![Johann Caspar Hergenhan (1829-1904) who came to the Bega Valley with his two brothers from Germany. Picture supplied Johann Caspar Hergenhan (1829-1904) who came to the Bega Valley with his two brothers from Germany. Picture supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/HJKdXpzXdCqQNEEJgi9knT/d3d71236-332c-4cdb-b603-75a3e6be5887.jpg/r0_0_2285_4057_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Three local families will come under the microscope including Bega Valley Shire Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick's as part of a new exhibition at the Old Pambula Courthouse, on the weekends of January 14,15 and 21,22.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Organised and researched by the Bega Valley Genealogy Society, whose members are often referred to as the "genies", the exhibition is called 'Family and Social History'.
The families include the Black family who became owners of the Arydale property near Wolumla, the Fitzpatricks who settled and worked on Kameruka, and other areas in the valley and the three Hergenhan brothers with their wives, who travelled from Germany to settle in the Bega area.
READ ALSO:
President of the Bega Valley Genealogy Society Liz McIntyre said it all started when they opened up the courthouse after the recent dispute with council over the future of the society and the Courthouse.
Following talks with Cr Fitzpatrick who was interested in his own family tree, the society decided to explore the mayor's family history along with the Blacks and the Hergenhans.
"The first Fitzpatrick tried to escape Dublin and the potato famine in 1854 but was discovered hidden aboard a ship," Ms McIntyre said.
"He (Cr Fitzpatrick) has seen the family tree but hasn't read it all and there might be a few surprises in there for him. His father worked as a barman for the Royal Willows Hotel," she said.
![Johann Peter Hergenhan (1834-1910), the second brother to arrive. Johann Peter Hergenhan (1834-1910), the second brother to arrive.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/HJKdXpzXdCqQNEEJgi9knT/d0cbcb40-326f-4500-95a2-209e21e1bcc4.jpg/r0_0_1771_2430_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
John Marshall Black came to Australia as a 14-year-old with his father and a housemaid, Ms McIntyre said.
"The whole family has a colourful history and won prizes in Calcutta for their cheeses," she said.
The Hergenhan brothers came to the Bega Valley between 1852-1860 from the Tauber Valley in Germany.
READ ALSO: 30 years at Courthouse
They were well regarded for their wine-making skills, knowledge of agriculture and hospitality and the name is still well-known in the Bega Valley today. Family member Shirley Sproats has researched the family story which goes back to the 1500s.
The exhibition opens 10am to 3pm, $5 per person and children under 12 free. Ms McIntyre encouraged everyone to read about these adventurous people.
![Johan Kilian Hergenhan (1838-1925), the third brother to arrive in the Bega Valley. Johan Kilian Hergenhan (1838-1925), the third brother to arrive in the Bega Valley.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/HJKdXpzXdCqQNEEJgi9knT/db50ae3a-ac97-43dd-94e7-50c55fd30c7e.jpg/r0_0_2680_3800_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
Bookmark www.begadistrictnews.com.au
Make sure you are signed up for our breaking news and regular headlines newsletters
Follow us on Twitter: @Bega_News
Follow us on Instagram: @begadistrictnews