4 | Family and Local History Winter 2016 EDITION The Story of Beldon The suburb of Beldon was inhabited by the Nyoongar people for over 40,000 years. They would have passed through the area on the journey from the coast to inland areas. Fauna in the Beldon area was limited by the low, dry scrublands, however emus and kangaroos were Gradient Park Beldon ca.2004. known to feed whilst passing through. Gradient Way extending east towards Ocean Reef ca.1980s. Kangaroos remained in the area after the Library, Local History Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm first houses were constructed. A.W. Beldon is listed as a surveyor During the early 1980s, many 102 Boas Avenue, Joondalup 6027 Saturday 9.30am – 12.30pm Exactly how the suburb of Beldon who was active in the display homes were built in the obtained its name is not clear. There are area in 1838. Another possibility area – mainly on Craigie Drive. In two possible sources for the title. The suggests that the suburb name 1984, the median price for a house first is provided by the Department of commemorates Arthur and and land in Beldon was $46,250. Land Administration: Johanns and Marias everywhere! Florence Beldon who ran the Initially children had to travel out Naming traditions German genealogists should know. “…the suburb Beldon is named after Wanneroo School between 1945 of the suburb to attend school A. W. Beldon whose name appears in a and 1962. until Beldon Primary School Do the names Johann and Maria these records marked a ‘true John’ who The most common pattern would be list of early landowners and surveyors Beldon was approved as the suburb’s opened in 1985. Belridge Senior frequently pop up in your German would continue to be so identified. for sons to be named in this order: of Wanneroo. Little is known of name in 1975. By 1977 house and High School opened in 1991. family tree? One German family has By the 19th century more Germans • first born, father’s father Mr. Beldon. The suburb was originally land packages were being advertised In July 1992 the school was Johann Henrichs, brothers named gave their children three names. • second born, mother’s father proposed to be named Albert Grove in in The West Australian newspaper. In awarded a certificate of merit for Johannes Caspar and Johannes Franz Again, typically only one of the • third born, father of the child 1974, after Sir Albert V. Jennings, a Caspar, Maria Catharinas, a Maria 2001 an article in the Sunday Times its design by the Buildings middle names was used throughout • fourth born and on, uncles of founder of the Company Jennings Teresia, Anna Marias and more. newspaper described Beldon as Management Authority. Judges the person’s life. Roman Catholics the child. Industries, which was the co-partner in Family Tree German Genealogy Guide being a ‘sleepy corner of the described the school (which is built often used the names of saints, while The same pattern applies to daughters the development.” author James M. Beidler explains why Northern Suburbs’. on a steep site) as ‘an innovative most Protestant groups also included but using the mothers’ names (father’s this is and what it means for your concept, well carried out and names from the Old Testament or mother, mother’s mother, and so on). There were no large shops in German record searches: Beldon until Woolworths opened providing a very good quality even from non-Christian mythology. Families would reuse given names for its doors on 5 December 1977. school environment’. The school “German children were given two A second naming tradition involves children who died young. There are The shopping centre was advertised became fully operational in 1995. names. Boys commonly were baptised nicknames, often called ‘kurzformen’. even documented instances of families as ‘Mullaloo Woolworths’ because In 1991 the Belridge Professional with the first name Johannes (or In English, most nicknames are using the same name for two children Mullaloo was already a well known Centre opened. The centre brought Johann, often abbreviated Joh). created by dropping the end of the who both survived. German girls were baptised Maria, and popular suburb. Real Estate in new facilities such as doctors, given name (Christopher becomes (Partially reproduced from the Feedblitz the area was advertised under dentists and other professional Anna or Anna Maria. This tradition Chris), however Germans often Genealogy Insider website, 9 July 2015.) ‘Mullaloo-Beldon’ and ‘Ocean Reef services to the Beldon and started in the Middle Ages.” shorten a name by dropping Cawarra Crescent extending north west ca.1980s. – Beldon’ until 1979. Heathridge region. So a family could have five boys with the first part. Examples include: → During the early years Beldon was People continued to be attracted to the first name Johann. You can see the • Nicklaus Klaus potential for confusion until you designed to cater for young couples the Beldon area. In 2011 the • Sebastian → Bastian understand that the first name doesn’t and families. Many migrants called suburb featured over 1,665 homes. • Christophel → Stophel mean a thing. the suburb home. The population was 3,983. On 1 • Christina → Stin or Stina Joondalup Library, Local History December 2014 the median house The second name, known as the • Katharina → Trin price was $512,000. ‘rufname’, along with the surname, is T: 08 9400 4746 Note that these familiar forms F: 08 9400 4743 what would be used in marriage, tax, are used in church or other E: [email protected] land and death records. records, even though by today’s 102 Boas Avenue Joondalup WA 6027 In a family with boys named, for PO Box 21 Joondalup WA 6919 standards we might expect formal example, Johann Friedrich, Johann names to be used. joondalup.wa.gov.au Peter, and Johann Daniel, the children In German-speaking areas, would be called by (and recorded in children were almost always documents as) Friedrich, Peter, and Maria named for one or more of their Daniel. Usually the name Johannes in Johann Barbara This document is available in alternate baptismal sponsors. Sebastian Bach formats upon request. Bach Beldon Shopping Centre ca. 2004. 2 | Family and Local History Family and Local History | 3

