Ashburton, VIC - St Michael's Catholic

History and Architecture:

The first Mass was conducted by Father Patrick Loughnan on Sunday 11 December 1927 at the Ashburton Hall located on the corner of High Street and Johnston Street, just west of the shopping centre. On 26 April 1946 Ashburton was created a parish, entrusted to the care of Father John Ryan who had been an army chaplain. As the parish grew he had to buy more land from the government to meet the growing demands.

Fr Ryan oversaw the building of the present church, but tragically, 2 months before its completion he suffered a sudden heart attack.
The Church designed by the Melbourne firm known as CONARG and constructed in 1953.

The design demonstrates characteristics of Romanesque Revival comprising sheer massing of form and massive walls. It applies modern interpretations of traditional Romanesque elements such as the brick dentil pattern in place of a corbel table, archivolts, dripstone moulding, stylised and simplified in brick.

A Foundation stone reads, "His Grace Most Rev D Mannix D.D. L.L.D. blessed and opened this memorial Church erected for the creator Glory of God and in Honour of St Michael 15th May 1955".