The Hintze Family

Stones forming the outline to the Hintze family plots

Johann Gottleib (known as Gottleib) and Bertha Hintze along with their children Julia Davis (nee Hintze) and Gottleib Jnr are buried in the Presbyterian section of Carlyle Cemetery.

Johann Gottleib and Bertha immigrated in the early 1880’s from Brandenburg in Germany with political instability in Germany prompting many families and the Hintze's extended family to immigrate to Australia. The Hintze family purchased land in Rutherglen and established a small vineyard called Chapel Hill where Mount Carmel Convent sits today. The Hintze family property extended to the corner of Murphy Street and the family was also able to secure additional property along Gooramadda Road.

Johann Gottleib and Bertha Hintze

Johann became an Australian citizen in 1883. He was a multi-talented individual and displayed a keen interest in engineering and agriculture, inventing early irrigation systems for his two vineyard and orchard blocks. He was known to be reputable blacksmith, along with his son Arthur (who bought Clays Blacksmith Shop in Hunter Street in early 1900).

Bertha had a fine reputation for her home-made alcoholic beverages. The local constabulary fined her for selling without a licence, a very common practice at that time. 

Family Misfortune

The family vineyard was one of many local vineyards hit hard by an outbreak of Phylloxera. Chapel Hill vineyard was closed and to ensure the wellbeing of his family, Johann joined his son in the Blacksmith and Iron Foundry and worked on engineering projects around town.

Bertha passed away in 1897 at only 39 years. Johann Gottleib passed away in 1906 at Nurse McEveys Hospital with peritonitis at age 48 years. Their infant son Gottleib Jnr was reinterred with his parent, along with their adult daughter Julia Davis.

Only recently the mystery of where Julia Davis was buried was solved. She was noted in the orginal burial register as a Mr. Davies but obituaries and undertaker notes indicated her husband Frederick had organised for her to be transported from Yarrawonga to Carlyle to be buried with her family. The couple had resided in Yarrawonga after their recent marriage and Julia had succumbed to influenza and pneumonia at only 25 years of age.