In Search of Professor Lau: German Naturalist and Musician

This talk will detail the extraordinary life of Hermann Lau who collected zoological specimens, documented early pioneering life and lived by performing German and colonial music in the Queensland and New South Wales bush during the 19th Century. He had two lengthy visits to Australia and eventually returned to the Fatherland in the late 1880s, after more than 40 years of zoological exploration. This is his story.

About the Speaker

Mark Schuster has spent over thirty years investigating, recording, documenting and performing the rural German-Queensland folk culture. Much of his time has been spent with the German-Queensland farming community. His knowledge of the customs, folklore and music of these unique German-Queensland enclaves is unrivalled and today he is a custodian and descendant documenting the tail-end of these many traditions before they disappear. He has written self-published books, including the 'Singing Farmers', appeared on ABCs Australian Story and has performed at hundreds of functions and festivals. Mark is also a master of that most 'German' of Queensland bush instruments - the squeezebox (button accordion).