secured about 2 acres of land at Marburg where he built a hotel on the corner of Queen Street and Edmond Street.

In December 1880 he gave notice of his intent to transfer his license to – a new house containing three sitting rooms and four bedrooms exclusive of those required by my family, which house is situated at Marburg, and I intend to keep the same as an Inn or Public house, under the sign of “The Marburg Hotel”.

The Licensing Board at the Ipswich Police Court on 4th January 1881 refused Wiegand Raabe’s application to transfer his Country Publican’s license from Walloon to Marburg. Mr. Chubb, solicitor, appeared on his behalf. More work was needed to complete the building to meet the requirements of the Board. Finally it was transferred on 19th April. The license of the Crown Hotel went to Heinrich Lutz.

In June races were held at the hotel to celebrate the Anniversary Services of the Tallegalla Wesleyan Chapel.

On 30th December Wiegand found himself before Messrs. James Brady and Ebenezer Watson Hargreaves at the Ipswich Police Court. He was charged with having, at Marburg, on Sunday 11th, sold a bottle of porter and one of ale to Spencer Martin, contrary to a prohibition by the Bench (19th October at Marburg Hotel). Wiegand pleaded “not guilty.” 

Spencer Martin, a blacksmith from Marburg, gave evidence that he was at the hotel on 11th and had some ginger-wine. He paid for a bottle of porter for a friend named Dennis who was with him. He said either Wiegand or his wife supplied the drinks, however he couldn’t swear that Wiegand was in the hotel when he bought the drinks and did not remember seeing him. Rosetta Martin, wife of Spencer Martin, deposed that her husband left home before breakfast and was sober then. He came back for breakfast, but left again soon after. The second time he returned about 2 o’clock, quite drunk and scarcely able to walk up the hill, which was only about 200 yards from the Marburg Hotel. She said she spoke to Wiegand and asked him who gave him the authority to supply her husband with drink? Wiegand replied, “Go home and chain him up.”

Richard Browning, a farmer from Marburg, said that he was in the hotel on the 11th and couldn’t recall seeing Wiegand, because he was drunk himself and couldn’t be sure what occurred that afternoon. 

William Dennis was also called, but he did not appear, and service of summons having been proved by Senior Constable Minogue, a warrant was issued for his arrest. The case was adjourned. Dennis showed up shortly afterwards and the case proceeded. 

Wiegand was fined £5, and ordered to pay 10s. l0d. costs of Court and £1 l0s. witnesses’ expenses. [1]

At the next Licensing Board meeting, Wiegand’s application for the renewal of his license was refused and it was refused again in June 1882 until he met the accomodation requirements. It was granted in December, just in time to host special visitors. The Hon. Samuel Walter Griffith, Judge, former Attorney General and then soon to be Premier of Queensland, visited Marburg and Rosewood on his western political tour in December 1882. He had lunch at Wiegand’s Marburg Hotel.

A year later on 6th December 1883, Wiegand Raabe died at Marburg aged 46 years after a protracted illness. He was interred at the Marburg Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. His estate went to his wife Auguste and the license for the Marburg Hotel then transferred to her.

Six months later Auguste married a local carpenter, Otto Sakrzewski on 13th June 1884 at Kirchheim (Haigslea).

Otto Sakrzewski was born 27th September 1850 at Gross Lüblow, Pommern. He arrived in Moreton Bay per the Reichstag in October 1876 with his parents and siblings. They had been living at Stresow in Lauenburg. The family settled in Brisbane for a time and Otto worked at a sugar mill. They moved to Marburg and Otto worked as a carpenter for John Philip Berghauser (carpenter) from Campbell’s Gully, and then for John Louis Frederich (storekeeper) at Marburg for a number of years. Otto was naturalised in 1884.

Otto and Auguste had nine children, seven sons and two daughters:-
Alwine Auguste SAKRZEWSKI (1884-1958) = Arnold Joshua BARRETT
Albert Franz SAKRZEWSKI aka SACKSON (1886-1942) = Emma BALLIN
Carl Otto SAKRZEWSKI (1888-1915)
Heinrich (Henry) Paul SAKRZEWSKI (1890-1952) = Elsie Amelia Minnie EVANS
Ida Louise SAKRZEWSKI (1892-1974) = George Ewald Carl CLEM
Felix Rudolph SAKRZEWSKI (1893-1975) = Alice BALLIN
Edward Friedrich SAKRZEWSKI (1894-1960) = Mabel Edith WITT
Arthur SAKRZEWSKI (1896-1896)
Victor George SAKRZEWSKI (1897-1958) = Ivy Maple BROWN

On 8th July 1884, Auguste Raabe transferred the licence to Otto Sakrzewski. His application stated: The house will be rented from Mrs Auguste Raabe its present occupier, and is licensed under the name of the “Marburg Hotel” and which I intend to keep as an Inn or public-house, under the same sign.

The town of Marburg was rapidly growing. In November 1884, 200 building sites and residential sites in Marburg township went to auction. They were subdivisions of Portion 486, parish of Walloon, originally George Dobson’s selection. Sixty-four allotments were sold for a total of £l,238, the highest price being £175 per acre, the other lots averaging £105 per acre. Read the interesting advertisement here.

Miss Johanna Kenneally, daughter of Daniel Kenneally and Ellen McCarthy of Glamorgan Vale, started a dressmaking business in one of the rooms of the hotel. 

The license transferred from Otto Sakrzewski to a Scottish man, Thomas Mortimer of Marburg, on 8th July 1886. Thomas and his wife Margaret née Glasgow had 5 children at the time but went on to have 9 children altogether.

