Soren Julius Valdemar Hansen was born 20 April 1865 in Saxkobing, a small town (then little more than 1000 inhabitants) on the island of Lolland, Denmark. His father Christian Hansen, a physician from 1880 till his death in 1900, was a local medical officer of Horsholm near Copenhagen. His mother, Johanne nee Bagge, lived from 1844 to 1914. Valdemar Hansen was trained as a technician in Zurich, Switzerland and spent periods in Stockholm and London before arriving in Australia on 1 September 1905. He was appointed as Royal Danish Consul in Sydney, signed by King Christian X of Denmark on 27 January 1919 and the approval by His Britannic Majesty 10 September, 1919. In London Valdemar Hansen had married Hansine (called Elly) Nielsen, who died 1921. Apart from one visit to Denmark he lived in Australia until his death on 9 March 1935.