Peter Klein
| Town/City | Hobart |
|---|---|
| First name | Peter |
| Last name | Klein |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Date of Birth | 29th June 1951 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | c1953 |
| Submitted by | Leigh Klein |
Story
Peter always told the story that he was born in the red-light district of Hamburg; across the road from a brothel and around the corner from a brewery. His father was a master butcher. His parents were older when he was born (11 yrs after his brother) as his father was conscripted during the war and didn’t return home for many years. They lost their home twice in bombing raids.
Peter’s father always wanted some land and eventually applied to emigrate – his options were Canada or Australia. He chose the North West coast of Tasmania. The journey to Australia by boat took weeks and eventually the family were housed at Bonegilla migrant camp in Victoria while his dad settled at Smithton and began work in the Bacon Factory there.
The family were finally reunited and began their new life by share-cropping on Harry Beattie’s farm in Lileah. Coffee beans were unheard of (Peter’s mother had to send to Germany for some so they could have real coffee) and the smallgoods that Peter’s father made became very popular in the area. Sadly his father died when Peter was 7 and the family relocated to Burnie. His mother missed her family and for 4 years they returned to Germany but she couldn’t settle there either and returned to Australia as her eldest son had a young family by then.
Peter always intended to take his children (Ilsa and Alex) to Germany and show them his birthplace but he also died young at 55. Life takes so many twists and turns and were it not for these two brave people leaving all they knew to start a new life in this country (as so many did) we would not have the rich, diverse culture that makes us Australians.