Kirchmajer

DESCRIPTION

NameKirchmajerDescriptionIstvan (Steve) and Marta Kirchmajer towards the end of WWII moved from Hungary to Bad Hall (near Steyr) Austria, where Marta worked as a nurse’s aide in the Army Convalescent Hospital. Steve worked on a nearby farm.

In order to build a better future, they with their three year old son Laszlo (Laci-pronounced Lotsy or Les), decided to immigrate to Australia. They departed Bremerhaven, West Germany on the Castel Bianco on 2nd February 1951, arriving in Melbourne Australia on 14th March 1951.

The first accommodation was in Bonegilla Hostel in Victoria. Steve found work with the Water Board at Coniston, where he was accommodated in the single men’s camp.

Marta and Laci were moved from camp to camp, to Cowra NSW (April to August) and then to the Greta Hostel NSW.

During this period Steve was only able to make the trip to the camp every fourth weekend. Finally the frustration of separation and poor living conditions, caused Marta to pack it up. She and Laci just turned up in the Water Board camp at Coniston, telling Steve she would not be going back to the hostel. The man sharing a room with Steve moved to another section for the night, allowing the family to stay the night.

Being desperate for alternative living arrangements, they bought a caravan (called “Marigold”) and a block of land at Bridge Avenue Oak Flats in December 1951 from the sister of a workmate.

After moving to Oak Flats, Steve worked at the Port Kembla Steelworks and then later at Lysaghts Port Kembla, where he worked until medically retiring in 1985.

They saved diligently and soon had the caravan and land paid off. One day, a Mrs. Broadhurst from Sydney was visiting and checking on property that she owned in Fisher Street Oak Flats. Marta, befriended her, and over a cup of tea Marta did a deal and bought 3 blocks in Fisher Street from her. By this time they had built a small garage at Bridge Avenue.

Steve and Marta sold the caravan eventually and put the money into materials for building a house at one of the 3 blocks in Fisher Street. The house was finally completed by Christmas 1955, with the electricity connected to the house on Christmas Eve.

Marta attended migrant English classes at Oak Flats Primary School, and she spoke highly of the first Principal of Oak Flats Primary School, Joe Caldwell, for his initiative to establish the classes.

Les has fond memories of his early childhood in Oak Flats, when he and his mates would play in the arm of Horsley Creek behind the house. They would make tin canoes out of corrugated iron, sealed at the ends with tar he collected off the roads on a hot day, and would sink these canoes in the creek (to hide them from others) and retrieve them when required. Later the interest in canoeing and exploring the local waterways led to hiring more reliable plywood canoes at The Boulevarde near the Yacht Club.

Information - Gillis, Kevin, 2014, 'Oak Flats Garden Suburb', Tongarra Heritage Inc. Story in publication contributed by Lyndall Kirchmajer.

Marta Kirchmajer with her second child, Val, c.1952.

This caravan, called 'Marigold', was the first home of the Kirchmajer Family in Oak Flats. It stood on a block of land in Bridge Avenue.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionFamiliesLocalityOak FlatsRelated ItemBuilding the Kirchmajer Family home in Fisher Street, Oak FlatsVal Kirchmajer in Horsley Creek about 1958The Kirchmajer home in Fisher Street, Oak FlatsThe Kirchmajer Family outside their home in Fisher Street, Oak FlatsThe Kirchmajer children riding bikes in Oak FlatsThe Kirchmajer & Havasi Families at Oak Flats about 1966The family of Steve and Marta KirchmajerSteve, Val & Judy KirchmajerSteve Kirchmajer with his daughter, ValSteve Kirchmajer pushing his daughter, Judy, in a pram at Oak FlatsSteve and Val Kirchmajer at Oak Flats about 1962Steve & Marta Kirchmajer laying foundations for their new homeSteve, Val & Judy KirchmajerMarta Kirchmajer with her second child, ValMarta and Val Kirchmajer at Oak FlatsMarta and Steve Kirchmajer at Oak FlatsMarta and Steve Kirchmajer at Oak FlatsLaszlo, Val and Judy Kirchmajer with Laszlo's first carLaszlo Kirchmajer on the foreshore of Lake Illawarra at Oak FlatsLaszlo (Les) and Val Kirchmajer at the beachJudy Kirchmajer on her tricycle with her doll 'Morny'Judy Kirchmajer on a scooter

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Kirchmajer