Johann Joachim Dau was born in Northern Germany in February 1832, the family were farmers from the Mecklenburg region. Aged 23 or 24 Joachim decided to emigrate to Australia, living in Europe was difficult in those times, young men were called up for military training so Australia with its gold rush and promise of potential fortunes was a great incentive for such emigration.

Johann arrived in 1856 and settled in the Thomastown area, he joined the Winter family who had arrived six years earlier. In 1859 Johann married Maria Winter and in 1861 a baby girl was born, sadly Maria died shortly after the birth and baby Eliza was looked after by the Winter family.

Johann worked as a stonemason, bluestone was used extensively during this time, bluestone walls are still in evidence in the area today as farm fencing and many buildings in the area are bluestone from the era. Johann’s stonemason work did not keep him from seeking a new love and on May 15 1865 he married Martha Rye, she was 15 years old, he was then 33.

So began the large Dau family, the first born children eight girls were born while they lived in the Thomastown/ Somerton area. There followed another nine children. In 1879 Johann purchased 118 acres near Wandong naming the farm Heather Farm, the farm was located on what was to be known as Dows lane, later becoming Arkells Lane. Part of this land was purchased by the Victorian Railways to accommodate the new line being constructed from Kilmore Junction  to Kilmore.

The Dau family name was also known as Dow and Daw, the German name Dau was not always well received in the new country the children later used either Dau or Dow, and Kilmore Junction was later changed to Heathcote Junction.

Wandong in those days was bustling with activity, Robertson was about to start his many industries and  Wandong was about to bloom. Johann choose dairying as his profession and life at Heather Farm revolved around milk, butter and cream. The farm was set amongst the hills can be seen now by driving up Arkells lane, just over the freeway overpass some of the old Hawthorn bushes that surrounded the farm remain and some of the old Chimney stacks and house foundations are still evident.

For the stories of the children of Martha and Johann Dau click the link below

The Children of Heather Farm