Johannes Menge: More than ‘The Father of South Australian Mineralogy’

Johannes Menge was perhaps the most extraordinary character to reside in South Australia during its first 15 years of European settlement. Brilliant, erudite, eccentric, visionary and opinionated are some of the words used to describe this unusual mineralogist, linguist and philosopher. Though often portrayed as a drifter and a loner, Menge was a friendly, harmless soul of high intelligence who considered he was on a lifelong religious or mystical journey to a higher authority. His mineralogical rambles in New Silesia saw him discover opal near Angaston in 1839, collect minerals for sale and, later, assist German potters in their quest for clay and sand for pottery work.

This presentation will introduce Menge to those who are unfamiliar with him, and present new findings to those who have previously discovered this earlier German settler.

About the Speaker

Bernard O'Neil is a professional historian and Visiting Fellow at the University of Adelaide. He has written extensively on the mining history of South Australia and has a particular interest in Johannes Menge.