Historical information

Bakery Square was the location of Jongebloed shop, bakehouse and stables

Physical description

Bakehouse owned by Gottfried Jongebloed and Auguste Shebler.

Auguste Shebler came to Melton in the early 1950’s and in 1857 built a store on the corner of High and Smith Streets. Mr Shebler was the Postmaster, and Paymaster for thee Government, who sent a batch of 400 to 500 immigrants to clear trees and fallen timber off the Ballarat Road; the wages being 5/- per day, and oversees 10/- per day. In 1865, Mr Shebler built the Golden Fleece Hotel on the present site and, although many alterations have taken place, most of the main walls still belong to the original building. He built a store some 100 yards west along High Street, and added to it a bakers’s business; then he built a butcher’s shop and leased it to the late Mr G McKenzie.

Gorrfried Jongebloed was born in 1857 and came to Melton in 1887 as a Captain in the Mercantile Marine. In 1888 he married Marie Antionette, second daughter of Mr Shebler, and took over the bakery and green grocers business.

Ten children were born to the family-

Gerhard, Annette, Gorrfried (dec 1937), Emil, (dec 1947), Nicholas, Julius, Theckla, Augustus, Marie and Margarethe, - who settled in various parts of Victoria and are, in the bakery businesses. Mr and Mrs Jongebloed, sen., carried on the businesses in Melton until 1926, when one of their sons Emil, took over. Mr Jongebloed, sen., died in 1930 at the age of 73 years; and his wife living until 8th Oct., 1946, when she died at the age of 80 years. After the sudden death of Emil, in Jan., at the age if 49 years, the business had been conducted up to the present time by two sons “Pat” and Bryan.

1962 Express September