A Reunion was held at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria on Saturday 26 April 2014 for the descendants of Friedrich Gross and his wife Eleonore (nee Müller).  About 50 family members enjoyed lunch together while catching up on family news and browsing through photos.

Friedrich Gross was only seventeen when he left his homeland of Prussia, coming to Australia with the Müller family of Schmollen on the Wilhelmsburg in 1853.  Those who attended our Society’s March tour to Warrnambool may recall seeing a model of this ship on display at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum.  This model was made by August Landmann, who also emigrated on the Wilhelmsburg in 1853.

On arrival in Australia, the Müllers and Friedrich Gross settled at Germantown (now Grovedale).  Friedrich married Eleonore Müller in 1858, at Germantown.  A few years later Friedrich bought an allotment of Crown Land at Drung Drung in the Wimmera.  The family moved there in 1875.  The bridge over the Wimmera River beside their property was known as Gross’ Bridge.  When sold recently, the property had been in the Gross family for over 140 years.

Recently a book was launched titled, Days of Drung:  a history of the Drung District, by Wendy Donald and Helen Curkpatrick.  It includes a history of the Lutheran churches in that area and the Green Lake Cemetery, where Friedrich and Eleonore are buried.