A widower, he emigrated to South Australia,[4] arriving in October 1863 aboard Coorong from Victoria accompanied by a daughter and two sons.
He was associated with the Lutheran community in Woodside, some 8 km south of Lobethal, in the laying of the foundation stone of their building on 31 October 1864, the anniversary of the Reformation.
After a poorly attended general meeting of the congregation, to which he was not invited, on 17 June 1866 he found that he was locked out of the city church and was advised that his services were no longer required.
He sued Carl Otto, C. Lührs, A. H. W. Meyer, J. Weil, J. W. A. Sudholz, and Johann Peter Remmey, the instigators, for wrongful dismissal, as he had fulfilled all the requirements of his appointment and had not behaved in an improper manner.
[4] In July 1867, having lost the pastorate of the Light Square Church, Loessel took a lease on the old Ebenezer Place Baptist chapel, with the intention of attracting his own congregation.