In early November 1886, a young man named Donaldson robbed the till at the Marburg Hotel. He loitered about the hotel that morning waiting for the men to go out before he attempted the theft. Auguste Sakrzewski came in and caught him with his hand in the till and she and grabbed it as he pulled it out of the drawer. She made him open his hand and return the money. When Otto returned he ordered him off the premises and told him that if he left he wouldn’t have him arrested. Donaldson became abusive and wanted to fight. Senior Constable Johnson was summoned and he was taken away to the cells. Donaldson was bought before Messrs. Frederich and Wiese that afternoon at the Court House and sentenced to two months jail with hard labour. Mounted Constable McConoche from Ipswich took him to town the same evening. [2]

Dr. von Lossberg was called from Ipswich to attend Thomas Mortimer in May 1887. Thomas had been returning home with three friends in a spring cart from some festivities in Ipswich. When almost to Walloon, the cart hit something on the road and they were all thrown out. Thomas received a severely sprained ankle and the other men escaped without injury.

Thomas Mortimer played the cornet, and in January 1888, due to his efforts, a brass band was formed in Marburg with 15 members. Thomas was the conductor and he purchased some very good instruments at the music warehouse of Messrs. H. J. Pollard end Co., Brisbane.

The Ipswich newspaper reported: We are about to have a bake-house and resident baker amongst us. The former is nearly completed, and the latter, a good baker, has been engaged by the proprietor, Mr. T. Mortimer. We have hitherto had to depend upon Rosewood Gate for our supply of the “staff of life,” and it has not been regular owing chiefly to the state of the roads and the weather. We hope, within a week or two, to be locally provided. The proprietor intends turning out nothing but a first-class article. [3]

The baker was a French man named Albert Helmuth De Berg. Albert conducted the first bakery business in Marburg, which was situated opposite the hotel. Albert married the before-mentioned seamstress, Miss Johanna Kenneally in January 1889.

It was reported that Host Mortimer, of the Marburg hotel, gave a most substantial meal for the modest sum of 1 shilling.

A social gathering and dinner in honour of Albert Runge was held at the hotel in May 1889. He had been an employee of John Frederich and was the person responsible for acquiring a boon of the latest clothing in the local store. Mr Carl Gustav Edward Weise J.P. spoke of his years of personal friendship with Albert Runge. After dinner, a few songs and social chat, the evening ended with the singing of Auld Lang Syne. [4]

Rumours were circulating in July 1889, that the Marburg Hotel was about to be replaced by a large double storey building of quite an imposing character. 

On 8th August, three fifteen year old lads, Adolf Bliesner, Hermann Kitzelmann, and Wilhelm Qualischefski, found themselves before the Marburg Police Court charged with having stolen a case of colonial bitters and one of colonial sauce from Mortimer’s Marburg Hotel. From the evidence it seemed that the door of the storeroom at the back of the hotel had been left open on the night of May 30th and the lads took one case into a neighbouring paddock, where they sampled the contents. The bitters wasn’t to their taste, so they took another case. When they realised that they only had sauce, the boys smashed the bottles. They were seen by another lad and the police were put on the trail. Before Messrs G. F. Miller, C. G. E. Wiese, and John Lane, they pleaded guilty and were fined £1 each, and ordered to pay 8s. 4d. each to Mr Mortimer as compensation for the goods taken and destroyed. [5]

Thomas Mortimer, who had leased the hotel for 3 years, went to take over the Royal George Hotel in October 1889. The George had been recently opened in Marburg by Mrs Alice McDonald, wife of Alexander McDonald. The license of the Marburg Hotel transferred back to Otto Sakrzweski, who set about building a new two storey hotel.

A Marburg correspondent wrote – I have seen the plans for the new Marburg Hotel, and I hear that tenders are to be called immediately for the erection of the same. The building is likely to be even more pretentious in appearance than the Royal George.

George Brockwell Gill, Ipswich architect, called for tenders. Conrad Kreis was the successful carpenter. He also built the Marburg Hospital. His father was a stone mason, and helped in the erection of Cribb and Foote’s building in Ipswich.

Then in February 1890 – The form, features, and face of the township are being daily altered. The new hotel in course of erection upon the site of the old Marburg Hotel is being pushed on with, though the rains are seriously retarding its completion. The township will be better provided in the matter of hotels and accommodation than any other country town, both this hotel and the Royal, which is under the able supervision of Mr. Thomas Mortimer, being two-storey buildings. [6]

The rains certainly did hamper the construction of the new Marburg Hotel. From Thursday the 6th March to the next Monday, rain fell in blinding torrents with a heavy wind, almost a gale, blowing the whole time. The creek flowing past the town had been gradually rising, and on Sunday night it was ‘running a banker’. On Monday the Tallegalla Dam burst and water came down the valley in a wall 3 feet high, enveloping the whole town in about 5 minutes. Rescue parties were immediately formed, and all of the women and children were carried to Mortimer’s Royal Hotel. During the day the water continued to rise, but by 5 o’clock Marburg was comparatively free from flood water. People complimented themselves on their escape and everyone who had taken refuge in Mortimer’s Hotel returned to their homes and began to put things back in order. At about 11 o’clock that night, without the slightest warning, another flood hit the town rising as high, if not higher, than the flood of the morning. This time Ballin’s dam had given way. Had these two dams burst together, they inevitably would have burst several of the smaller dams, and the combined waters would have committed unimaginable havoc. Marburg drains fairly quickly and during the night the flood waters considerably subsided.

Thomas Mortimer was insolvent by April and a petition was filed in the Supreme Court for the liquidation of his estate liabilities of £757-9s. He left Marburg in March 1891 and took the license for the Lowood Hotel and later went to manage the Avoca Hotel on corner of Leichhardt and Wharf Street, Brisbane in 1897.

In April 1891, Otto Sakrzewski’s application to renew his license was adjourned for a month so the new hotel could be finished.

The newspaper of the 12th April reported – The new Marburg Hotel, which has lately been erected upon the site of the old hotel, has been completed, although it has not yet been taken over. The delay, I understand, has been caused through the painting. The hotel is a decided improvement to the place.

Then on the 29th April  – The Marburg Hotel, which has been lately erected by Mr. Otto Sakrzewski, presents quite an imposing appearance in the town. it  is a splendid two-storied building, with a veranda and balcony encased in substantial iron mouldings, and extending round the front and one end of the the edifice. Containing as it does, twenty two rooms, it will be a great addition to the architecture of the town.

