| Rediscovered bust tells a darker story |
A bust of William Vahland, recently rediscovered in the Bendigo Historical Society's collection, has revealed the sad story of its sculptor, the German plasterer and artist Otto Waschatz.
A recently-found bust tells the sad story of its creator.
The bust is on display now at the Bendigo Masonic Centre.
Vahland was a master in the Bendigo Golden and Corinthian Lodge, serving the freemasonry community in the town for 40 years.
The bust was made by Otto Waschatz, another German immigrant who had arrived in Australia in 1877.
Waschatz was recognised as a first-class artisan and woodcarver, and within a year he was commissioned to do the plasterwork on the remodelled Bendigo Town Hall.
Waschatz's work is recognised as one of the greatest displays of ornate plasterwork in Australia.
Vahland most likely sat live for the bust, which was completed while Waschatz was the art master at the Bendigo School of Mines.
Soon Otto Waschatz had opened a plaster business in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond, and was responsible for the invention of the first true fibrous plaster - using a layer of hemp laid between plaster to create light and strong panels.
The panels could be used in ceiling work, obviating the need for heavy plaster and lathe work that was prone to collapse, and also allowed for the addition of the fancy plaster moulds and cornices that were coming into vogue.
By 1912 Waschatz's Lottoid Pty Ltd was a thriving and creative business, and possessed over 5,000 moulds for all kinds of plasterwork.
Otto Waschatz had four daughters: the wonderfully named Ophelia Esalda, Eona Sadie, Lalia and Melvard Flora.
His business had patents on such varied themes as improvements for coffins "and other receptacles for the dead" as well as plaster and carving works.
But by 1915 his business was finished.
Reported in The Argus at the time, Lottoid Pty Ltd was forced into liquidation "practically as a result of the war."
Quotes from the article tell much of the temper of time.
(The owners) "have had to contend with much opposition and prejudice, and the present shareholders believe much of it is due to the fact that the public still think the company is in the hands of, and run by, naturalised Germans.
"Absurd and ridiculous rumours have been circulated about the company and its connections, and in placing before the public these facts it is to be hoped that the company will receive the support it should get as an Australian industry. Only British labour is employed, and from 30 to 60 are employed according to trade conditions."
Waschatz had been forced to sell the company, and under the War Precautions Act was regarded as an enemy alien, despite having applied for naturalisation twice.
Worse was to come.
Waschatz was accused of signalling to German submarines allegedly lurking in Port Phillip Bay and Western Port via mirrors in the 'German Club' in Belgrave.
Despite being investigated and cleared of any wrongdoing absolutely, a mob of vigilantes smashed the windows of the club and burnt it to the ground.
Otto Waschatz died in 1935, aged 80, recognised as the pre-eminent artisan plasterer in Australia, but broken, as so many others were, by the actions of the state and federal governments against German immigrants during the Great War.
| HAVE YOUR SAY!!! - What do you think about this story? Tell us here. |
|
