DAHLKE, Emily Augustine

Name – DAHLKE, Emily Augustine
Born – 21/01/1855
Died – 28/07/1932
Location – No 7 Methodist Section
Mother – Caroline Wilhimine Leder
Father – William Freidrick Thiedecke

Notes – Emily arrived in Australia from Prussia before she was ten years old. She married Christian Dahlke on the 14th of October, 1875. He was a settler and owned a property on the Nerang River.

The couple had seven children before the tragic death of her husband. The names of their children were Johan Albert, Eda Amelia, Christian Albert, Otto Herman, Emile, Amelia Caroline and Lousia Emily.

Christian Dahlke died on 13th August, 1887. His death occurred when he went to visit his neighbours early on the morning in question. Upon his return to his own property, Christian found a large log that had been washed down the creek after the last flood. While trying to move the log he fell into the creek and drowned.

Emily moved with her family to Wharf Street in Beenleigh. Tragedy struck the family once again when in 1902 when her oldest son Johan Albert was working as station manager at Carnarvon Station. Johan and Constable George Doyle were murdered by the Kenniff Brothers at a gorge known as Lethbridge Pocket, in the Carnarvon Ranges.  Patrick Kenniff was the last bushranger to be hanged for his horrible crimes.

Emilys second son, Christian went with the police to where the murders of Johan and the policeman had taken place. Christian was instrumental in helping to track down the killers. A memorial commemorating the story of their untimely deaths has been erected over the graves of the two murdered men.

Electoral rolls from 1905 to 1917 show Emily and Emilie and Lousia at Wharf Street, Beenleigh, both Emilies are dressmakers. In 1925 Emily and Emilie and Christian Albert are at Running Creek, Rathdowney, and their occupations were listed as home duties and station manager.

In 1928, Christian Albert was at Perthton Station via Kogan. He bred race horses which he would race in Dalby. He was one of the countries foremost amateur riders, having won the Queensland Bracelet at Ascot for Darcy & Winten on his horse which was called Malabar.

In June 1928 Emily and Emilie moved to join Christian at Perthton Station, both listed as domestic duties on the Electoral Roll.

The inscription on her headstone reads – Emily Augustine Dahlke Died 28th July, 1932 Aged 77.

Newspaper Article –

War Service File  –

Learn more about the Tara Cemetery here.