Otto’s licence was finally renewed in early May.

Here follow examples of the various events that occurred in relation to the Marburg Hotel during the residence of Otto and Auguste Sakrzewski. Their catering abilities became well known.

• Later in May 1891 the Minister for Railways, Hon. H. M. Nelson, Commissioners Mathieson and Johnston, and Messrs. Isambert and O’Sullivan, MM.L.A., visited Marburg to inspect the route of the proposed railway line. They were met at Walloon by buggies, and on the road by about fifty cheering horsemen who accompanied them to town. Three addresses were presented in front of the Board’s office. A welcome address was given by Mr. F. A. Muller. Two petitions were presented – one favourable to separation from the Walloon Board and the other in connection with the line. Speeches were made in the Board hall, and a banquet was given in honour of the visitors by some of the residents at the Marburg Hotel.
• In June Albert Discher appeared before before John Louis Frederich J.P. charged with indecently exposing himself on the licensed premises of the Marburg Hotel. He pleaded guilty and was fined 5s or in default 24 hours in the cells.
• At the Marburg Show in July the prize for the best water colour drawing of the Marburg Hotel was won by John Meissner and the best pencil drawing of the “Four Corners” in Marburg township was awarded to O. Christensen.
• In August 1893, sixteen year old Charles (Carl Wilhelm) Raabe was riding a horse along at a pretty smart canter, when the horse fell. Charles received a severe wound across his right knee and was taken to the Ipswich hospital for treatment returned returning home to the hotel later that night.
• In 1895, Miss Catherine Kearney, a bright, intelligent, assistant teacher was appointed to the Marburg State school. She was from Toowoomba and had trained under Miss Hirst at the North Toowoomba girls’ school. Catherine boarded at the Marburg Hotel. She was much respected as an earnest teacher by those who new her so it was a shock when she died suddenly at the hotel in November, aged only 24 years. The immediate cause of death was unknown. Acting Sergeant  King stated that there were no suspicious circumstances. A label bearing the word ‘Poison’ was found in her room along with some explanatory letters. She had been under a doctors care for some months.
• On Easter Monday morning in April 1898, a team from the Glamorgan Vale Quoit Club, captained by Mr. L. W. Linning, journeyed to Marburg in order to compete with a team from West Ipswich, skippered by Mr. F. J. Bullock. The Glamorgan Vale players treated the Ipswich men to a “most appetising repast” which was provided by the proprietor of the Marburg Hotel. Much credit for the the excellent quality of the meals was given to the two Misses Raabe, Pauline and Emilie, whose fame in catering was well established.
• Another case of indecent exposure in a public place occurred on the verandah of the Marburg Hotel on 16th July 1898. William Chicotski pled “guilty.” First-class Constable Randel stated that there was one previous conviction against Chicotski and the Bench imposed a penalty of £10; and he was then fined £2, with 3s. 6d. costs of Court; in default, fourteen days’ imprisonment.
• Otto Sakrzewski catered for a Grand Ball in July 1899. The event was instigated by the young men of Marburg. 50 couples were present in the beautifully illuminated School of Arts building. Music was supplied by the Blenheim Brass Band. 
• The local School of Arts was sold by Mr William D. Box to the proprietor of the Marburg Hotel, Mr Otto Sakrzewski on 19th July 1901.
• On 7th March 1907, an auction was held at the hotel by E. Bostock and Sons to sell 5 scrub farms belong to J. L. Frederich Esq. These were Portions 83 and 95, Parish of Rosewood, 738 acres of first class improved farming land at Minden.
• On 6th and 7th September 1907, an exhibition of billiard-playing was given by Mr. Harry Gray (champion of Queensland) and Master George Gray (boy champion of the world) in the Marburg Hotel. (Harry Gray, George Gray and their manager Fred Farrell pictured at left)
• Dr. Euchariste Sirois arrived in Marburg on 1st June 1909. His credentials had arrived from America ahead of him. He commenced practice in a small room at the Marburg Hotel, but very soon he acquired an allotment on the hill overlooking the town and built a surgery. In 1912 he built the fine hospital adjoining his surgery on the most commanding position in this beautiful district.
• In April 1910 the German Consul (Dr. Georg Irmer) visited Marburg at the invitation of the German residents.
• Mr Vyvyan Edmondson Pascoe, head teacher of the Lark Hill State School was presented with a dressing case on behalf of the Marburg Cricket Club at a farewell function at the Marburg Hotel. Then at the residence of Mr. J. O. Ernst, Mr. F. Viertel on behalf the Marburg Musical Union, presented Mr. Pascoe with a fountain pen. Mr. Pascoe left by the steamer Osterley for England that week. [7]

View across fields to township of Marburg, Queensland ca. 1908. (B. Taylor Photograph) State Library Queensland

A coach ran daily from Walloon Station to Marburg, departing Walloon at 9a.m.. To stay at the Marburg Hotel in 1912 the rates were 4/- day and 18/- week.

Otto and Auguste Sakrzewski retired in May 1912. The hotel changed hands after 32 years when it was sold to Otto’s brother, Albert Heinrich Sakrzewski for about £4,000. Albert’s son Gustave Richard took over as the manager. Gus was a police constable stationed at the Police Depot at Petrie Terrace in North Brisbane at the time. He married Ellen Ballin in 1912.

Otto purchased a residence from Charles William Louis Heiner (Ipswich solicitor) and he and Auguste went on to live privately in Marburg. In Otto’s obituary (1941) it says it was Adolphus Ludwig Frederich’s property.

At the Rosewood licensing court in May 1916, the license transferred from Gus Sakrzewski to his younger brother Max Rudolph Sakrzewski. Max married Charlotte Elizabeth Kleve in 1914. Both were sons of Albert Heinrich Sakrzewski, who had been a partner in the business J. L. Frederich & Co, (Marburg and Minden) until 1st April 1888, along with Carl Gustav Emil Wiese. Albert also owned a creamery opposite the Catholic Church on Tallegalla Hill.

