Heinz Family History

AN INDEX TO FAMILY NAMES  ON THE FAMILY TREE CAN BE ACCESSED ON ABOVE LINK :

 Photo of Johann Heinz, circa 1880 courtesy of Waverley Council Library Local histories collection. taken from a group portrait of Aldermen

JOHANN HEINZ (1844 - 1894) was the brother of my great grandmother, Margaretha Heinz. He was born in Buddenheim, Mainz Germany and arrived in Australia on the 19th September 1855 on board the ship "Wilhelmsburg" with Margaretha, Eva, Philip, and his parents, Philip and Appolonia as assisted immigrants. Four other brothers and two sisters were born in Australia at Clarence Town New South Wales. The name on the passenger list is spelt as "HEINTZ"

Johann's father, Philip was a "Vinekeeper" in Germany and Johann also had the knowledge of winemaking. Phillip was naturalized an Australian Citizen on 5th January 1865.

Philip was granted a freehold title of land situated in Marshall Street Clarence Town as allotment 2 of section 28. Having a frontage of 1 chain (20 Metres) by a depth of 5 chains 2 roods. It went to sale by tender on 30th JUne 1910 after the death of his wife Apollonia. (Dungog Chronicle NSW 1894-1954)

Johann was naturalised an Australian Citizen on 28th December 1871

During his early days in the colony Johann (John) prospected for gold and became a partner with his brother in law, Johann Krohmann in the Krohmann Gold Mine at Hill End where his parents had settled. They did not leave Clarence Town for Hill End until after 1858. (source: Sydney Morning Herald 31st. August 1858 re:signing of petition for George Mackay) He was in Hill End prior to1869 when he signed a petition for J H L Scott, a Hill End Magistrate who had been accused of drunkenness while officiating in court. He was naturalized an Australian citizen on the 28th December 1871, the year prior to Johann Krohmann's rich gold strike on Hawkins Hill.

In the Hill End Land Occupancy Index 1869/70 Johann is listed as holding portion 148 at Tambaroora, being 2 roods in area for 8 Pounds 10 Shillings

(Gov. Gazette 12/11/1872 approved land purchases)

He had a defacto relationship with Lucy Kramer and they had 6 children. He had first met Lucy on the Wilhelmsburg when immigrating to Australia. The Kramer family travelled on the same voyage.

Lucy had had a previous marriage to Heinrich Fischer and had two children from this union.

In May 1872 Johann took Lucy and his sister Margaretha Dorhauer nee Heinz back to Germany, travelling with the Krohmann family. They returned to Australia September 1873 ( See Johann Krohmann Page)

After Johann left the Hill End Goldfields he moved to Woollahra, Sydney, sometime in 1874 where he purchased a number of properties, which included "Adelaide Villa" in Botany Street Bondi Junction which he built in 1880 and "Warrane Terrace" in Woollahra which was also known as "Heinz's Terrace" which included properties from 3 to 25 Moncur Street. Alltogether he had in excess of 12 properties in the area, and after a short period he resumed gold prospecting at the "Temora" gold fields and The "Kiandra" gold fields, where he had two leases in 1876 in partnership with Thomas Hooper.

Johann also had other mining ventures, he was a Director of the "Wentworth Coal, Shale & Fire-Clay Mining Company" in 1884, along with that other famous Hill End Miner, Bernard Otto Holtermann

In 1884 Johann had taken up 574 acres of land as a mineral lease in Heathcote Parish, located near Port Hacking in New South Wales. and in 1885 he brought a law suite against Thomas Walker to recover possession of 259 acres. He was awarded a total of 215 acres, being portion # 2. Portion # 1 was awarded to the defendant.

He was also the proprieter of  the "Bondi Pacific Dance Hall Pavilion," but in January 1884 Waverley Council cancelled his license to hold dances on the premises, on the grounds that it caused a public nuisance. This was because of a fight that had occurred there among some patrons.

(Exerpt from the Evening News Sydney 1869-1931 29 October 1881 page 5.

 A very enjoyable Saturday afternoon can now be spent at Bondi, at which place Mr Alderman Heinz, (sic ) of Waverley has erected a very large dancing pavilion overlooking the ocean, and commanding a most picturesque view of the surrounding scenery. There is also attached a billiard-room and two skittle alleys. The ball room is second to none in the colonies, and a first class brass band is in attendance. The arrangements are under the personal supervision of Mr heinz and nothing is left undone which may conduce to the comfort of the visitors.)

The Cliff House Hotel was originally the subject of a lease from John Heinz, freeholder, to Jean Baptiste Boyer, on October 23, 1880. It was located at the corner of Sir Thomas Mitchell Road and Waverley Road (now Campbell Parade). Early in November, 1880, Council decided to place a gas lamp outside the new hotel at Bondi provided Mr. Heinz paid the cost for two years. "This suggests that the Cliff House Hotel was, at that time, only recently opened. A transfer of the lease from Boyer to John Charles Dunlop, with Heinz's consent, was effected on April 18, 1886. 

In 1889 he regained the Publican's license for the "Cliff House Hotel" at Bondi. After his death the licence for the hotel was taken up by Francis Leukert.

 Johann's son John William Heinz applied unsuccessfully in 1896 to have the licence transferred to his name. The hotel was later demolished and replaced by the "Hotel Astra."

Johann started the "Anchor Brewery" at Woollahra which was registered in 1874 and again in 1875. as Heinz & Co. Woollahra.(Gov. Gazette 05/06/1874 Issue 3 134). He later sold it to a Mr. F Dillon and later was purchased by the "Cascade Brewery.'  A newspaper article in the Sydney Morning Herald dated 17th September 1874 stated that the beer produced at the brewery was of a very high Quality and that it was sold in the Woollahra Hotel which was owned at that time by John's mother in law, Gertrude Kramer, and was built by his brother in law, Heinrich Gottfried Theodore Dorhauer.

The NSW Government Gazette dated 5 June 1874 on page 1726 details that the Chief Inspector of Distilleries Office issued a suplementary return of Spirit Merchants and Brewers, whose registrations for the current year (1874) have been notified in accordance with the provisions of the 15th section of the ACT. 13th Victoria N0.26. for Heinze & Co Woollahra. And again in 1875.

A newspaper report in the Sydney Morning Herald dated 11th August 1879 details a meeting of residents and property owners wishing to build the Bondi rock bathing pool. It states that John Heinz had a prominent part in convening the meeting. He explained that it was proposed to make a basin in the rocks about 100 yards south of Bondi beach.  It was agreed that the pool be built.

Johann was elected as an Alderman of Waverley Council, and served from 1880 to 1881. He had previously contested the 1879 Woollahra Council election for alderman of "Piper Ward". He died in 1894

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Eva Heinz

Sister of Johann Heinz

EVA HEINZ (1845-1873)