Tilka Family - F410

Voyage to Adelaide in 1876
Under command of	Captain Edward Alston
Departure port	London
Departure date	26th May 1876
Arrival port	Port Adelaide
Arrival date	18th August 1876
Voyage duration	84 days

Mattheus Tilka was born on 2 January 1848 at Kolkwitz, a small town near Cottbus in Prussia. (It is now in the state of Brandenberg in modern Germany.) At the age of 28, with his wife Johanna Maria Urban (30) he migrated on assisted passages to South Australia on the City of Adelaide in 1876 with their three children, Louise (6), Carl (3), and Fred (a few months).

Also on the voyage was a second Tilka family group - that of Mattheus' older brother Martin. The Tilkas appear to have been part of the Wendish community in the Lusatia region around Kolkwitz in Prussia.

After arriving in South Australia Mattheus and Maria had three additional children :

Paul Albert (17/9/1877 near Riverton),

Mary (20/9/1880 at Inkerman, near Port Wakefield) who died at Goodwood West aged 6 years, and

Henry (23/12/1882 at Inkerman) who died at Inkerman after 7 days.

Mattheus Tilka

Mattheus Tilka selected Section 321, Hundred of Inkermans, 173 acres at ₤1 per acre (10% deposit), in February 1879.

In the Port Wakefield news of 7 May 1915 it was reported that 'Mr M Tilka has a grown a 69lb pumpkin on his farm at South Inkerman. It is on display in Mr Hubble’s office.'

Matt died at Inkerman on 6 July 1928.

Louisa Tilka

Born in Kolkwitz, Prussia on 12 February 1871, Louisa Tilka (25), daughter of Mattheus, married Henry Lowey (42) at his residence in Glenelg on 20/6/1895.

She gave birth to Alfred John at New Glenelg in April 1896.

Louisa died at Mallala SA on 14 October 1959.

Carl Robert Tilka

Born at Kolkwitz, Prussia on 26 September 1873, his name eventually became Anglicised as 'Charles'.

Carl Robert Tilka, 25, son of Mattheus, married Bertha Elizabeth Kalms, 25, on 8 June 1898 at St Stephen Church, Adelaide.

In December 1903 Carl Robert Tilka, baker of The Parade, Norwood (Edward St corner), advertised that he 'Wanted : Good strong boy to make dough and mould.'

In February 1915 Charles Robert Tilka, baker of Norwood was fined ₤2 with ₤1-16-0 costs at the Magistrates Court Norwood. An inspector of weights had purchased 2 x 2lb loaves but found that one was 2oz short and the other 6oz short.

On 20 January 1916, a 30 years old woman whose husband was away at the Western Front cut her throat at Tilka’s boarding-house on The Parade, Norwood.

His wife Bertha died on 17 September 1916. Her body left their residence at 9 Walkerville Road, St Peters for the Payneham Cemetery. Charlie was subsequently remarried, to Alice Kimber.

In March 1918 Charles Robert Tilka was charged with starting work for Joseph Greenburgh, baker of Stepney, before 5.00 am. Both were convicted of breaching the Day Baking Award in Greenburgh’s bakery. C R Tilka had to forfeit ₤1-16-0.

Charles died at Subiaco WA on 3 February 1963.

Frederick Tilka

Born at Kolkwitz, Prussia on 24 June 1875, he died at Inkerman on 2/2/1894 aged 18.

Paul Albert Tilka

Born in Riverton, South Australia on 17 September 1877, Paul Albert Tilka (34) son of Matt Tilka, married Florence Maria Tozer (21) at the Pirie Street Methodist Church in Adelaide on 30/12/1914.

In May 1915, Paul Tilka of Wanbi (in the mallee region of SA between Tailem Bend and Loxton) a hard working farmer recently married, lost 3 valuable draught horses that managed to eat seed wheat which he thought he had secured.

Paul died at Loxton on 7 May 1963.

Notes

Index of SA BM&Ds through 1876 – 1914 {{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}}