8. Newspapers: look for names of Genealogy Brick Wall Busters family and friends in obituaries, Family History Magazines wedding announcements and 10 Places to Find Your Ancestor’s Family, Friends and Neighbours other articles. Joondalup Local History Library has four genealogy magazines that In the past, people tended to move with and marry contain a wealth of information to entertain and inform anyone who has 9. School yearbooks. an interest in family history. into particular groups of people. Tracing those 10. City and Post Office directories: ‘clusters’ (even if the people aren’t in your direct Western Ancestor: Journal of the Western Australian Genealogical Society use the listings by street in the lines or even related) is a key strategy to break contains feature articles, useful information, regular articles and society back of some books to learn through genealogy brick walls. It can help you news, including information about the Special Interest Groups and neighbours’ names. upcoming events. discover maiden names, places of origin and other documents that mention your ancestor. (Partially reproduced from the Feedblitz History West is published by the Royal Western (WA) Historical Genealogy Insider website) Society. As the title suggests, the magazine focuses on WA history. So where can you find names of people in your Ancestor is the quarterly journal of the Genealogical Society of Victoria. ancestor’s cluster? Here are ten places to start It contains information about researching ancestors who lived in Victoria looking: New Resource and has feature articles, tips and hints to help you with your research 1. Study old letters, diaries, address books, funeral Great-great-grandmother’s family was neighbours with her A useful new book both in Australia and overseas, regular articles, and society news. brother’s wife’s family. cards, etc. entitled Guide to Inside History is an award-winning Australian genealogy journal. It 2. Census Records: have a look at the list of 5. Land records: note who the neighbours were. Baptist Historical contains articles about prominent Australians (both past and present), household members and neighbours. 6. Travelling companions on passenger lists: Resources in Australia the latest news from the history and genealogy world, an ‘Ask the examine the entire list for people from the same provides a wealth Expert’ section, and information about not so well-known events that of information for occurred in Australian history. The place or people who appear in other records as researchers. journal has a comprehensive section neighbours, witnesses, etc. The author, Reverend Dr David called ‘What’s New Online?’. It lists 7. Rosters and newsletters of your ancestors’ clubs: Parker, is a consultant theologian family history records from both included below is an example of a founding and the Honorary Archivist for the Australia and overseas that have very members list from a 1902 history of the Baptist Union in Queensland. He has recently become available online. Covington, Kentucky German Pioneer Society. compiled an overview of the Baptist The magazine also road tests history Great-great-grandfather boarded with his future brother-in-law denominations in Australia and apps. Inside History has the added in the 1900 census. describes its background, structure, advantage of being able to be 3. Witnesses to marriage certificates, wills activities and special characteristics. borrowed electronically. You and naturalisation records, and those who can download the magazine The book provides a detailed state- from Zinio. provided testimony in court records and based list of the various locations where pension applications. historical records can be found, the 4. Sponsors on baptism and confirmation records. conditions of access that apply, and is illustrated with photographs and Fourth (4th) great-grandfather’s – their children married. copies of related ephemera items.

every civilian in Great Britain and Northern 1939 UK Register Ireland. This Register was to be a critical tool in coordinating the war effort at home. It National Family History Month Findmypast.com.au has added the 1939 would be used to issue identity cards, organise UK Register to their database. National Family History Month takes place in August. The City of rationing and more. At the outbreak of war in September 1939, Joondalup and other local governments as well as the State Library The 1931 UK census was destroyed during an a massive administrative task was underway of have a number of resources (both electronic air raid on London and the 1941 census was - the taking of the 1939 Register. It’s one of and in book form) that are able to be borrowed and/or accessed by never taken. The 1939 Register is therefore the the most important British documents of family history researchers. only surviving overview of the civil population the twentieth century. of England and Wales spanning the period During National Family History Month there are many genealogy In December 1938 it was announced 1921-1951. It bridges a census gap that risked events taking place in the Metropolitan area. Check local in the House of Commons that in the losing an entire generation and is a fascinating event websites or ask a team member in the Local History Library event of war, a National Register would resource for anyone interested in understanding on your next visit. be taken that listed the personal details of twentieth century Britain and its people.