The arrival of the German people and the Apostolic Church of Goomeri

In this post we will cover two events in goomeri History. The arrival of the German people and the Apostolic Church of Goomeri .

In 1911 The Boonara Estate was auctioned and the Goomeri Township was created . 

In 1912 Apostolic Church of Queensland attempting to increase the number of adherents to their denomination decided to sponsor a group of migrants from Germany. Mostly working class from various part of Germany they were offered a better life for themselves and their children.

The new immigrants were taken into Bundaberg and worked on cane field. They could not speak English so a pastor from the Apostolic church who later become their mentor and leader Mr Fred H Keune went with the group. Mr Keune himself a German immigrant understood those hard working men and women and he realised that best solution was to find these people their own land. He went looking for property which would suit these migrants.

Many of the properties from the Goomeri land sale were still unsold and Mr Keune made a proposition to purchase the blocks at one twentieth deposit , the balance to be paid over twenty years. 

Eventually twenty three families who decided to accept the offer arrived in Goomeri in a special train free of cost , numbering about 100 men, women and children. Most of the blocks taken by the German immigrants were at Tansey. 

To ensure these new immigrants indoctrination in the Apostolic faith the German community quickly built a church at Tansey, and Mr Keaune, their mentor and leader acted as a pastor until his death. The first service was held on Finner's farm (now Wellocks ?) , Tansey under an apple tree on 17 th Jan 1914. It was a simple structure of pine board with an earthen floor. 

The present day church was built in 1926 by volunteer and boards from the original church were used as flooring.

Reference - Where Two Rivers Run, A History of Kilkivan Shire by Dulcie Logan