The Lauer Family
In April 1893 the eighth child of August and Ida Lauer was born, they named her Hilda. This year Mrs. Hilda Lloyd, a member of the Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society, celebrated her 100th birthday. Hilda Lloyd now lives in a nursing home in Surrey Hills but this lovely lady has an active mind and her speech is clear.
Main Road, Doncaster c1900 (now Doncaster) Road, Doncaster) looking west towards intersection of Elgar Road, Tram Road and Williamsons Road, and Melbourne City. The photograph was taken from up the Doncaster Tower. In the bottom right-hand corner can be seen the banquet room of the Tower Hotel. Near the bottom left-hand side is Richard Clay's house and a real estate agents office from the land boom time. Edward Gallus' house in Tram Road. Laurie Smith's and Edwin Wilson's houses in Elgar Road. Serpell's shop, Tower Hotel. August Lauer's shop can be seen in the distance at the intersection of Main and Elgar Roads. DP0004
Hilda Lloyd's father was Heinrich August Lauer the Doncaster baker, a well known figure in the district. He came to Australia from Auelben, Saxony in 1878. August had been trained as a baker in Hamburg and had been called up for the army but was discharged because of a problem with his feet, so decided to emigrate to Australia. On arriving at Doncaster in 1879, August started baking at the rear of the Post Office store.
In 1881, Lauer was married to Ida Wittig by Max Schramm in the Waldau Church where Schramms Cottage now stands. The couple went to live in Mrs. Tuckerbaud's store on the south east corner of Doncaster and Elgar Roads. August continued baking while Ida ran the store. She was an attractive girl and a great favorite with the cricketers who called in for drinks when playing on a ground the other side of Doncaster Road on the site of Doncaster Shoppingtown.
Mrs August Lauer (nee Ida Wittig) born at Bendigo in 1856 and came to Doncaster with her parents about 1858. She married August Lauer, a baker, in 1881 and died in 1952. Their shop and residence was at the original corner of Elgar Road and Doncaster Road. They had numerous children. DP0667
Four years later, the Lauers built a shop of their own on the opposite side of Elgar Road. The store sold everything from ribbons and bonnets to shovels, chaff and groceries.
Behind the store on Doncaster Road was the dining room and two girls bedrooms, on the other side was a workroom, kitchen, and the parents bedroom. The boys slept in the old Toll House that was in the back yard. There were six girls and four boys.
Lauer's store in 1957 ? or 1960? when it was occupied by Gray and Johnson, auctioneers and estate agents. The photograph was taken from the upper storey of Serpell's store at the north-east corner of Doncaster and Williamsons Roads. August Lauer's store was built about 1881. Photo by Fred Drakeford. DP0147
In the 1890's, August purchased five acres opposite the Doncaster Hotel on the corner of Doncaster and Bismark (now Victoria Street), here he built his own bakery. Lauer used to leave home in the early hours to walk to the bakery. He would prepare the bread in the flour room, then sleep in a small room at the front of the bakery till the dough had risen.
The large brick oven with a domed roof was the width of the room, on it's right was the firebox. August used to light the fire by soaking strips of hessian in dripping; kerosene would have tainted the bread. When the bread was baked, he slid wooden peels under the loaves and placed them on cooling racks. Lauer would return home carrying a tray of his "German Cooking" on his head. Often friends would bring their Christmas cakes to be baked in the oven.
Doncaster State School No 197, 1890s. Teacher and pupils of Grades 5 and 6. The teacher is probably Edmund Thiele? This photograph has been supplied with an incomplete list of the pupils. Photographer P. Jolly. Students: Thiele, Ernst|Petty, Violet|Lauer, Ida|Hodgson|McGahy, Florrie|Clay, Elsie|Plumb, John|Watts, Willie|Serpell, Lena|Darcy, Clara|Groux, Rose|Zelius, Alice|Hudson, Rose|Bullen, Tot|Behrens, Fred|Hillhouse, Bob|Crawford, Bob|Ewers, W. DP0766
Hilda Lloyd's mother was the daughter of Ernst Samuel Whittig and Anna Heineck. Ernst came from Silesia in 1851 and married Anna in Doncaster. On their honeymoon they walked to the Bendigo Goldfields carrying the luggage in a wheel barrow.
Lauer Bakery Delivery Van - Lauers Bakery Wholemeal Bread HE Lauer ??? Doncaster TARE 0 19 3 Andrew Lack Facebook
Ida was born at Bendigo in 1856, her mother refused to walk back with a baby so came with Carl Aumann in his cart. Hilda grew up in the residence at the rear of Lauer's store. She well remembers her life as a child, such details as sharing housework with her sister, scrubbing the wooden floors and keeping the lamps clean and filled.
Often on fine sunny days, her mother would sit on a lower branch of the pine tree, at the side of the store, darning the boys socks and Hilda would climb the tree and lie on a flat branch at the top.
When flour was being delivered to the bakery the delivery cart would call at the store then Hilda would ride on the cart to unlock the bakery, on the way back the cart called at the store to be paid for the flour.
