NEWSLETTERS | Classic Clippings

March 1988

SOKOLOWSKY M.D

Noye's history of Clare records that one of the early doctors was Anton Sokolowsky, who "practised fanning and medicine near Clare", and "made and drank his own wine".

Other sources pass Sokolowsky the honour of being the first Polish surgeon in Australia: yet others dispute that he was a Pole.

I have been prompted to research this man further, after an interstate colleague was in touch seeking information on winemaking-doctors for a book he is preparing on the subject.

Anton Sokolowsky was born in 1818. He studied medicine in Vienna, and graduated with M.D. May 15 1847.

Vienna at this time must have been an exciting place. Johann Strauss was composing and conducting, and it was the very year that Semmelweis, generally recognised at the father of modem obstetrics, won the battle against the dreaded pueperal fever. It is almost certain that Sokolowsky would have studied under Semmelweis, and it therefore comes as no surprise to read Noye's comments that he was "adept at maternity cases".

Sokolowsky arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the Alfred, and according to Noye, was ship's surgeon. The Alfred carried a group of immigrants, ostensibly Catholic, led by Silesian farmer, Franz Weikert, and including two Austrian Jesuit priests, they had visions of establishing a German Catholic settlement in South Australia.

Many of Weikert's group were, in fact protestant, and it was a much depleted number left to form the Catholic settlement. Sokolowsky boarded with the Weikerts at Clare. He became registered by the South Australian Medical Board on 2nd July 1850.

We can assume that Sokolowsky quickly became a popular figure in the area, for when, on 6th May 1853, a local meeting convened to petition the Colonial Secretary's Office to form a District Council of Clare, that Sokolowsky was one of the five councillors recommended by the meeting. The Council was duly formed with the recommended councillors on 21~t July 1853.

On 24th August 1853 Anton Sokolowsky married one of Weikert's daughters, Paulina (born 1835).

Subsequently, they lived south west of Clare (Sections 70 and 71). About the turn of the century that land was acquired by the Knappstein family as one of the Stanley vineyards. Mick Knappstein recalls that other than a few stray vines along fence lines there was no evidence of former vineyard, however there was one old, and probably the remains of a second, cellar cut into the side of the hill. Clare Council records of the 1850s refer to there being 3 "gardens" on the property; the term "garden" being peculiar to the region for any vine or fruit plantation.

In 1857 Sokolowsy had cause to treat me Police Trooper Donelly of Penwortham. for a dislocated leg: the relevant point is that in the Police documentation he is referred to as Dr. Sokolowski. This is important, for the "sky" suffix is German; "ski" is Polish. The spelling "Sokolowski" appears again in 1861, when listed as the District Vaccinnator for the district of Upper Wakefield, for the Central Vaccine Board.

It is generally believed that by this time he had shifted his interests to Watervale and had opened an apothecary store.

Sokolowsky died in 1862: according to Noye after being knocked from his saddle by a tree branch, although the contemporary reports suggest natural causes. There were no children, and Paulina later married Valentine Mayr of Watervale. He later established Rosenberg Cellars.

As a medical-vigneron, Sokolowsky appears to have the honour of being the first in the Clare Valley, but otherwise having made little impact.

It seems probable, however, that his presence, if even only in a passive sense, may have been instrumental in the formation of the unique Polish settlement east of Sevenhill. That settlement developed as a result of the Jesuit missionaries combing other areas of South Australia for catholics of any nationality. Those missionaries apparently had the asset of the only Polish-speaking surgeon in Australia within their parish: that point must have ranked high on their sales-pitch to the Poles.

I am continuing further research on the subject.