Heimat in the Hunter

HERZLICH WILLKOMMEN/WELCOME!

It is rare to hear German spoken in the Newcastle region today and the experiences, cultures, and skills of German speakers who have lived here form an often overlooked chapter in Newcastle’s history.

German speakers arrived to the unceded Awabakal, Wonnarua and Worimi lands we know today as Newcastle and the Hunter Valley in the early years of Australia's colonisation. From individual "explorers" and early workers in the Hunter Valley's wine industry to groups of refugees who were forced to leave their homelands, the journeys of German speakers have been as diverse as their experiences on this Country. 

By creating communities, sharing knowledge and celebrating culture, German speakers are one of the many language groups who have contributed to the diverse cultural history of the Newcastle region.

This exhibition reveals some of their stories.

Heimat in the Hunter is an exhibition partnership between Newcastle Museum and the University of Newcastle that shares the research of the University of Newcastle's Dr Sacha Davis, Dr Jaime Hunt and Associate Professor Julie McIntyre into the history of German speakers in the Hunter region. It draws on the research projects:

• Vines, Wine and Identity: The Hunter Valley NSW and Changing Australian Taste (completed in 2018), led by Professor John Germov and Associate Professor Julie McIntyre, and 
• German as a Heritage Language and Culture in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley led by Dr Jaime Hunt and Dr Sacha Davis.  

Thanks to the many community members and organisations who have loaned special objects and shared their stories.

Research project: German as a Heritage Language and Culture in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley

• Did you move to Australia from a German-speaking country before 1990?
• Did your parents or grandparents move to Australia from a German-speaking country in the same period?
• Do you live in Newcastle or the Hunter Valley?

If this describes you, the University of Newcastle would like to interview you about your memories or family history of life before moving to Australia, experiences of moving to Australia, any connections you may have with your country of origin (travel, family, friends, etc.) maintenance of German customs, as well as if and how you use the German language today.

Please contact Dr Jaime W. Hunt, if you are interested in taking part in this project. 
Phone: 4921 6885 Email: [email protected]

Project approved by the University of Newcastle Human Research Ethics Committee, H-2022-0384 & H-2022-0099.