Historical information
The Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection provides invaluable insight into life in late nineteenth and early twentieth century north east Victoria. The collection comprises manuscripts, personal artefacts used by the Haeusler family on their farm in Wodonga, and a set of glass negatives which offer a unique visual snapshot of the domestic and social lives of the Haeusler family and local Wodonga community.
The Haeusler family embarked on the “Pauline” from Bremen, Germany in 1846. They lived in South Australia before migrating to the Wodonga West area in Victoria in 1866. Shipping records show the family who left Germany together consisted of William and his wife Johanna Eleanore Klinge nee Schultz and their children Ferdinand, Louise and Gottlieb as well as Johanna Eleanore’s children from her first marriage - Johann Wilhelm Klinge, Johanne Caroline Klinge and Johann August Klinge. Other members of the Haeusler family migrated to South Australia at a later date, settling in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
This digital image was produced from one of the glass negatives that form part of the collection, probably taken by Louis Haeusler (b.1887) with the photographic equipment in the Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection.
Significance
This item is unique and has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of domestic and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.
Physical description
Digital image created from the Haeusler Glass negative collection. From left, Ferdinand and Gottlieb Haeusler, with half-brother August Klinge. In the background is Gottlieb's house where Elenore and Wilhelm Haeusler lived from 1866 until their deaths.
References
- Dry Plate Photography Dry plate, in photography, glass plate coated with a gelatin emulsion of silver bromide. It can be stored until exposure, and after exposure it can be brought back to a darkroom for development at leisure. These qualities were great advantages over the wet collodion process, in which the plate had to be prepared just before exposure and developed immediately after. The dry plate, which could be factory produced, was introduced in 1871 by R.L. Maddox. It was superseded by celluloid film early in the 20th century.