Max found himself up before Mr. John Stewart Berge P.M. at the Rosewood Police Court in September 1916. John Stewart, the health inspector, proceeded against him on a charge of having sold whisky which was adulterated. Max was fined £3/5/6 with 3/6 costs, and £1/1/ for the analyst’s fee.

In 1917, during the Great War, the name of the town and the Post Office was changed to Townshend after the British Army officer Major General Charles Townshend. Other places including the Marburg Hotel, the school and the sugar mill kept their names.

The Marburg Hotel continued to host many and varied social occasions after the War years.

A very pleasant evening was spent in the Show Hall in March 1920, when about 40 persons assembled to bid farewell to Acting Sergeant Patrick Hyde. He had been in town for 2 years. His replacement, Constable James Alexander Fraser, was welcomed. Max and Charlotte Sakrzewski artistically arranged and decorated the tables and did the catering for the night. Mr. William Cooper, M.L.A presented Mr. Hyde with a solid leather suitcase, suitably inscribed, on behalf of the citizens of Marburg and district. [8]

The Marburg Hotel hosted a farewell party in March 1921. A large number of gentlemen representing Marburg and district gathered at the hotel to say goodbye to the Queensland National Bank Manager, Mr. Frederick William Wearne, who had been resident in town for 2½ years. He was transferred to Pittsworth. Frederick had also been the secretary of the school committee. Mr. William Cooper, M.L.A., on behalf of the citizens of Marburg and district, presented Mr. Wearne with a gold watch, suitably inscribed. 

In May 1921, the license of the hotel transferred from Max Sakrzewski to Prior Daniels. Prior was born in 1879 at Chislett, Kent, England. He married Adeline Hart in 1900. Prior ran the hotel until 3rd January 1923 when the license transferred to Robert Alfred Sears. Prior Daniels went to manage the Grand View Hotel at Cleveland.

Robert Alfred Sears was born in 1892 at Wellington, New South Wales. He married Jane Victoria Fleming in 1922. They came to Marburg from the Farmers’ Arms Hotel, Stanley Street, South Brisbane. Robert drove a 6 cylinder, 3 passenger, 1919 Buick.

Sad news passed throughout the town in May 1923. Auguste Ernestine Sakrzewski formerly Raabe née Zellmer, had died on 30th April aged 68 years. She left her husband Otto, 11 of the 15 children she had borne, and 27 grandchildren. Auguste had been a staunch supporter of the Lutheran Church, and was interred in the Marburg Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

Then in December 1923, Gus Sakrzewski died at the Marburg Hospital from rheumatic fever aged 35 years.

At the Rosewood Licensing Court in April 1924, the licenses of all the hotels in the area were renewed, and the application for the transfer of the Marburg Hotel from Robert Sears to William Henry Kühn (an Iron Turner by trade) was granted. Robert and Jane Sears opened a Toy Shop and Hairdresser’s at 103 Adelaide Street, Brisbane.

In July 1924, Albert Heinrich Sakrzewski died and left the Marburg Hotel to his wife, Augusta Emilie Henriette (née Bulow) i.e. subdivision 3 of resubdivision D of subdivision 1 and resubdivisions 1, 3, and 4 of subdivision 3 of portion 461.

William Kühn left at the end of the year for South Townsville to manage the Crown Hotel in Palmer Street.

Augusta Sakrzewski put the Marburg Hotel up for sale in early 1925. This marked the end of the Sakrzewski era in regards to the Marburg Hotel.

The Brisbane Courier of Friday, 6th February 1925, on page 8 announced a business change. The Marburg Hotel was under the management of Mr. Charles Johansen. A few weeks later in March, Charles sold the lease to Mrs Matilda Fowke (pictured at right), who came from Alpha, Western Queensland. Charles Johansen and his wife, Florence Isabel née Keppel, went to manage the Glamorgan Vale Hotel.

Matilda Fowke (née Higgins) also purchased the freehold of the Marburg Hotel and took charge on Monday, 23rd March 1925. Her husband was Charles Edward Fowke, a carpenter.

The new licensee of the above hotel is Mrs. Matilda Fowke, well-known in Central Queensland, having kept first-class hotels at Longreach and Alpha. She has purchased the freehold of the above hotel and installed electric lights throughout and has brought the Marburg hotel thoroughly up-to-date as a country residential hotel. The coffee and dining rooms receive the greatest attention, the menu in each comprising a variety of dishes. The bedrooms are large and well ventilated. Sitting room are provided for guests and the verandahs are wide and spacious. You can garage your car, stable your horse and there are two fine grass paddocks – a part of the hotel property. It is intended by Mrs. Fowke to build a fine hall for dancing entertainments. Therefore this journal has every reason to believe that a large share of patronage will be extended to the proprietress of this fine country hotel. [9]

A new manager took over on Monday 23rd August 1926. Peter Gerald Fitzgerald, a carrier, took the license. Peter and Amy Madeline Fitzgerald (née Buckle) came from Cooroy.

Matilda and Charles Fowke went to live at Queens St, Southport. They visited Marburg for the show in 1927 and were guests of Mr and Mrs Otto Bielefeld. They continued to visit their Marburg friends over the ensuing years.

In December 1926, the Chairman of the Rosewood Shire Council directed its solicitors to proceed for collection of rates owed by Marburg Hotel.

An enjoyable farewell party was given to Constable Michael E. Hart in the dining room of the hotel, in May 1927. Mr.W. Cooper, M.L.A. referred to the sterling qualities of the guest of the evening, and wished him every success in the future. He then presented Mr. Hart with a set of gold sleeve links.

In June 1927, the licensing fee for Marburg Hotel was increased from £30 to £50. When Peter Fitzgerald applied to renew his license, his application was adjourned in order for repairs to be made to the hotel. It was granted again in July and he was also granted a billiard license.