The family went to Trinity Lutheran church where the services were in German. Hilda could not understand the language so on Saturday mornings she went to learn German from Pastor Schramm in the schoolroom at Schrammís Cottage. She sang in the church choir and said that going up the spiral staircase to the choir gallery always had a great fascination for her.
Tuberculosis, or consumption as they called the illness, was a great worry in the earlier years of the century. August Lauer was afraid that his cough caused by the flour, would become consumption so, in the 1920's, he gave up baking and worked on his orchards at Victoria Street and Warrandyte while his son, Albert took over the bakery.
Hilda became ill when she was young and her family were afraid she might develop consumption, the house was low and often felt damp. She went to live in her Grandmother's house in Elgar Road at the corner of Wilsons Road. Several years later she returned home and slept in the bedroom with her sisters Sabrina and Frieda.
Often on fine sunny days, her mother would sit on a lower branch of the pine tree, at the side of the store, darning the boys socks and Hilda would climb the tree and lie on a flat branch at the top.
When flour was being delivered to the bakery the delivery cart would call at the store then Hilda would ride on the cart to unlock the bakery, on the way back the cart called at the store to be paid for the flour.
The family went to Trinity Lutheran church where the services were in German. Hilda could not understand the language so on Saturday mornings she went to learn German from Pastor Schramm in the schoolroom at Schrammís Cottage. She sang in the church choir and said that going up the spiral staircase to the choir gallery always had a great fascination for her.
Tuberculosis, or consumption as they called the illness, was a great worry in the earlier years of the century. August Lauer was afraid that his cough caused by the flour, would become consumption so, in the 1920's, he gave up baking and worked on his orchards at Victoria Street and Warrandyte while his son, Albert took over the bakery.
Hilda became ill when she was young and her family were afraid she might develop consumption, the house was low and often felt damp. She went to live in her Grandmother's house in Elgar Road at the corner of Wilsons Road. Several years later she returned home and slept in the bedroom with her sisters Sabrina and Frieda.
Royal Mail Coach, drawn by two horses, passing through the intersection of Doncaster and Elgar Roads. Photograph shows Lauer's store at the corner, and Laurie Smith's house in Elgar Road. DP0032
Only three of the Lauer girls were married. Hilda married Mr. Lloyd and went to his butchers shop at Box Hill. Ida married George Sell living on the orchard in Springvale Road where Maulina College has been built. She died at the age of 97. Frieda after an unsuccessful marriage wed Sid Crouch. Sabrina lived on at the store and when it was sold moved into a small house that August had built at the rear in Doncaster Road. As Sabrina lived alone her sister Lucy gave her a piano.
Friederick, while still young, quarrelled with his father and left home. He was a skilled tradesman taking on all types of work such as plastering or painting and lived at Oakleigh. Harry married Lucy Arnold and later he took over the bakery from Albert. Herman known as "Curly" had an orchard at the corner of Doncaster and Church Roads. His Daughter, Lattie, and granddaughter are now valuable members of our historical society.
Friederick, while still young, quarrelled with his father and left home. He was a skilled tradesman taking on all types of work such as plastering or painting and lived at Oakleigh. Harry married Lucy Arnold and later he took over the bakery from Albert. Herman known as "Curly" had an orchard at the corner of Doncaster and Church Roads. His Daughter, Lattie, and granddaughter are now valuable members of our historical society.
Doncaster Corner 1963: Aerial probably helicopter. Top Left BELL on the outside of window. Below feature part of the chopper. Pre Shoppingtown. Serpell's store on NE corner. Lauer's store to left between Doncaster & Elgar Rd, and nothing left where the refreshment and tearooms stood on Tram & Elgar. The bend in Elgar Rd is just out of shot to the left bottom of image. Photo: Alan Campbell-Drury.
At one hundred years old, Hilda Lloyd is still a delightful woman. She said that one of the principles by which she has lived was taught to her by a neighbour, Mr. Neal, who was a boot maker. He often used to talk to her when she was young. "We only pass this way once. Therefore if there is only one kind deed or word that is to be said or done, let it be done now.î
Hilda Lloyd said she was proud to have been born in Doncaster and the Historical Society is proud to have her as a member.
1993 12 DTHS Newsletter
Lauers, the bakers, who made bread in their bakery off Victoria Street in Doncaster. The bread was delivered all round the district from a bread cart drawn by a horse: ‘The baker would call out at the back door with a basket of loaves on his arm, and you could select what you wanted and pay your money. He would put the money into a leather purse that he wore on a strap.
Eric Collyer, interview, 12 June 2001 published in Pertzel, Barbara & Walters, Fiona 2001, Manningham : from country to city, Arcadia, Melbourne https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1552022/
Hilda Lloyd said she was proud to have been born in Doncaster and the Historical Society is proud to have her as a member.
1993 12 DTHS Newsletter
Lauers, the bakers, who made bread in their bakery off Victoria Street in Doncaster. The bread was delivered all round the district from a bread cart drawn by a horse: ‘The baker would call out at the back door with a basket of loaves on his arm, and you could select what you wanted and pay your money. He would put the money into a leather purse that he wore on a strap.
Eric Collyer, interview, 12 June 2001 published in Pertzel, Barbara & Walters, Fiona 2001, Manningham : from country to city, Arcadia, Melbourne https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1552022/
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