Horsham, VIC - St Michael and St John's Catholic

History and Architecture:

The first Mass to be held in Horsham was in 1857 by visiting Priest Fr. Patrick Madden. The first church was opened by Bishop O'Connor on 12 November 1876, a wooden building facing west to McPherson Street.*

The first Catholic church seems to have been built in record time following its establishment as a parish when separated from Stawell in 1876. A wooden structure, it was situated in the middle of the block bordered by McLachlan Street (north) and Splatt Street (south) now Roberts Avenue. It was placed across the block running east to west, and for some reason was dedicated to two apparently unrelated saints.

The church of 1913 was designed by the architects Clegg, Miller & Riley of Ballarat. A simple design with gable nave without projecting transepts although the transition from nave to chancel is marked by twin gables and a central doorway in the plane of the nave walls. The windows are of lancet form but the western gable contains a trefoil window with three curved sides, a typical motif of the Decorated Gothic.*

On 14th December 1913, Bishop Higgins of Ballarat opened and dedicated the new red brick Church facing Roberts Avenue. Designed by the architects Clegg Miller & Riley of Ballarat. The old church became the school.*

On 10th May 1987 the new Church was blessed and dedicated by the Bishop of Ballarat, Bishop Mulkearns. The 1913 Red Brick Church was used by the primary school until it was demolished in 1997.*

The current Church was designed by architect Greg Burgess. Other notable projects by Geoff include Eltham Library, Melbourne Theological College, Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Box Hill Community Arts Centre and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Aboriginal Cultural Centre.* The Builders were Plazzer Bros Pty Ltd of Horsham. Bricks supplied by Krause Brickworks Stawell.

The church was dedicated and opened on 10 May 1987 by Bishop Mulkearns, Bishop of Ballarat.