Another licensee replaced Peter Fitzgerald in November. Randall Brendan Molloy and his wife Florence (née Sandall) from Howard took the lease. The Fitzgeralds left for Brisbane in early December.

Randall Molloy previously had the Tallebudgera Hotel (1925) Grand Hotel at Harlin (1925) and the Royal Hotel at Howard (1925-Nov 27).

Five months later, on 7th May 1928, Randall Molloy transferred the lease to Dorothy Nina Finselbach from the Cecil Hotel at Goodna, and he and Florence went to the Cecil Hotel. They swapped.

Dorothy and her husband Ernest Wilfred Finselbach, stayed until September. Miss Nina Eveline Elizabeth Loman of Brisbane took over on Monday 17th. Nina was known by her middle name Eveline. Her mother, Annie Annetta Loman née Kearney, lived with her.

Eveline Loman informed the council that the walk in front of the Marburg Hotel was overgrown with weeds, and asked that could be cleared. The work was done.

On 1st April 1929, Eveline Loman sold the lease of the hotel to Mr. Robert Wallace Mackenzie of Gayndah, who was supposed to take possession on 9th April. It doesn’t appear that he did.

Eveline Loman was still there in June when she complained to Council about the sanitary service to her property and was advised to make application for an extra service at show time.

The wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly because that old rates situation with the Rosewood Shire Council was finally resolved in the Supreme Court on 5th July 1929. The Rosewood Shire Council won the case in which it sued Matilda Fowke, owner, and Nina Finselbach, occupier, of the Marburg Hotel, Marburg for £17/18/4 rates due for 1926. The women’s defence had been that the rates had been paid, and that they were not indebted.

Eveline Loman once again put the lease of the hotel up for sale in early 1930 and then withdrew it on 8th March.

On 25th March, in the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Annie Charlotte Isobel Mackenzie of Gayndah, proceeded against Eveline Elizabeth Loman of Marburg, in a matter of the sale of the Marburg Hotel. Charlotte Mackenzie asked for the rescission of an agreement for the sale of the lease, license, and goodwill and furniture of the Marburg Hotel and the return of £650 paid by her to Eveline Loman, and for £1000 damages for alleged fraudulent misrepresentation. Eveline’s solicitor Mr. W. H. Boden applied for the case to be adjourned as it had been settled out of court and certain documents just needed be completed. It was granted.

One morning in November, Eveline noticed some floor boards in the billiard room were slightly burnt, and after looking underneath the building, she found one of the house blocks and several floor boards had been partly burnt. It appeared that a deliberate attempt had been made to set fire to the building. The matter was put in the hands of the police.

On 20th January 1931, at the Rosewood Licensing Court before Mr. W. Simpson, P.M., the transfer of the licence of the Marburg Hotel, with the billiards licence, from Eveline E. Loman to Hilda Elsie Littmann, was granted. Her name was recorded as Emma Hulda Elise née Pieper when she married Christy William Littmann in 1918. Christy became a councillor in the Rosewood Shire Council in 1932 and Chairman of the Council In January 1937. (pictured at left)

Hilda secured the right to run the Publican’s booth for $20 at the Rosewood Show in July 1931.

The Marburg Hotel temporarily assumed the appearance of a military headquarters in November 1931. Residents of Marburg and Prenzlau had an interesting time watching officers of the Brisbane defence forces climbing the local hills armed with maps, field glasses, compasses, and other military equipment. Some of the officers were being examined on their ability to handle troops in war in order to qualify for promotion, while others represented the Examination Board. Accommodation was secured at the Marburg Hotel for them. The idea of the exercise was that a Force (Red) had invaded Queensland by way of Wallangarra, and the Queensland Force (Blue) had moved to the vicinity of Marburg to prevent the red forces capturing Brisbane. The first clash of arms between the forces occurred on the Prenzlau ridge, the next was a fighting for possession of Two Tree Hill ridge, and the last was for the victory on Perry’s Knob and Mount Marrow. Col. Alderman expressed appreciation of the courtesy which the party had extended to it by the people of Marburg, who freely allowed the officers to roam over their farms.

A terrible tragedy occurred in November 1932 when the Littmann’s 13 year old son Ashley Earl drowned in dam outside Marburg. It was believed that he was struggling in the grip of a cramp and sank. On the day, Earl and another boy, Ernest Lyon (13), decided to go for a swim in Linning’s dam, which is about half a mile (804 metres) from the township. The water which was extremely muddy at this place and only a few yards out from the bank it was about 10 feet deep. Earl got into difficulties immediately. Ernest tried to save him but Earl became panic-stricken and flung his arms wildly round Ernest, pulling him down too. Ernest broke free and tried to help Earl again but the same thing happened. He called frantically for help and Lyon’s father, who was only a short distance away, rushed over to the dam and dived in, but could not find him. His body was recovered by Mr. George Dance about three quarters of an hour after the tragedy in 10ft. of water. Christy Littmann said that he had warned his son to be careful before he set out for his swim.

A cricket match between Forest Hill and Marburg Hotel team was played at Marburg in December 1933. The visitors were entertained by the local team at the Marburg Hotel. Forest Hill, in the first innings, made 166 (L. Svenson 52, C. Lawrence 44.). Marburg, first Innings, 84, second innings 25. (J. Verrenkamp  38, M. Nugent 19). [10] 

Mr. George William Snelling Dance, recently elected councillor in the Rosewood Shire Council, announced in January 1934, that he had extended his lease of the Royal Post Office Hotel at Marburg and acquired the freehold of the Marburg Hotel from Matilda Fowkes. The Littmanns still had the lease.

In May 1934 a billiards match was played in the Marburg Hotel saloon as a result of a challenge from the Main Roads’ Camp. The Roads’ team of six men was captained by W. Jasper, and the Marburg team had C. W. Littmann as captain. Main Roads’ Camp won by nine points. Hilda Littmann served the supper.

