George Backhaus

Hearing that the Bishop of Adelaide was looking for a priest for the German Catholics in his diocese, Backhaus decided to fill the post.

The first Mass site of the district was at Golden Square, but by the end of 1852 Backhaus was camping at the future location of St Kilian's Church.

Backhaus was diligent in his clerical duties, and played an active part in public matters - his extensive medical knowledge was frequently called upon.

He left for Bendigo in May 1867 and some months later when it was declared a diocese, Bishop Martin Crane appointed Backhaus as his vicar-general.

He gave up his parish work in 1881 and after another ceremonial farewell, retired to a house he owned at Brighton near Melbourne.

In 1863 he had pledged to make St Kilian's his heir, and to this end he allowed real estate worth $75,000 to appreciate over twenty years.