Julius Martin Ziems and Mary Ann Anderson

Images courtesy of JB and reproduced here with thanks

There were close connections between the Ziems, Anderson and Bode families. Musicians Theodore Bode and the Ziems brothers had travelled to Australia together and after touring to New Zealand had settled in the Illawarra. The Anderson brothers Gerald and George were living at Fairy Meadow by the 1840s on land that had been granted to their father Robert Anderson. Cousins Mary Ann Anderson and Mary Jane Anderson both married members of the Ziems band, Mary Ann to Julius Ziems, and Mary Jane to Theodore Bode.  

Julius Martin Ziems followed his older brothers Henry,Carl and Fritz to Australia. He arrived alone as a 14 year old in 1855 on the Peter Godeffroy,[1] arriving in Melbourne on 14 December 1855. This was after his older brothers had returned from their tour of New Zealand. After spending some time in Melbourne with his brother Henry, Julius moved north to Wollongong where his other brothers Carl and Fritz were living. In 1872 he married Mary Ann Anderson in Wollongong.

Mary Ann Anderson was born in 1843 and baptised at St Luke’s Liverpool on 14 January 1844. Her Father Gerald Anderson was also born in the colony in 1807 to Robert Anderson and Mary Franklin.  Gerald Anderson was in the Illawarra by 1841[2] – at Shoalhaven and in Wollongong by 1844[3]

After their marriage on 8 October 1872 at Fairy Meadow Church of England, Julius and Mary Ann settled at Fairy Meadow, probably on Anderson land or on the land that Julius would eventually purchase from Henry Angel. Nine children were born including triplets in 1884:

  • Charles Ziems 1873-1877
  • Robert Ziems 1875-1937
  • Elizabeth Mary Ziems 1876-1918
  • Julius Gerald Ziems 1878-1964
  • Fredericka S Ziems 1879-1970
  • Beatrice Ziems 1884-1982
  • Sarah Ziems 1884-1959
  • Mary Ziems 1884-1884
  • Henrietta Ziems 1889-1980

The family of Julius and Mary Ann Ziems are documented in a rich legacy of photographs some of which are reproduced here.

Original Church of England, Fairy Meadow

The original Church of England Fairy Meadow where Julius Martin Ziems and Mary Ann Anderson were married.

Julius and Mary Ann Ziems
Robert Ziems

Robert Ziems married Rebecca Emily Hampton in 1904. This is the branch that established the Ziems’ butcher shop at Corrimal. Robert and Rebecca had four children:

  • Arthur Thurston 1905-1976
  • Charles Julius 1906-1999
  • Edna Beatrice 1907-1962
  • Benjamin Robert 1914-1978
Elizabeth Mary Ziems
Fredericka Ziems
Fredericka Ziems
Beatrice and Sarah Ziems
Beatrice and Sarah Ziems
Beatrice (left) and Sarah Ziems

Triplets Beatrice, Sarah and Mary were born to Julius and Mary Ann Ziems on 16 July 1884. Mary died shortly after birth.

Beatrice ‘Beatty’ Ziems married Warren ‘Wal’ Barton of Woonona in 1924 in the same church at Fairy Meadow where her parents were married. Beatty and Wal did not have any children. Sarah Ziems did not marry.

Marriage of Beatrice Ziems and Warren Barton 1924. Beatrice’s niece Mary May (Molly) Ziems is the flowergirl, others unknown.
Henrietta Ziems

Henrietta Ziems (left), and her daughter Mary May (Molly) Ziems (below)

Mary May (Molly) Ziems
Ziems family
Julius and Mary Ann Ziems in front of their home at Corrimal with two of their children, possibly Robert and Fredericka. The people on the right are perhaps one of Mary Ann’s sisters and two of her children.
Julius Gerald Ziems, unknown, Robert Ziems. Middle row: Unknown (Henrietta??), Mary Ann, Frederica, Elizabeth. Front Row Sarah, Beatrice, unknown child.
Mary Ann Ziems and most of her children about 1910. From left: Robert, possibly Henrietta, Sarah, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Fredericka and Beatrice

[1] Staatsarchiv Hamburg; Hamburg, Deutschland; Hamburger Passagierlisten; Microfilm No.: K_1704

[3] Notice of a stolen or strayed horse, information to Gerald Anderson of Wollongong. “Advertising” The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954) 12 April 1844: 3. Web. 2 Aug 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12410342&gt;.

[2] 1841 Census Return 625 Gerald Anderson of County of St Vincent, District of Illawarra. Gerald Anderson had leases in the Shoalhaven dating from 1836. “SALE OF OCCUPATION LICENSES.” New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 – 1900) 27 August 1841: 1149. Web. 2 Aug 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230394971&gt;.