A wager was made by a man at the Toowoomba saleyards in June 1935. He made a bet of £20 with a man named James Kelly that he could not push another man, Alfred Williamson, in a wheelbarrow over the 100 miles from Toowoomba via Laidley to Brisbane G.P.O. in ten and a half days. Kelly and Williamson achieved it in nine days eleven hours, but didn’t make it to the G.P.O. because police stopped them at Woolloongabba. They were unable to contact the man who made the wager so Mr. Charles Bonham, a well known Brisbane sportsman, said he would pay the amount of the wager. He added £5 to the amount because the men were disappointed in not being allowed to complete their course. He thought that the grit and determination of the men was worth the money, and from his own experience with walking, he knew the strain they would have been under.

On Sunday, 30th June the two barrow men arrived at Marburg and stayed at the Marburg Hotel.

BARROW MEN.
Eight Miles in Rain. NOW NEAR IPSWICH.
BRISBANE. Sunday.— The population of Marburg turned out en masse to give a rousing welcome to J. Kelly, the pusher, and A. Williamson, the passenger, when they arrived at Marburg on Saturday on their way from Toowoomba to Brisbane during a barrow marathon, which, they claim, is the longest of its kind yet undertaken. Mrs. Littmann, proprietress of the Marburg hotel, made them her guests for the night, and extended to them her every hospitality and assistance. 

Such a reception heartened the men immensely after their gruelling climb over the Minden and Marburg Ranges, which, because of their gravelly surfaces, made the going very difficulty. 

Kelly said last night that bodily he was not feeling very tired, but after the 10½ miles that his legs had pushed the barrow yesterday they were very painful and stiff. However, he had had them massaged and dressed with lotions, and thought he would be in a fit condition to continue tomorrow. 

“Once I start,” he said, “the muscles will soon loosen up.” 

As the men are two days ahead of schedule they need not maintain the tiring pace at which they have been travelling, and will cover but eight miles today. They are allowed 105 days in which to reach Brisbane, but are confident that eight days will suffice and that, if nothing untoward occurs, they will complete the journey in the required time and collect the £20 wages for which they undertook the trip. 

IPSWICH, Sunday The two barrow men made another eight miles in pouring rain today and are spending the night at a farm at Ironpot Creek (five miles west of Ipswich). They are tired out but cheerful. The men expect to reach Ipswich at 10 a.m. tomorrow, and while here will be guests of Mr. Maloney, of the Caledonian Hotel. [11]

At the weekly sittings of the Licensing Commission in Brisbane on 29th January 1936, applications for registration as part owners (mortgagees) by the Queensland National Bank, Ltd., in respect of the Marburg Hotel, Marburg; and the Royal Post Office Hotel, Marburg, were adjourned sine die (with no appointed date for resumption). [12]

In August 1936 Hilda Littmann decided to retire and was granted a leave of absence from the hotel. She held an auction to sell off her furniture.

In September, George Dance sold the freeholds of the Marburg Hotel and the Royal Post Office Hotel to Queensland Breweries. The hotel was refurnished by a Brisbane Company, Olsen & Goodchap.

Ronald Roy Bell Taylor, an assurance inspector, and his wife Gertude Mary, took over the lease of the Marburg Hotel in November 1936. Ronald had been licensee at the Glamorgan Vale Hotel. He was already involved in the public bodies of Marburg and was Secretary of the Scouts’ Group Committee and the newly formed Show Society. Ronald was born 1899 in East Dulwich, London and worked as a Docker at Sumatra Wharf for Hughes Bros & Co., before he and Gertrude came to Queensland in November 1925 per the Diogenes.

In January 1937, Messrs. O’Shea, O’Shea, Corser, and Wadley, solicitors in Brisbane, on behalf of Queensland Brewery Ltd., forwarded notices of purchase to the Rosewood Shire Council for the Marburg Hotel and Royal Post Office Hotel at Marburg.

The billiard licence for the Hotel was transferred from Hilda Littmann to Ronald Taylor. Then on 13th April 1937, Hilda Littmann regained the lease for the Marburg Hotel. She advertised: Mrs H. E. Littmann notifies she is taking over the Marburg Hotel at 5 o’clock, Monday Morning, and hopes to see all old friends and new ones.

Christy and Hilda entertained some Southern visitors at afternoon tea at the Marburg Hotel in May. A party of 16 Chartered Accountants from New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, who were attending a conference in Brisbane, paid a visit by cars to Marburg and the main Brisbane-Toowoomba range. They were impressed by the delightful scenery and called in at the hotel on the return trip.

In July, Hilda hosted Miss Emma Zabel’s 21st birthday party. Games and competitions were enjoyed.

A meeting of the committee of the Rosewood and District Trotting Club was held in Littman’s hotel in March 1938. It was decided to hold a trotting race meeting on the Marburg Showground on April 9th, with a £65 programme, spread over six events. It was  also decided that a ball should be held on the night of the meeting.

On the night of August 1938, Count Felix von Luckner gave a stirring address, an appeal for peace at Spreadborough’s Hall, Marburg after which the visitors enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Littmann, who provided tea and supper at the Marburg Hotel. The Count was captain of the German commerce raider Seadler during the Great War. He set off in April 1937 in his new motor ship Sea Devil on a voyage of propaganda for German ideals. He planned to visit Australia and New Zealand.

Bluff and hearty, and possessing amazing personal qualities, as well as dramatic and histrionic ability above the average, the Count was a great favourite with everyone.

The Count and Countess spent the afternoon visiting various schools and scenic spots in the neighbourhood, and at the end of a very full day they expressed spontaneous delight at everything they saw and heard and both appreciated the opportunity to speak so often in the German language.

In October, the Marburg School Committee wrote to the Rosewood Shire Council drawing attention to the danger that existed for pedestrians when motor cars drove on the footpath in front of the Marburg Hotel. “We can’t do anything since there is no footpath there.” “We could construct one,” said the Chairman. It was decided to leave the matter to the Chairman and divisional members. [13]

In November, the Licensing Commission approved of the plans and specifications for alterations and additions to the Marburg Hotel submitted by Queensland Brewery Ltd (owners).

