Ever wondered how life was for the early settlers that came to Victoria? We all know that most came during the gold rush era hoping to strike it rich but there were those that came for other reasons too.

Back in the 1850s, the Victorian government was already actively looking into getting people from as far away as Germany to migrate to Melbourne. The Germans were seen to be industrious. One such family that came over was the Ziebell clan consisting of the parents and 9 kids.

They settled in Thomastown and their home has been turned into a museum today.

It was a short drive to the site and we were greeted by very enthusiastic volunteers when we arrived. With a small fee of $8.00 per person, we got to join a guided tour of the farmhouse and to listen to the many stories of this family that came over by boat.

We wholeheartedly recommend going to learn about the lives of the early immigrants and the hardships they endured to make Melbourne what it is today.