The house, a colonial styleweatherboard building,[2] was built by German immigrant Hermann Neumann in 1893 as his private residence. The house has been restored to its former condition and refurnished in the style of the 1930s. It opened in 1998 to the public as a house museum. A visitor information centre, a café and a gift shop are also operated within the building.[3][4]
History
Das Neumann Haus Museum, view from William Street, April 2022Das Neumann Haus Museum, view from Patrick Street, April 2022Neumann headstone Laidley Cemetery 2022Lockyer Valley Heritage Festival April 2022
In 1884, Hermann Neumann migrated to Australia with his parents and two brothers. He and his brother Carl established a furniture business in Brisbane Street, Ipswich, Queensland.[6][7]
Annie Elizabeth Neumann (née Schermuly), born on April 8, 1859, in London,[5] was the well-educated daughter of Eliza Schermuly (née Cross), an English aristocratic woman, and Conrad Schermuly, a German musician. She left England to visit relatives in Ipswich, traveling as an interpreter on the ship.[8][4][6]
On December 12, 1885, Hermann married Annie in Ipswich - she had been instructing him in the English language.[7][9]
In 1893, Hermann, Annie and their three sons moved to Laidley where Hermann expanded the family furniture business.[4][8]
The Laidley region was once the home of the "Kitabul People" before the arrival of Europeans in the early 19th century. Today, the Jagera people are the traditional owners of the Lockyer Valley region.[10][11]
When Hermann Neumann started to build the family residence, showroom and two-storey workshop, the main emphasis initially was on the business, so the house was developed over the following years.[4][8]
The furniture manufacturing business was at the rear of the house and a showroom located out the front.[12] The showroom was accessible through folding french doors - open during the day, so Annie could keep an eye on the shop whilst tending to the needs of her five children (two daughters were born after moving to Laidley), and closed at night for privacy.[8] In the workshop Hermann built furniture for private households as well as for churches, for example the local St Saviours Anglican Church, where such furniture can still be found today.[2] As a hobby he also built grandfather clocks and violins.
The family was involved in musical and other cultural pursuits, and local children were taught violin and piano by family members. Violins made by Hermann Neumann are still owned privately.[13] On special occasions, the family provided musical entertainment on their balcony for the benefit of the community.[8] One of the sons, Alfred, had a club - the "Keep on Aiming Higher Club" - where young men gathered to play instruments and talk about literature.[2]
In around 1905, Annie asked for additions to the house, and Hermann added a second storey, which included a music room, sunroom and balconies.[8] Annie would entertain her friends with music and tea on the “Tiffin” balcony, tiffin being afternoon tea in aristocrat circles.[12]
The house is situated in the heart of the township of Laidley, which in the early part of the 20th century was considered the cultural hub of the community. Settlers, coming into Laidley to do their shopping or bring their produce and wares to market, often called into the Neumann's for a tea or coffee, a sample of Annie's cooking and a chat.[4][13]
On March 20, 1934, Hermann Neumann died aged 72–73.[9] Their son, Carl, and his wife carried on the business.[7]
In 1980, the house was gifted by the family to the Laidley Shire (now incorporated in the Lockyer Valley Regional Council). Council had the adjoining showroom demolished and purposed the house for office space and meeting rooms.[8][12] The manufacturing building made way to gardens.[12]
In 1998, the house was restored and opened to the public as a museum and coffee house. The café was called Annie's Place in remembrance of Annie Neumann's hospitality.[8] The museum is run by the volunteers of Friends of Das Neumann Haus.[7]
Display
The museum documents family and social history. Family treasures were donated to the museum by the family who also assisted with the cost of furniture restoration.[7] Furniture, photos and other items, relevant to either the Neumann family or the lifestyle of the community at the time, were donated by the community. The museum portrays the lifestyle, hobbies and business interests of the family during the 1930s.[4]
Next to the museum, on Patrick St, stands a statue of a Clydesdale horse, reminding of the times when Clydesdales were essential to the economic prosperity of the district.[2] The museum takes part and hosts events in the annual Lockyer Valley Heritage Festival in April[14][15] and the Laidley Spring Festival in September.[16][17]
Gallery
Das Neumann Haus Museum April 2022 entry hall
Das Neumann Haus Museum April 2022 dining room
Das Neumann Haus Museum April 2022 kitchen
Das Neumann Haus Museum April 2022 nursery
Das Neumann Haus Museum April 2022 sofa with violin and accordion
Lockyer Valley Heritage Festival 2022, horse cart before Neumann Haus
Heritage
In 1989, the museum received grant funding of $20,000 through the National Estate Grants Program 1988-1989 for conservation efforts through local government.[18]
In 2001, the Laidley Shire Council placed Das Neumann Haus on the list of Places of High Potential Cultural Heritage Significance. The museum was also listed in the Register of the National Estate as an indicative-historic place, ID 17182, and in the EPA Research Inventory of Historical Places (QCHIP), ID 4003.[19]
The Lockyer Valley is an area of rich farmlands that lies to the west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and east of Toowoomba. The Lockyer Valley is rated among the top ten most fertile farming areas in the world, and the intensively cultivated area grows the most diverse range of commercial fruit and vegetables of any area in Australia. The valley is referred to as "Australia's Salad Bowl" to describe the area as one of Australia's premium food bowls.
