Kindred: a Cradle Mountain love story

The story of Gustav Weindorfer and Kate Cowle is told by Kate Legge. Gustav was born in Austria in 1874 and came to Australia in 1901. As a naturalist and conservationist he enjoyed exploring the bush, especially mountain areas, of his his new country. It was at the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria that he met Kate Cowle who also enjoyed climbing mountains and bushwalking. Gustav and Kate married in February 1906 and they purchased a farm at Kindred, near Devonport in Tasmania. Kate's family owned another property near by. Gustav was eleven years younger than Kate but they became inseparable due to their mutual love of exploring the Australian bush.

In 1909 an expedition was arranged to explore the area now known as Cradle Mountain and Gustav became determined that it should become a national park. As well as being interested in the natural environment they were also very aware of Aboriginal connections to the region. In 1912 Gustav began building the chalet that became Waldheim so those visiting the area had a base with somewhere to stay. Kate died in April 1916. Gustav sold the farm and worked from Waldheim as a ranger. He died in 1938.

Kate Legge also enjoys mountain climbing, exploring Cradle Mountain National Park in 2015 where she first heard of Gustav and Kate. Two years later she climbed the mountain. Kate Legge set out to find all she could about Kate and Gustav's story and the result is this book. At the end of the book are extensive notes plus an index. The book also contains photographs of Kate and Gustav and of course the area they loved at Cradle Mountain.


Waldheim Chalet - History 

Companion to Tasmanian History - Gustav Weindorfer and Kate Lowe

Cradle Mountain Lodge

 Gustav Weindorfer - Australian Dictionary of Biography