The story of Vellnagel’s Blacksmith Shop is entwined with the evolving landscape of the Chermside and Aspley districts, charting the rise of a family business that withstood the test of time. The Vellnagel family’s craft, rooted in blacksmithing, left a mark on the community, visible in the historical timber buildings that remain today.
In 1899, August Christian Vellnagel, a German immigrant, purchased four acres of land along Gympie Road in an area known as Murphy’s Paddock. Arriving in Queensland in 1891, August worked as a stockhand and later in the sugar mills of Bundaberg before purchasing Christopher Murr’s leather works shop at the corner of Gympie and Hamilton Roads. His skill for expertly shoeing horses quickly earned him the trust of local farmers and many fellow German immigrants from the nearby ‘German Quarter’.
In 1917, George Marchant, a local businessman, proposed donating his 97 1⁄2 acres, known as Marchant’s Paddock, to the Kedron Shire Council for a public park, with the condition that Vellnagel’s adjoining land be included. The Kedron Shire Council decided on 20 March 1917, to resume Vellnagel’s land, offering £150 for his four acres, £75 for loss of business and an acre at the corner of Short Street and Gympie Road, where they would relocate his shop and house. Despite Vellnagel’s objections, he attended the council meeting on 21 May 1917, presenting a written objection to the resumption of his land.
The Enduring Legacy
The council compensated him with the acre across Gympie Road and paid for the relocation of his house and blacksmith shop. Historical photographs depict the original timber forge, characterised by its gabled structure and corrugated iron roof, showcasing a design typical of early 20th-century craftsmanship. The two gabled timber buildings face Gympie Road, with the smaller building on the northern side set back from the front boundary. In 1921, Isaac White was contracted to move the buildings, including the forge with its distinctive chimney, ensuring their preservation.
Once settled, the Vellnagel family continued their blacksmithing trade, providing essential services to local farmers. August passed away in 1932, but his sons expanded the forge in 1953, adding gabled extensions to adapt to their growing business. As Brisbane urbanised, the demand for traditional blacksmithing waned, particularly after World War II. The Vellnagels adapted by manufacturing metal grilles, garage doors and gates, ensuring the longevity of their trade.
The Vellnagel Blacksmith Shop operated until 2002, serving Chermside and surrounding areas for over 100 years. The timber buildings, still standing on Gympie Road, are a visible reminder of the area’s history.
Read more stories from the Chermside Guide’s print magazine here:
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