Glen Innes NSW

After many adventures during the younger years of his life, it was in Glen Innes, New South Wales that Hans Edvard Andreasson 'Falk' finally settled, married and raised his family.  On Hans’s death certificate, his son-in-law William Sidney Whyte stated that the names of Hans’s parents were not known; thus, the ‘mystery’ of Hans continued to evolve. Eventually, it was presumed by all that for some unknown reason, Hans had ‘covered his tracks’. Where did that leave us? Understandably, with human nature being what it is, even more curious! 

When we began researching the Falk family history, we obtained copies of Hans Falk’s Naturalization documents from the National Archives in Canberra. According to information he provided when completing an application for a Certificate of Naturalisation in 1913, 'Hans Edward Falk 'was born at Grebbestad in the County of Bowslain (sic) Sweeden (sic) on 4 Oct 1853. He declared that he arrived in Port Jackson in 1880 from New York and knew neither the name of his ship nor the date of its arrival in Australia. 

In August 1984, my late sister, Elaine Falk Harris, wrote to Sweden in an unsuccessful attempt to locate information on Hans and his family. In March 2001, my wife contacted the government archives Landsarkivet, Göteborg  Sweden requesting any available information on Hans Edward Falk. Birth records in his alleged birthplace were searched: Grebbestad, Parish of Tanum, Bohuslän, Sweden. However, there was no birth on 4 October 1853 registered for a Hans Edward Falk. A further search was conducted of the records at Gothenburg Mercantile Marine Office where Swedish seamen are registered - again, without success.  We now know of course,  that Hans was not known by the Falk surname in Sweden.

In 2001, when Julie was compiling information for the first Falk book and still searching for answers, she posted enquiries regarding Hans Falk on genealogy message boards on the Internet. However, as time passed, that strategy also appeared to be in vain. Finally, in April 2003, after we had all but given up hope of ever solving the mystery of my great-grandfather Hans, we had a very welcome breakthrough. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology and the generosity of a Swedish researcher named Roland Johansson who stumbled across one of Julie's very old Internet enquiries, we now have the evidence of Hans Edvard Andreasson’s birth in Sweden. 

As a bridge builder, Hans was away from home for days at a time due to the slow process of having to transport timber and building materials by horse and cart. During those times, Theresa would mind their children at her father’s farm nearby. If food were scarce, Theresa would take a shotgun and the dogs, go down to the swamp bordering his property and shoot some ducks. The dogs would retrieve the ducks then Theresa would clean and cook them to feed her family. Resourceful Theresa ensured her children never went hungry! Not only was she handy with a gun, Theresa was also highly skilled at handcrafts, a trait she passed on to her daughters. They were so adept with needle and thread that they entered their work in community exhibitions, taking out many prizes between them. Theresa was renowned for her exquisite handwriting as well. 

Hans, Theresa and their family eventually moved to 38 Torrington Street Glen Innes. The senior family members told of a beautiful cherry tree that grew in the yard.  This house was only about four doors from the Glen Innes Showground gates on the left side of the road. We had thought this house had been demolished or renovated, but a recent search on Google Maps shows a house still standing on the block that may well have been the original Falk family home.  

Hans’s decision to become an Australian citizen in 1913, 33 years after arriving here, was possibly influenced by the unrest in Europe preceding World War I. That was an astute decision on his part, because all non-nationals were interned for the duration of the war. The gaol at Trial Bay near South West Rocks on the north coast of New South Wales was utilised for this purpose. Under the laws of our land, one had to be an Australian citizen in order to vote or own property.  Hans was granted Australian citizenship in 1913.

Hans Falk was a member of the local School of Arts for thirty years and loved to spend time there playing his favourite game of Dominos. He was also considered to be a fine tradesman. A few years before he died, he built a new front fence for his residence that people stopped to admire  and comment on his wonderful workmanship.   It is thought that this fence has since been replaced.  

On 28 May 1936, Hans and Theresa celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. The following article appeared in the Glen Innes Examiner on 28 May 1936: 

GOLDEN WEDDING Mr and Mrs Edward Falk 

Married on May 24, 1886, Mr and Mrs Edward Falk of Torrington St., on Sunday last, celebrated the 50th anniversary of their wedding. On their Golden Wedding Day, the worthy couple were the recipients of many congratulations. Their marriage took place at Yarraford, the Rev. Robert Kay (then in charge of Glen Innes Presbyterian Church) being the officiating minister. Prior to her marriage Mrs Falk was Miss Theresa Schwenke, daughter of Mr and Mrs L Schwenke, many of whose descendants are still surviving in this district and other portions of the State. 

Mr and Mrs E Falk have resided continuously in Glen Innes district since their marriage in 1886, and enjoy the full esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr Falk, it is interesting to note, was engaged in Railway Bridge building when the ‘Iron Horse’ first thundered through the fertile New England lands, and it was whilst employed in this capacity at Yarraford that he met the lady to whom he was subsequently wed. Mr Falk is now in his 83rd year, which fact however, has not impaired his virility to any marked extent. Indeed, he is in the best of health and jocularly remarks that he is going to eclipse the record of Ivan Tatrayer, a villager in Verkhini Koban (Caucasian 

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Despite the robust health and positive outlook that Hans exuded at his Golden Wedding celebrations in 1936, it was less than two years later that he succumbed to illness. He passed away from cardiac failure in Glen Innes Hospital on 6 Jan 1938, aged 84 years. Hans was buried 7 Jan 1938 in the Church of England Cemetery, Glen Innes. His Obituary in the Glen Innes Examiner on 8 Jan 1938 reads as follows: 

OBITUARY Mr Edward Falk 

The death occurred in the District Hospital on Thursday of Mr Edward Falk, a well-known and highly respected member of the community. The deceased gentleman had been in ill health for some time. The funeral took place to the Church of England portion of the local cemetery yesterday afternoon, Rev. C J Doyle officiating at the graveside. Funeral arrangements were in the hands of R T Lightfoot. 

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Theresa Magdalena Schwenke Falk passed away from coronary heart disease at 202 Meade Street Glen Innes on 15 May 1951.   She was laid to rest with Hans in the Church of England Cemetery Glen Innes on 17 May 1951. The inscription on the gravestone reads: 

In loving memory of my dear husband and our father Hans Edward Falk 

Died 6 January 1938 aged 84 years 

Theresa Magdalena Falk Died 15 May 1951 Aged 83 years

At Rest