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| Finger Homestead Doncaster East VHD-B2791 |
Henry Finger built in a style that comes from Central Europe. There is a verandah around the front and sides but the distinguishing feature is the way the side walls form parapets at each end of the slate roof. Originally there was only one ridge with a dormer window from the attic room. During later alterations, the attic room was closed up and the dormer window and the windows in the end walls were removed. Now there is a single chimney in the centre of the roof. This chimney serves three fireplaces, two in bedrooms and the third in the cellar. The flue from the cellar follows an unusual course as it winds around the fireplace above to reach the main chimney. The cellar was built to store wine from the vine-yard that originally covered the hillside, but the fireplace was provided to warm cream when making butter on cold winter days.
Henry quarried clay from the valley behind the house and burnt his own bricks. As a protection from the weather the south and east walls were cement rendered but on the east the bricks are uncovered and stack marks may still he seen on them. Large slabs of local stone were laid direct onto the stone to form a foundation for the house. It is a tribute to the thorough workmanship of the Fingers that the house still stands as solid as the day when it was built,
After the landboom, labour was plentiful but there was no means of transport. To accommodate workers for the orchard, outhouses were built and additions were made to the house providing a new kitchen and men's dining room. When preparing bricks for the additions, they under-estimated the quantities. The supply of bricks ran out before the walls had reached the height of the original house so the ceiling of the added section is a foot lower.
Outside is a smoke house, where bacon and sausages were smoked. This is a simple brick structure, 4'6" square and 7' high with a large opening at the bottom and small vents at the top. Many homesteads had smoke houses, often these were no more than sacks spread over a simple framework. This more permanent structure may be the only one left in the district.
Henry Finger came from Silesia in Germany with his father Christian Benjamin Finger in 1850. They planted a vineyard at Hawthorn on the site of Wattle Road. Henry bought 10 acres at the corner of Burke and Cotham Roads. One hot north wind day wrecked his orchard, blowing away the top soil and scorching the young trees and vines. He subsequently moved to Doncaster, purchasing 50 acres of land around the old Waldau Church. The experience at Balwyn made Henry interested in soil conservation. His drains and earth-works around Ruffey's Creek were a model of German thoroughness, and remained in good condition till the land was subdivided.
After Henry's eldest son, John, married, the property was divided down the centre. Two of the sons, John and Ferdinand drew lots for the land. Ferdinand chose the block with the house on it so John built a home on the other block.
In 1914, Ferdinand Finger left Doncaster. He settled at North Balwyn on the site of the Presbyterian Church. His old home in George Street then went to its present owner, Mr. W. Rieschieck (a grandson of Henry Finger). The Rieschieck family had come to South Australia in 1849.
Framed by palm trees, the house has a character and quality that sets it apart as one of the most important buildings in Doncaster. Our city is fortunate to have a fine building such as this. John Finger's home will soon be demolished, but Henry Finger's home, still in perfect condition, is one building that should be preserved.
Irvine Green writing in 1970 08 DTHS Newsletter
Finger Homestead - George Street, Doncaster East
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| Finger Homestead Doncaster East VHD-B2791 |
Built 1870 with alterations from 1890 - 1910. Demolished: c.1972 http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/66509
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| Rubbed brick arch of the fireplace in the cellar of Henry Finger's house, George Street, East Doncaster. dp0196 |
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| Henry Finger's cellar, showing the vaulting in the ceiling. The house was built in 1870 with hand-made bricks made from clay dug from near Ruffey Creek. dp0197 |
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| Dam in Ruffey Creek built by Henry Finger. There is a narrow footbridge with five small children standing on it. The dam was fitted with a flood gate. dp0420 |
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| Dam built by Henry Finger in Ruffey Creek at the rear of his house in George Street, East Doncaster. dp0421 |
c1880. “Tannenwald”, the Finger homestead, built in 1870 on the north side of German Lane, now George Street. Before alterations. Caroline now had her own two room cottage on ten acres of land near the corner of Burke and Cotham Roads. A man and woman are in the foreground, possibly Henriette Finger (later Mrs August Rieschieck) and one of her brothers. DP0205
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| Henriette Finger, one of the five daughters of Henry Finger, was born in 1862 or 3. In 1883 she married August Rieschieck. She died in 1932. DTHS Archive dp0652 |
The Argus, Melbourne, Monday 27 June 1932. Deaths. RIESCHIECK. - On the 25th June, at her residence, Main road, Doncaster (suddenly), Henrietta, the beloved wife of August, and loving mother of Annie (Mrs. A. Thiele), Emma (Mrs. A. Fankhauser), William, Walter (deceased), Herbert, Margaret, Victor, Dorothy (Mrs. E. Aumann), Hedwig, aged 70 years.
| Finger homestead, on the north side of George St. The house was originally built by Henry Finger about 1870, later altered, and at time of this photograph, was owned by the Rieschieck family. 1970 Irvine Green dp0208 |
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