Well known Berwick resident and history buff NEIL LUCAS continues his series outlining the significance of the names that are allocated to places, streets, parks and the like throughout the region.
Ernst Wanke Road, Berwick/Narre Warren
Ernst Gottlob Wanke (known as Gottlob – and in some documents referred to as Gottleib) at the age of 28, in November 1848, sailed from Hamburg on the “Dockenhuden” with his wife Anna. They were listed in the ship’s records as having come from Berlin and following the Protestant faith.
Wanke gave his occupation as surgeon superintendant, reportedly having had only one term’s work still to undertake to complete a medical degree. Sadly, Anna died in Melbourne in May 1849 as did their baby son just 13 days later.
A year later Wanke married Pauline Krumbiegel who had immigrated from Dresden and they produced one child, a boy named Immanuel.
Wanke successfully applied to become a British subject in 1850 – his address at that time was given as Great Bourke Street, Melbourne. Wanke conducted services for the Lutheran congregation in Melbourne and provided aid for orphans and young people in need.
Wanke purchased land in both Westgarth and Fitzroy which he held for a few years during which time he unsuccessfully tried his luck in the goldfields. Wanke’s occupations could be chronologically listed as surgeon, preacher, gold prospector, hairdresser and later, farmer.
On 29 March 1853 Wanke purchased 640 acres at Harkaway at 1 pound/8 shillings per acre – a total of 896 pounds. He named the property “Hillcroft”, and over a period of time subdivided the land selling three separate portions to other German settlers John, Charles and Wilhelm Aurisch.
Wanke lived at Harkaway until his death in 1897 – he was buried at the Harkaway Cemetery. The death notice listed in the Melbourne “Argus” read – “WANKE – On the 6 August, at his residence, Hillcroft, Harkaway, Ernst Gottlob, beloved husband of Pauline and father of Immanuel Wanke, aged 75 years and 8 months. A colonist of 48 years.”
Wanke’s son Immanuel married the daughter of Wilhelm Aurisch, Bertha, and they produced 15 children although four did not survive childhood. Descendants of Ernst Gottlob Wanke still live in the Harkaway/Berwick region.
Dalton Reserve, King Road, Harkaway
Dalton Park was established as a result of the former City of Berwick’s view that there was a need for a park in Harkaway that could be used for both active and passive recreation.
Mr Edward Dalton, the owner of the property, lived in a weatherboard house which was surrounded by a number of sheds including extensive chicken sheds.
The purchase of the property and the creation of “Dalton Park” facilitateded a connection to the Jessie Trail Reserve along the Grassmere Creek as a result of a portion of land being set aside to the south by a later subdivision.
Mr Dalton much appreciated the need for a park in Harkaway and was a most agreeable vendor who did all he could to assist the Council. As a result his name was used in the new Park’s name.
Arch Brown Reserve, Buchanan Road, Berwick
Arch Brown was born in Rushworth in 1901, then lived in Drouin for a time, prior to his move to Berwick, where he married his sweetheart Daisy Anderson in the Presbyterian Church (now Uniting Church) Berwick.
Arch and Daisy took up residence in Brown Street. The western section of Langmore Lane, between Gloucester Avenue and Clyde Road, was previously known as Brown Street – however there was no connection between the name of the street and Arch’s family.
Arch pursued a number of avenues of employment, including working for some time in his grandfather’s fruit and vegetable store and billiard room located at the northeast corner of Wheeler Street and High Street Berwick (now occupied by a unit development).
Arch actively supported the Berwick Football Club for more than 50 years and undertook the role of gatekeeper at what was then called the Berwick Sports Ground in Buchanan Road for most of that time.
Throughout the football season in rain, hail or shine, a cheery Arch would be standing just inside the driveway into the reserve selling entrance tickets.
In recognition of Arch’s long standing role at the reserve, Berwick City Council renamed the reserve after Arch Brown during the 1970s.
