12 Facts About Eugen Hirschfeld

Eugen Hirschfeld was a medical practitioner, and member of the Queensland Legislative Council.

Eugen Hirschfeld went to school in Breslau and then graduated from Strasbourg University in 1887.

Eugen Hirschfeld became a naturalised Australian in 1893 and, believing that dual nationality was possible, enrolled himself at the consulate as a German citizen to comply with German regulations.

Eugen Hirschfeld was a leading figure in the German community, and 1906 he was appointed Imperial German Consul in Brisbane.

On 3 July 1914 and less than one month before the outbreak of the First World War, Eugen Hirschfeld was appointed by the Denham Ministry to the Queensland Legislative Council.

Eugen Hirschfeld resigned from the Council four months later, on 2 November 1914.

In February 1916, Eugen Hirschfeld was interned at Enoggera then one week later transported to Liverpool, New South Wales, being held there until he was released due to ill-health in August 1917.

Eugen Hirschfeld was interned on the basis he had allegedly falsified medical evidence to secure his original release.

Eugen Hirschfeld soon travelled to the Netherlands before arriving in the United States of America where he practiced in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Eugen Hirschfeld eventually moved to the Darling Downs area, purchasing stations around Inglewood where he spent 15 years carrying out botanical research into improving the quality of pasture for raising sheep and cattle.

On 21 April 1897, Eugen Hirschfeld married Annie Eliza Sarah Saddler at Holy Trinity Church, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria.

On 18 June 1946, Eugen Hirschfeld died at his property in Bybera near Inglewood and was buried there.