Born c1823 in Silesia, Prussia/Germany. Studied medicine but needed to complete one term of practical work to gain his degree. Arrived at Melbourne on 21 April 1849 per "Dockenhuden" from Hamburg, Germany, with his wife, having acted as the ship's doctor on the voyage. Also referred to as a barber and a dentist. His wife Anna Maria Hahn and their infant son, Andreas/Andrew Gottlob Wanke, died in May 1849. He preached to the Melbourne congregation of the Evangelical Lutherans from 1849 till the arrival of the Rev. Frederick Rupprecht in 1851. Then acted as a warden assisting Rev. Rupprecht. He married secondly on 24 May 1850 according to the rites of the Congregational church at Melbourne to Pauline Wilhelmina Schurmann, widow of Herr Krumbiegel and daughter of Gottfried Schurmann. Went to the Castlemaine goldfields. In 1853 he bought land and settled at 'Hillcroft', Harkaway, Victoria. Conducted Lutheran services at Harkaway in the absence of the regular minister. Farmer. Died on 7 August 1897 at Harkaway, Victoria and was buried on 11 August 1897 at the Harkaway Cemetery, Vic.

[death certificate; Beaumont & Curran Early Days of Berwick; Boyer Local Profile: Ernst Gottlieb Wanke; Reg Wanke (descendant)]

Back to Home Page