Hilda Littmann sold the lease of the Marburg Hotel to Bertha Marguerita Keenan from Gatton in January 1939. Christy and Hilda Littmann and their daughter Juanita Beryl, left for Burleigh, after which they were planning to go to Tasmania for a holiday. 

Edmond Street, Marburg looking East. ca. 1939. H. E. Littmann’s Marburg Hotel is on the left in the photo.
A sign says the hotel was under the new management of Bertha M. Keenan.
Photo: Rosewood Scrub Historical Society

Bertha’s husband Edward Thomas Keenan had been a timekeeper during the construction of the Somerset Dam, which began in November 1935.

In May 1939, Bertha Keenan took a leave of absence, and her daughter Miss Elena Julia Dawson, who had been working as a waitress Orient Hotel at Warragul, Victoria, came to run it while she was away.

August 1939 was a busy time for accommodating guests at the hotel. Mr. Joseph Philip Kahler, club organiser of the Department of Public Instruction was in the district visiting various schools to talk about the Home Project Club movement. Other visitors at the Marburg Hotel were Mrs. Trewer from Iron Pot Creek, Mrs. McNally from Ipswich, Mr. and Mrs. J. Jarett and two children from New South Wales and Mr. Basic.

Edward and Bertha Keenan were injured in an accident on the Marburg Range, when a military utility truck they were travelling in ran off the road about 9 p.m. on 30th November 1940. The truck was being driven towards Toowoomba by a soldier, Private Eric Ernest Lewis of Redbank. It was lightly raining when the truck jumped a nine feet gully and embedded its radiator in the opposite bank. The driver received severe lacerations to the face and a dislocated left elbow. Edward Frederick Berg, a miner at Marburg, had a dislocated and fractured right shoulder, fractured ribs and abrasions to the left arm. Edward Keenan had a sprained ankle and Bertha fared the worst, sustaining a cut over her eye, a compound fracture of the skull, dislocation of her left ankle, an injury to her leg, and shock. The Ipswich ambulance took her to the Ipswich General Hospital.

The Queensland Times reported that Mrs. E. Keenan has sold the Marburg Hotel to Mr. Chapman in February 1941. I haven’t found who this man was and it must not have panned out as Bertha applied for a leave absence and Clifford Hough (pictured at right) was appointed as her agent in March. Bertha and Edward Keenan left for their new home “Netherbar”, Roseberry Street, South Brisbane and Bertha’s sister Nell Dawson went back to Melbourne.

Not long after came the news that Otto Sakrzewski had died on 7th May aged 90 years and seven months. He had been living with his step daughter Pauline Albertine Verrenkamp and her husband John (a blacksmith) in Marburg since 1930. There were five sons, Messrs. Albert, Edward, Henry (Tingoora), Felix (Caboolture), Victor (Coolum), two daughters, Mrs. J. Barrett (Coolum), Mrs. E. Clem (Brisbane), two stepsons, Messrs. Jack Raabe (Proston) and Charlie Raabe (Kingaroy), and two step daughters, Mrs. J. H. Verrenkamp (Marburg) and Mrs. A. Ballin (Toowoomba). There were 33 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren. He was interred in the Marburg Trinity Lutheran Cemetery with Auguste.

Greyhound coaches outside the Marburg Hotel, Marburg early 1940s
Photo: Rosewood Scrub Historical Society        Picture Ipswich

L to R: Fred, Jack and Jack (senior) Berg with Bill and Frank Blake, outside the Marburg Hotel.
Photo: State Library Queensland

From this point I’ve tried to piece together what happened next.

It appears that the Queensland Brewery was selling the hotel.

The next mention of the Marburg Hotel was at a meeting of the Rosewood Shire Council on 14th February 1946. Patrick Joseph McGuire, a miner and Secretary of the Marburg Branch, A.L.P. appealed for the erection of a sanitary convenience at Marburg. The Health Inspector said it would cost the best part of £300 to provide a decent service, and there would have to be someone in charge to keep it clean and licences were still held for two hotels in Marburg. Cr. Cornelius Joseph Murphy (Chairman and diary farmer from Mt Walker) said the fact that one hotel was not operating automatically cut out the conveniences there, though the sanitary service still had to be provided. Cr. Ham pointed out that there was a section of the general public who would not use hotel sanitary services. He did not think the general public should have to use the hotel services. It was decided that the Main Roads be asked to supply a service. [14]

Arthur Henry (Yub) Bowden (1906-1988) and his wife Alice Mabel née Masters (1914-1977) ran the other hotel in Marburg, the Post Office Hotel. This advertisement on Saturday, 26th July 1947, suggests that Yub Bowden was giving up that hotel.

On 17th July 1948, at the Licensing Commission in Brisbane, Arthur Henry Bowden, licensee of the Royal Post Office Hotel at Marburg, was awarded £250 compensation following the surrender of his hotel liquor licence and the Queensland Brewery (owners) were awarded £450. There is no further mention of the Post Office Hotel.

Compensating owners and licensees was a rare occurrence and suggests that Arthur Bowden may have been forced to surrender his license, and he, along with the owners, could prove they suffered damages because of it. The legal system and litigation can be a very slow process. Perhaps that is the reason that he sold off the contents of the hotel back in July 1947? Did Yub Bowden purchase the Marburg Hotel then, or did he purchase the hotel with the compensation he received?

A title search would verify when the Marburg Hotel was sold and who was the purchaser. There is a cost involved to do so if anyone wishes to go down that path.

