Conrad Karl Kuhn (commonly known as Charles) arrived in Sydney, from Hamburg Germany, aboard the William Oswald on 11th April 1855. It has been suggested that he, a carpenter and sailor, and his brother, also a sailor, jumped ship during a visit to Australia about 1855. However, this has not been substantiated and there is no listing of a Conrad Kuhn under the official record of Ship's Deserters. Family lore indicates Conrad's brother went to North Queensland.

Conrad married Mary Gallagher, who was born about 1840/42 in the Cobbity/Camden area, at St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church Wollongong in 1856. Conrad's occupation at the time of their marriage was a carpenter. They settled in the Shellharbour area where their first six children Charlotte b.1857, Bridget Mary b.1858, William Patrick b.1860, Christina b.1861, Theresa b.1862 and Sarah Ann b.1863 were born.

In 1862 Conrad and Mary took up a selection of 77 acres of land at East Kangaloon, which had been opened up under the Robertson Land Act of 1861. The Robertson Land Act provided for free selection before survey of unreserved Crown Land in blocks from 40 to 320 acres at 1 pound per acre with payment at 25% down and the balance practically at will, providing the selector lived on the property for three years and made improvements worth 1 pound an acre. Interest on the balance was at 5%. Conrad's selection was initially registered in Mary and Conrad's name, and after making the application for Naturalization the Land was then transferred to Conrad's name. He was not legally allowed to own land before he was Naturalized.

Conrad began working his land in 1862, initially leaving Mary and the children at Shellharbour, who moved to join him after the birth of Sarah Ann in 1863. The remainder of their seventeen children were born at East Kangaloon. They were Johanna b.1865, Mary Ann W b.1868, Henry Alfred b.1870, Conrad Charles b.1872, Adelaide Elizabeth b.1874, Anstes Jane b.1876, Charles Mary (Joseph Charles) b.1878, John Philip b.1879, Evelina A b.1882, Henrietta b.1883, and Conrad Gallagher b.1888.

On the Parliamentary Return of Landholders in 1885 Conrad is listed as having 77 acres, 6 horses, 25 cattle and 22 pigs. His interest in the land and it's produce continued. He served as a committee member of the Robertson Agricultural Society from 1886 - 1888.

Around 7th January 1892 Conrad and Mary purchased an allotment of land containing about half and acre in the Township of Burrawang, District of Berrima, with a two roomed wooden dwelling and also bake house erected thereon.

Conrad took up the license of the Commercial Hotel at Burrawang possibly between August 1890 and early 1892, which he held until his death on Friday 25th August 1893.

He died from a suspected heart attack. This information was substantiated by an examination of the findings of the Coroner's Inquest which was held at Burrawang on 26th August 1893. He is buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Burrawang.

After Conrad died, Mary and the family continued to live in the East Kangaloon and surrounding area. Around the turn of the century, she moved to Sydney, taking up residence initially in the Camperdown area and later moving to Gosford. It is known that some of the Kuhn family remained living at Burrawang until about 1910.

List of names associated with the Kuhn/Gallagher family
Three generations of the Kuhn/Gallagher family

Roz Voullaire

Created 28 May 2001 - Updated 7 Feb 2004

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