Heritage talk: 'The formation of the Witta community'

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On 17 October 1887 an enterprising group of ex-German nationals from a German settlement south of Brisbane decided to move out of the homes of their migrant parents and strike out on their own.

The young men selected land portions in the Blackall Range and formed the new town of Teutoburg, situated about four miles north-west of Maleny.

On 20 May 1916, the town’s name was changed to Witta and was recorded in the Queensland Government Gazette—the word Witta is believed to be a corruption of the Kabi Kabi word for dingo, “wetya”.


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Image credit: Courtesy of Qld State Archives

The reason for the town’s name change was not spelt out in the 1916 Government Gazette but during the years of the First World War people and places with Germanic sounding names came under close scrutiny by members of the public and by some government officials.

Drive around Witta today, and you’ll still notice many German-sounding names, hinting at the hinterland town’s heritage.

Hear the fascinating stories of those pioneering young men and the influence they had on Maleny as local author Dale Jacobsen presents ‘The formation of the Witta community’ at Bankfoot House.

FREE HERITAGE TALK - The formation of the Witta community

Presented by Dale Jacobsen

Where: Bankfoot House Heritage Precinct

When: Friday 3 February at 10.00am

Entry: Free - Register for your tickets

Register for your free tickets here

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Sunshine Coast Council acknowledges the Sunshine Coast Country, home of the Kabi Kabi peoples and the Jinibara peoples, the Traditional Custodians, whose lands and waters we all now share. We wish to pay respect to their Elders – past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the important role First Nations people continue to play within the Sunshine Coast community.

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