Laszlo Bilki
Port Adelaide
Hugo Carl Emil Muecke (1842-1929), customs and shipping agent, was born on 8 July 1842 at Rathenow, near Berlin, eldest son of Dr Carl Wilhelm Ludwig Muecke and his first wife Emilie. The family arrived in Adelaide in 1849. Educated at Tanunda High School, at 16 Hugo joined John Newman's commercial and shipping agency, which required a German-speaking clerk. In 1866 he became a partner, and also a naturalized British subject. On 2 April 1863 at Tanunda he had married Margaret Elisabeth Julia Le Page from Guernsey, Channel Islands; they had four daughters and four sons.
After Newman's death in 1873, Muecke took over the business, renamed H. Muecke & Co. It owned large bond stores at Port Adelaide, handled consignment and customs business, acted as agent for Norddeutscher-Lloyd and other steamship lines, and owned and operated small coastal vessels. In 1877 Muecke became vice-consul for Germany, and was consul in 1882-1914, an honorary position (apart from occasional fees). He was also a justice of the peace. First elected to the Adelaide Chamber of Commerce committee in 1880, he served almost continuously until 1915, including terms as deputy chairman (1884) and president (1885-86). A successful and highly respected member of the business community, Muecke became a director of the Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd in 1892. He joined the boards of the Bank of Adelaide, Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd and Executor Trustee & Agency Co. of South Australia Ltd and the local boards of South British Fire & Marine Insurance Co. and National Mutual Life Association of Australasia (1878-1915). He served as warden of the Marine Board and on the Port Adelaide, Rosewater and Walkerville municipal councils. In 1900 he became a member of the Adelaide Club; he was active in the German Club and a prominent Freemason. In 1903 he entered the Legislative Council for the Central District as a conservative; he was defeated in 1910.
Port Adelaide
Hugo Carl Emil Muecke (1842-1929), customs and shipping agent, was born on 8 July 1842 at Rathenow, near Berlin, eldest son of Dr Carl Wilhelm Ludwig Muecke and his first wife Emilie. The family arrived in Adelaide in 1849. Educated at Tanunda High School, at 16 Hugo joined John Newman's commercial and shipping agency, which required a German-speaking clerk. In 1866 he became a partner, and also a naturalized British subject. On 2 April 1863 at Tanunda he had married Margaret Elisabeth Julia Le Page from Guernsey, Channel Islands; they had four daughters and four sons.
After Newman's death in 1873, Muecke took over the business, renamed H. Muecke & Co. It owned large bond stores at Port Adelaide, handled consignment and customs business, acted as agent for Norddeutscher-Lloyd and other steamship lines, and owned and operated small coastal vessels. In 1877 Muecke became vice-consul for Germany, and was consul in 1882-1914, an honorary position (apart from occasional fees). He was also a justice of the peace. First elected to the Adelaide Chamber of Commerce committee in 1880, he served almost continuously until 1915, including terms as deputy chairman (1884) and president (1885-86). A successful and highly respected member of the business community, Muecke became a director of the Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd in 1892. He joined the boards of the Bank of Adelaide, Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd and Executor Trustee & Agency Co. of South Australia Ltd and the local boards of South British Fire & Marine Insurance Co. and National Mutual Life Association of Australasia (1878-1915). He served as warden of the Marine Board and on the Port Adelaide, Rosewater and Walkerville municipal councils. In 1900 he became a member of the Adelaide Club; he was active in the German Club and a prominent Freemason. In 1903 he entered the Legislative Council for the Central District as a conservative; he was defeated in 1910.