Wanke Family.
CHARLES FERDINAND WANKE
Farmer & Sheep Breeder
25 September 1857 – 8 October 1928
Charles Wanke, J.P., was a son of Mr. Albin Ferdinand Wanke, one of the first German colonists of South Australia, and was born at Lobethal, in South Australia, on September 25, 1857. He received his education at a private school in Lobethal, then joined the machinery trade for five years.
He opened in business on his own account at Quorn in 1878, moving to Mannum, on the River Murray, where he continued for twenty years, retiring on account of ill-health.
In 1900, he came to Western Australia and purchased a property formerly owned by a Mr. Andrew and situated about five miles from Katanning. It comprised 2,000 acres, and he carried good crops of wheat and oats, while special attention was given to the breeding of merino sheep, the flock numbering about 1,200.
Mr. Wanke received his Commission of Justice of the Peace in South Australia around 1897, and a similar honour was conferred upon him by the Western Australian Government in 1902. He had always taken a deep interest in local government and was chairman of the municipal council at Mannum, South Australia, for ten years.
Upon settling at Katanning, he received election to the local road board, and shortly afterwards was appointed to the chair, which he occupied for many years.
Mr Wanke was president of the local branch of the Farmers and Producers’ Political Union, which he assisted in forming in 1908. He also filled the office of director of the Perth Producers’ Union for some time. Mr. Wanke was a member of the local hospital board and took an interest in friendly society work, being a member of the Masonic craft and of the Foresters’ Lodge, in which he has passed through all the chairs, being seven times Past Chief Ranger of that body.
In 1883 he married Caroline Amanda, daughter of Mr. Nicholas Matulich, of Mannum, South Australia, and had five sons and two daughters. He passed away in Katanning on 8 October, 1928, aged 73
JOHN FERDINAND WANKE
General Storekeeper
4 July 1884 – 23 March 1955
John Wanke was born at Mannum, on the River Murray, South Australia, on 4 July, 1884. At fifteen years of age he left the State school, and finished his education at a German academy, and learnt the blacksmithing trade. This he abandoned after two years and, in 1900, came with his parents to Western Australia, where land was taken up in the Katanning district.
In 1908 he married Florence Emily, daughter of Mr. G. H. Todd, now of Katanning.
He started his business career with the firm of W. J. Rogers & Sons in 1902 and, after eight years, started own business. It commenced in a small shop 14ft. x 20ft. in Clive Street. Within a space of twelve months the operations had grown to such an extent that the building was enlarged and two years later a drapery department was added. Further evidence of expansion came three years later, when the premises were extended rearwards to make room for the ever-increasing volume of business and in In 1928 the premises were completely redesigned. The old wooden frontage, including an adjoining shop which had been leased to a tenant, was completely demolished, and replaced with a larger building.
Wanke Family. Wanke Family.