Tasmania

Noetling, Friedrich Wilhelm

denaturalisation

2DRL/0693

Open access

Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required.

1914 to 1915

1 custom box: 10cm

Collection relating to Dr Fritz Noetling, a German paleontologist and Acting German Consul in Tasmania, who was interned during 1915-1919. Collection consists of correspondence, diary entries and newscuttings collated from the point of view of the military importance of the news during the war period. Noetling’s correspondence, diary entries and notes regarding the newscuttings, taken mostly from Tasmania’s “The Mercury”, are written in German.

Noetling was active in a wide variety of organisations in Tasmania, including the Royal Society of Tasmania where he published articles on Aboriginal stone implements; as a Trustee of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery; as a member of the Tasmanian Club and the Field Naturalists Club; and as a Commissioner of Fisheries.

In February 1914, Noetling was appointed Acting German Consul in Tasmania, but the outbreak of WWI dramatically altered his life. Noetling was arrested on 26 November 1915 and interned the following day for transfer to NSW. His record notes that he was interned “for making disloyal statements, and communicating information to Germany by means of correspondence. The correspondence, which was intercepted by the Censor, comprised voluminous letters written in German, many newspaper cuttings with comments thereon, and tables of figures regarding troops etc, addressed to General Mackelstein of the German Army.'”

Noetling was denaturalised in July 1919 and repatriated to Germany.

Diaries

Correspondence

Newspapers

Notebook