Franz Anton Mannes
| First name | Franz Anton |
|---|---|
| Last name | Mannes |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Date of Birth | 09.04.1830 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1853 |
| Submitted by | Robyn Mannes |
Story
Franz left his homeland of Schweckhausen, near Paderborn, Germany for England in 1850 aged 20 years for unknown reasons. Early in 1853 he left London on the sailing ship “Hanover”, arriving in Melbourne on 11th September 1853.
Franz made his way by horse & dray to Bendigo, Victoria, where he met Dean Backhaus D.D. who was the first Catholic Priest in Bendigo. Dr Backhhaus had recently acquired 160 acres of land , part of which had a frontage of some 15 chains onto the Axe Creek (near Bendigo). This land he presented to Bishop James Gould of Melbourne and recommended Franz Anton Mannes as first tenant in December 1854.
Franz cleared the land on the block fronting Axe Creek and later built a house on the eastern slope of the hill. He was a qualified wine maker and so gradually planted the area betweeen the house and the creek with vines. Franz married Mary O’Dwyer in Bendigo in 1857 but she died 1st June 1859 aged 26 years giving childbirth to an unnamed son. Franz married Johanna Wall from Tipperary Ireland on 3rd June 1860 in Bendigo and they had 14 children, 6 of these not surving their first year of life. Franz was naturalised on 10th March 1873. The property was purchased by Franz ‘s grandson William Mannes in approx 1924 when the 10 year lease ran out. Some of his desendants still live and farm on the same property.