Historical information

August Rietmann (1877-1951) of Lustdorf ,Switzerland, married Maria Frieda Oesschlager (1878-1942) of Baden Baden, in Germany on 6/8/1910
8/8/1915 August and his wife Frieda migrated to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia sailing on the Steam Ship ‘Osterley’ from Marseilles to Melbourne
They leased Box Cottage, Ormond in 1917 and raised two children, Stefanie (1918 -2006) and William (1920- 1997). 1935 August purchased the property and the family used the Cottage during the day and slept in the Front House.
August was a monumental mason, potter and sculptor, and was employed at Corbens Ltd Clifton Hill, to carve war memorials in Victoria post WW1 c 1915-1922. During the 1920's August set up his own business in pressed cement making pot plants, columns,paving slabs and lampstands. His son William joined the business and and the family continued to use the site after August died in 1951. Rietmann Landscaping Ltd moved to Bay Road Highett in 1953 and later to Carrum. The land, containing the Box Cottage, was sold to Lewis Timber Pty Ltd in 1970 and Mr Lewis proposed that Moorabbin City Council should preserve the heritage Cottage.
Stefanie Rietman, grew up living in Box Cottage until 1935 when she began a Teaching career. Stefanie married Alan Francis 1941 but he was killed in WW2 Air operations over Germany 1944. Two sons were born 1942, 1944. Stefanie returned to live at the cottage until 1958. She married Herbert Rennick 1946 and two sons were born 1947, 1952. Stefanie also established a native grasses garden in Joyce Park, and designed and made resin jewellery. Stefanie died 2006
In 1984 the Cottage was dismantled and reconstructed in the adjacent Joyce Park.

Significance

The Rietman family is an example of the diverse nationalities that lived and worked productively in Moorabbin Shire 1871–1933 , the City of Moorabbin 1934-1994 and continues today in the Cities of Glen Eira, Kingston, Bayside, and Monash. Stefanie was a talented artist , school teacher, and jewellery designer and raised 4 sons. August, a sculptor and stone mason, was employed by Corben Pty Ltd Clifton Hill to carve WW1 Memorials before establishing his own successful masonry business in the Box Cottage during the latter 1920s. After becoming interested in pressed cement casting, he took on apprentices (1930s Depression) and among his products were garden furniture, pots and also street lamp standards, some of which were installed in St Kilda Road. After August’s death in 1951, his family continued the business ‘Rietman’s Landscaping Ltd.’, at Highett and

Physical description

a) Newspaper clipping, Moorabbin Standard 17/9/1996 Stefanie Rennick ( nee Rietman) by N. Strahan
b) Photograph Black & White, Stefanie Rennick ( nee Rietman) 1999

Inscriptions & markings

a) printed article b) handwritten information