Laidley is a rural town and locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Laidley had a population of 3,808 people.
The Shire of Gatton was a local government area located in the Lockyer Valley region between the cities of Toowoomba and Ipswich, and about 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of 1,571.8 square kilometres (606.9 sq mi), and existed from 1880 until its merger with the Shire of Laidley to form the Lockyer Valley Region on 15 March 2008.
The Shire of Laidley was a local government area located in the Lockyer Valley region between the cities of Toowoomba and Ipswich, and about 70 kilometres (43 mi) west of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of 700.6 square kilometres (270.5 sq mi), and existed from 1888 until its merger with the Shire of Gatton to form the Lockyer Valley Region on 15 March 2008.
The Lockyer Valley Region is a local government area in the West Moreton region of South East Queensland, Australia, between the cities of Ipswich and Toowoomba. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the Shire of Gatton and the Shire of Laidley. It has an estimated operating budget of A$35m.
The Bill Gunn Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam with an un-gated spillway located off-stream in Laidley Heights in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for irrigation of the Lockyer Valley. The resultant reservoir is called Lake Dyer.
Forest Hill is a rural town and locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Forest Hill had a population of 968 people.
Warrill View is a rural town and locality in the Scenic Rim Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Warrill View had a population of 203 people.
The Town of Laidley is a former local government area comprising the town of Laidley in the Lockyer Valley area between the cities Ipswich and Toowoomba in Queensland, Australia. It existed between 1902 and 1917.
The Main Line is a railway line in South East Queensland, Australia. It was opened in a series of sections between 1865 and 1867. It commences at Roma St Station in Brisbane and extends west 161 km to Toowoomba. It is the first narrow gauge main line constructed in the world. The section of the line from the end of Murphys Creek railway station to the Ruthven Street overbridge, Harlaxton is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. The Murphys Creek Railway Complex, the Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge (Lockyer), the Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge and Swansons Rail Bridge are also heritage listed.
Blenheim is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Blenheim had a population of 291 people.
Exchange Hotel is a heritage-listed hotel at 134-138 Patrick Street, Laidley, Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Eaton & Bates and built in 1902. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
G Wyman Building is a heritage-listed shopping centre at 140–142 Patrick Street, Laidley, Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1906. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Thornton is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Thornton had a population of 201 people.
Mount Berryman is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Mount Berryman had a population of 96 people.
Mulgowie is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Mulgowie had a population of 166 people.
Summerholm is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Summerholm had a population of 646 people.
Laidley North is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Laidley North had a population of 593 people.
Laidley South is a rural locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Laidley South had a population of 293 people.
The Laidley Pioneer Village and Museum is an historic open-air museum located in the town of Laidley, Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia, on the corner of Drayton Street and Pioneer Street. It portraits rural life in Queensland from the early 19th century.
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Australia, 100 Patrick Street, Laidley, Lockyer Valley Area, Queensland 4341 [1] 
