Crown Penny

Joe and Benny Kroonstuiver, along with baby Jake, made their way from war-torn Java to begin a new life in Australia in December 1950. They left behind them many traumatic experiences and memories that they chose not to share with their children. As a result, their four children grew up with little knowledge of their heritage beyond the names of their grandparents. When Joe and Benny divorced acrimoniously in 1968, there was less opportunity to fill in the gaps, and so for many years the family heritage remained mostly a mystery.

As the number of Joe and Benny’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren increased, so also did the desire to find out more about the family history. Both Joe and Benny had passed away in 2006, and opportunity to ask them about their life story was lost. So began a research project lasting several years.

Many of the Kroonstuiver Dutch ancestors were relatively simple people, including fishermen, farmers and boat builders, often living in the same town or village for many generations. Then on the other hand there are famous artists, silversmiths, church leaders and soldiers. Some ancestors worked for the Dutch East India Company, providing a connection between the Netherlands and Indonesia.

The ancestors who lived their lives in Java were a mix of Dutch, Portuguese, Belgian and Malaysian heritage. These ancestors lived through the period of Dutch control of Java by the Dutch East India Company.

The Kroonstuiver ancestors have been part of turbulent times in history, including the disruptive invasions of Holland by the Spanish, French and English, the international competition to harness the wealth of the East Indies, and then more recently the turbulence and disruption caused by World War II. There are some inspiring stories of resilience and heroism. 

As the later generations of the Kroonstuiver family become more and more Australian, so much of the Dutch heritage is forgotten. For that reason, ‘Crown Penny’ includes some of the snippets and stories which provide a connection to the past, such as rhymes, stories and recipes.