Kiem / Kime Family History
The Children of Franz and Christina: the origins of the Kiem and Kime families of the Hunter Valley was first published in 1988. This was well before the digital revolution transformed the way in which family history is researched and presented. The PDF version below is a largely unrevised copy of the original book.
Overview article in German 'Deutsche Einwanderung aus dem Rheingau in das australische Hunter Valley' in Hessische Genealogie, 6:4, 2023, pp. 16 - 20.
The Kiem Family Tree, a working draft, is a public tree on Ancestry.com.au
2026 Revision Project
During 2026 an updated and revised version of the original Kiem/Kime family history is being written, with plans to publish a new edition by late 2026 or early 2027. Modern technology has been a great help in this revision. At the same time, oral history, documents, photographs and heirlooms passed down within family branches remain at the heart of family history. We are still keen to talk to family descendants, particularly of Franz and Christina's daughters: the Nichols, Ingall, Daniel, Huntingdon, Clarke and two Smith branches.
Please get in touch if you feel you have something to contribute. Also see Grave Questions below.
The Children of Franz and Christina
© Paul Kiem and Robyn Whipp, 1988
Grave Questions
1. Edwin Thomas Woollett was buried at Narooma, a long way from the Hunter Valley, but he is almost certainly a descendant of Franz and Christina Keim. See the Kiem Family Tree on Ancestry for reference. It appears to be an unusually prominent and well-maintained headstone for a small child who died more than a hundred years ago. There is likely to be an interesting commemoration story behind it, perhaps related to the Woollett uncle who died on the Western Front in 1916 and for whom the younger Edwin was named. Is there anyone who knows more about the history of this headstone or the Woollett family?
2. Mary (Mollie) Kiem was buried with her nephew Raymond George Kiem at Sandgate Cemetery, Newcastle, relatively recently. I don't know much about Mollie and would love to be in touch with relatives who arranged the burial.
3. Patrick Kiem died in 1968. His headstone in Sandgate Cemetery has been beautifully restored quite recently. Again, I'd love to be in touch with those who cared enough to do this.
