Johann Georg (George) & Barbara Katharina (Catherine) Reis arrived in Australia from Kafertal (just outside Mannheim in Germany) in 1852 aboard the sailing ship "Peter Godeffroy", and travelled by horse and dray to Albury, New South Wales where they "had heard of excellent country being available".� Covering only perhaps ten or twenty kilometres per day as they walked their horses, the determined George who was two months short of his 39th birthday and his young 31 year old wife Catherine, progressed across the plains of New South Wales for several weeks, camping at night under canvas with their 3 pre-school children. Upon arrival in Albury in the early months of summer, the young couple, purchased land at the corner of Sydney & Geogery Roads, and took up farming at Mungabareena. The Albury Airport now occupies the site that the family farmed. Albury It was here that that George & Catherine Reis put down their life-long roots and established a thriving enterprise, planting vineyards along the lines of their native Rhineland, grazing dairy stock and later purchasing land on what was to become known as Reis Island (near the old Albury pumping station) to grow fresh produce for sale to the fledgling goldfields.�� As the business expanded, the Reis family developed a wine cellar at the corner of Kiewa and Smollett Streets (the building still stands). The following generation oversaw the establishment of a Grocery and Produce store in Wilson Street (still stands, now with a keyhole fa�ade); and specialty department stores such as C & C Stores in Olive Street and later 488-490 Dean Street and The Model Store at the corner Wilson and David Streets. As fortunes changed and new members joined the business, the family branched out into shipping of produce through New South Wales and Victoria, constructing a dual gauge rail siding (supposedly the City's first dual gauge overlap) and sheds at the end of Wilson Street for shipment of local produce north and south of the border from the different state rail gauges. The site is today occupied by Goodman Fielder. The firm's shipping office was located at the corner of Wilson & Macauley Streets. Various family members built and occupied local homes of note: "Glenisla" and "Roseta" both in Wilson Street were typical of the period, the latter once described as "leading to impress visitors with the solidity of the town and its inhabitants". Sadly it was demolished by the RSL in the 1980s and "Sylvania"; in North Albury owned by Conrad Reis, also demolished� (refer 'Vanishing Homes' by H G Jones). The Reis family over subsequent generations was also a reasonably large employer for their times and also known for their civic involvement with Albury. Family members such as Charles (1880-1929) became prominent on the Boards of the Albury Hospital, Albury Gas Company, an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce and together with his wife Susan, generous benefactors of the Newtown Orphanage.� In terms of their natural contribution to the Albury environment, the family planted a Yacca Lily at the entrance to their homestead (cnr. Sydney & Geogery Road) which only blooms every seven years and still stands. The family also tried to establish a silk worm industry in Albury and planted several white Mulberry trees in the Southern end of the original Albury Sportsground; two of these trees were still growing in recent years. George died in 1883 at the age of 70 years, and Catherine died in 1906 at the age of 85 years. |
| Early History Arrival of the Reis family in Australia |
 |
 |
| Return to main menu |
| .. |
| � Copyright |