Rediscovering Ginninderra:
Mr August Frederick 'Augie' Hellmund

Born: 1871; Died: 1948; Married: Lydia Jones

August Hellmund was born in Queanbeyan in 1871 to August Ferdinand Hellmund (1827-1901) and Elizabeth (Betty) Hellmund nee Wollschlager (1832-1891) who had migrated to Australia about 1858 after their marriage the previous year at Saltzgitter, Hanover, Germany. August Ferdinand was a sign-writer.

August Frederick was one of four children – Daniel Henry (1862-1935), Henrietta A (died in infancy), Maria M (1865- ? ), and August himself, the youngest. In 1894 he married Lydia Jones, the daughter of Thomas Jones and Isabella Jones (nee Donaldson) of Ginninderra. He was a blacksmith at Jeir Station in the nineties and later a blacksmith in Gundaroo. He later became blacksmith at Hall where he was employed by coach-maker and general blacksmith, George Kinlyside. He purchased a house in Victoria Street, Hall, where he built a house. Sadly,

Lydia died of 'consumption' in 1904, leaving him a widower with three children to core for. In 1915 he was living with the Hollingsworths in Hall when he was committed to Kenmore asylum in Goulburn 'for care and treatment', after being found wandering naked at night with a razor. His brother Daniel, a painter in Queanbeyan, gave evidence, as did constable Coyle of Ginninderra, E M Kevan and Dr Richardson. From his erratic behaviour he was deemed a danger to himself and the community. It was mentioned in evidence that 'he was shot somewhere about the beginning of the year and was an inmate of Parramatta Hospital and from there went to an Insane Asylum'.

<i>The bench considered the patient to be insane and remanded him to Kenmore Hospital for care and treatment. It was mentioned in evidence that he was shot somewhere about the beginning of the year and was an inmate of Parramatta Hospital and from there went to an Insane Asylum. He came to Hall after Easter. His daughter paid 6/- for his keep<i/>. [Queanbeyan Age 10.9.1915]

He survived until 1948, when he died at Leichardt, Sydney and is buried at Matraville.

August and Lydia had three children - Ruby Elizabeth (Mrs J Crouth) (1891- ? ); Gladys Pearl ('Pearly') Hellmund (1895-1916) who died of tuberculosis at Waterfall Hospital aged twenty-one; and Frederick Thomas (1898-1967) who married Neva Hilma Jenkin and together they had ten children.