Hi Shane

The patriarch of the Australian Fankhausers - Johann(1799 - 1882)- left the Ziller Valley in the Tyrol in 1837 as one of over 400 Zillerthalers who were basically expelled on account of their Lutheran beliefs. They were provided with new homes in Erdmannsdorf in Prussia - now Myslakowice in Poland. Johann and his family left Europe via Hamburg in 1849, arriving in Port Phillip in January 1850.

My wife and children are descendants (Johann - Frederick Traugott - Herbert William - Herbert Malcolm) and I'm currently compiling a family history with particular emphasis on the saga of the Zillerthalers. If you are still in Berlin you would certainly be well placed to visit some of the original locations and access some of the original records.

Happy to share any information or answer any questions.

Regards

John Cosgrave

Canberra, Australia