The Queensland Electoral Rolls tell us the following:

• 1943 – Arthur Henry Bowden, Licensed Victualler & Alice Mabel Bowden, Home Duties, Post Office Hotel, Marburg
• 1948 – Arthur Henry Bowden, Hotelkeeper & Alice Mabel Bowden, Home Duties, Post Office Hotel, Marburg
• 1954 – Alice Mabel Bowden, Licensed Victualler & Arthur Henry Bowden, Farmer, Marburg Hotel, Marburg
• 1963 – Alice Mabel Bowden, Licensed Victualler,  Arthur Henry Bowden, Farmer, Terence Edward Bowden, Teacher, Marburg Hotel, Marburg
• 1968 – Alice Mabel Bowden, Licensed Victualler, Arthur Henry Bowden, Farmer, Terence Edward Bowden, Hotel Manager, Marburg Hotel, Marburg
• 1980 – Terrence Edward Bowden, Hotel Manager, Marburg Hotel, Marburg

I came across an interesting piece of information in my search. In January 1951, Stanley Roy Sakrzewski, the grandson of Albert Heinrich Sakrzewski, visited the office of the “Chronicle” in Toowoomba to show them a bronze medallion. The medallion was struck in Queensland to commemorate the federation of the States in 1901. Stanley said that he found the medallion on a farm in the Rosewood district some years beforehand. The front of the medallion featured the Queensland’s coat of arms, and on the reverse side were listed, on two pillars, the dates when the six States were founded. I wonder if this coin is still in the family somewhere?

In November 1951:- The licensee of the Marburg Hotel, Alice Mabel Bowden, of Marburg was fined a total of £11 on breaches of the prices regulations by the Acting S.M. (Mr. C. A. Innes) in the Marburg Court of Petty Sessions yesterday morning. Bowden, who pleaded guilty to two charges, was fined £10, with 6/- costs of Court. on a charge that she charged 7 ½ d. instead of 6 ½ d. for a glass of beer. She was fined £1, with 6/- costs of Court, on another charge that she failed to exhibit a liquor price list as provided under the Profiteering Prevention Act, 1948. [16]

At about 4.20p.m on 17th January 1953, a series of violent thunderstorms struck three towns. The storm swept over the Liverpool Range from a south-westerly direction, striking Rosewood, Marburg and Lowood in that order. Houses were unroofed, telephone and electric light wires torn down and trees were uprooted. The population at the time was (Lowood 900), Marburg (650), and Rosewood (1800). After sundown, the residents in the three towns were lighting flares and carrying lanterns to check the extent of the damage.

Most of the 80 houses in Marburg were damaged by the storm. Arthur Argent, a builder, said, The storm struck us about 4.20 pm. Winds were estimated at about 60 miles an hour. Heinrich Stegemann’s family had most of their crockery broken, their piano and lounge suite was saturated, and furniture was blown over when the iron roof was torn off their house. Iron twisted and torn from the residence of Len Berlin was found about half a mile away. Yub Bowden said that the roof capping of the Marburg Hotel was lifted but not torn off and the pelting rain forced down a section of the front wall. The drenched staff were swabbing floors and cleaning stained walls and furniture in the upper floor was damaged by water. We don’t know the full extent of the damage yet, said Mr. Bowden, but I know of half a dozen homes unroofed within a radius of a mile of here. It was the worst storm I have known in the 17 years I have been here.  The roof of George Newton’s store in the main street was found 50 yards away. 123 points were recorded in the storm. PMG technicians brought the light back to Marburg three hours after the storm.

Gullies were jammed by hail, and Perry’s Knob resembled a block of ice. The home of Owen Yeoman was unroofed and some of his farming outbuildings suffered the same fate. On the North Rosewood road an electric power line carrying 3000 volts was torn down. Doug Schreiweis had a remarkable escape from injury when he was driving his utility along Waight Street and ran into the power cable. The occupants escaped unharmed. At North Rosewood James Kerwin’s residence was partially unroofed, Henry Claydon’s farm house partially unroofed and the roof of a house occupied by James Boland, and owned by William Domrow was partially unroofed.

At Tallegalla, where the hail was reported to be the heaviest, John Domrow had his hay shed unroofed and the Tallegalla State School house was partly unroofed. The Tallegalla Methodist Church was also partially unroofed. When the storm struck Lowood it tore about 10 sheets of galvanised iron from the roof from the Shire Hall and the home of Don Schroeder’s small four-roomed cottage in the town.

Here are the newspaper’s photos of the aftermath of the storm. [17]

The Marburg Hotel was renamed the Cedar Creek Hotel for the filming of The Settlement, a 1984 Australian film starring Bill Kerr and John Jarratt. The story is set in Queensland in the 1950s. The pub and main street in Marburg and St Brigid’s in Rosewood appear in the film. See a photo of the hotel at Picture Ipswich. 

On 21st October 1992, the Marburg Hotel was entered into the State Heritage Register.

The Marburg Hotel remains in the hands of Dan and Julie Bowden. It was taken to auction on 30th May this year (2025) but hasn’t yet sold.

Marburg ca.1913

I took this photo of the Marburg Hotel on 5th October 2025.

References
Hamburg Passenger Lists 1850-1934
Queensland Registry Births Deaths Marriages
Queensland Immigration Index
Australia and New Zealand, Find a Grave Index
Queensland, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1864-1945
Land Records Queensland State Archives
[1] Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.), Saturday, 31 December 1881, page 3
[2] Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.), Saturday, 13 November 1886, page 4
[3] Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld) Saturday, 21 January 1888, page 7
[4] Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.), Thursday, 23 May 1889, page 5
[5] Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.), Tuesday, 13th August 1889, page 2
[6] Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld), Thursday, 6 February 1890, page 2
[7] Brisbane Courier (Qld.), Thursday, 4 April 1912, page 7
[8] Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Thursday, 11 March 1920, page 2
[9] Catholic Advocate (Brisbane, Qld:), Thursday, 9 April 1925, page 42
[10] Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Wednesday, 13 December 1933, page 10
[11] Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette (Qld.), Monday, 1 July 1935, page 12
[12] Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Thursday, 30 January 1936, page 6
[13] Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Friday, 14 October 1938, page 5
[14] Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Friday, 15 February 1946, page 4
[15] Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette (Qld.), Saturday, 17 July 1948, page 5
[16] Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Friday, 16 November 1951, page 6
[17] Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Monday, 19 January 1953, page 1