Anna Margaretha (Margaret) Edinger was born in 1822 in Heddesheim, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany as the first child of Valentine Ettinger and Catherine Barbara Lutz.

When she was 22, Anna married Friedrich Erbacher, son of Kristoph Christopher Erbacher and Anna Maria Sponagel, on 11 January 1844 in Baden (Baden-Württemberg), Germany.

Age 33, Anna and family  immigrated from Hamberg to Australia on the 'Aurora'. Entering Moreton Bay on 21 March 1855, the ship ran aground. (See Below)

Spending 7 months at sea, they brought with them grape vines (cuttings) packed in sand. They bought property on the corner of Perth and Ramsey Streets in Toowoomba. They planted a large vineyard there, the result of which was their living. They were wine vendors and also had a saloon.

Anna became known as Margaret in Australia.

Friedrich Erbacher and Anna Margaretha Margaret Edinger had the following children:

1. Carl Erbacher was born in 1844 in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. He married Franciska Ratz on 20 July 1871 in Queensland, Australia. Carl died on 11 October 1927 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

2. Adam Erbacher was born on 26 March 1848 in Heddesheim, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. He married Amelia Rosalia Moritz on 29 July 1875 in Queensland, Australia. Adam died on 10 March 1915 in Drayton, Queensland, Australia.

3. Anna Maria Erbacher was born on 14 December 1853 in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. She died in 1855 in Died on the voyage out.

4. Mary Erbacher was born in 1854 in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. She died on 18 August 1866 in Queensland, Australia.

5. Peter Erbacher was born on 08 February 1857 in Helidon, Queensland, Australia. He married Mary Diflo in 1880 in Queensland, Australia. Peter died on 27 August 1932 in Drayton, Queensland, Australia.

6. Charles Frederick Erbacher was born in 1859 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. He married Catherine Florence Adam in 1882 in Queensland, Australia. Charles died on 20 July 1935 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

7. Katherine Erbacher was born on 20 February 1862 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. She married Joseph Anthony Giezendanner in 1878 in Queensland, Australia. She married William Webb in 1903 in Queensland, Australia. Katherine died on 29 September 1943 in Chillagoe, Queensland, Australia.

8. Leonard Erbacher was born on 28 October 1864 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. He died on 11 May 1931 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

Anna died on 04 Nov 1915[1] in Toowoomba, Queensland, age 93.

Citations:

1. Queensland Government - Births, deaths, marriages and divorces, C5402

External Links:

‘Aurora’ Ship records - Anna Erbacher - 31 March, 1855

LIGHT-HOUSE ON CAPE MORETON - The Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 - 1861) Saturday 24 March 1855 p 2 Article

LIGHT-HOUSE ON CAPE MORETON - THE loss of the German immigrant barque Aurora supplies another painful proof of the wretched inefficiency of our Government at Moreton Bay. Admitting that great blame must be attached to the owners for sending the ship to sea without a proper chart, it is yet plain enough that a light-house at Cape Moreton would have prevented the error which has led to this catastrophe. That no lives were lost must be attributed to the mercy of Providence and the presence of mind of the Captain. The moral guilt of the long delay that has occurred in establishing this light-house, remains as heavily upon the Government as if every soul on board had perished.

Sale of ‘Aurura’ Classified Advertising - The Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 - 1861) Saturday 14 April 1855 p 3 Advertising

‘Aurora’ From Tales from Colonial Queensland

The Aurora did not even manage to enter the bay.  With no local charts and no pilot appearing to guide the ship in, the Captain mistook the South Passage between Stradbroke and Moreton Islands for the main entrance.

A report reached Brisbane on Saturday morning, that one of the German immigrant ships which have been for some time expected, had run on shore while attempting to enter the bay by the southern passage, and that the other had safely reached the anchorage. The report turned out to be substantially correct.

The Aurora, from Hamburgh, with 300 immigrants, was off the south passage to the bay on Wednesday. It appears that there was no chart of the coast on board, and that the captain was ignorant that there was any other entrance. Several guns were fired and signals made to attract attention, but as there was no appearance of any assistance, it was determined to attempt the passage into the bay.

In running in it was found that to prevent a total wreck on the shoal on which the steamer Sovereign perished, and to save the lives of those on board, the only course left was to run the ship on shore. All sail was accordingly crowded on her, and she was run high up on the sand, on the seaside end of Moreton Island.

She stands quite upright, and is accessible at half ebb, being dry at her bows. It is not expected that she will be got off. The females and children on board have been removed to Cleveland, and the crew and immigrants are in good health and condition.

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