Morwell, VIC - Sacred Heart Catholic

History and Architecture:

In 1879 three Catholic residents, Edmond Kelleher, hotel keeper, Timothy O'Connor, labourer and Edward Crinigan, farmer, purchased three adjoining allotments at Section 5 of Robinson's survey for the total cost of £6. The property had a frontage of 300 feet on the present George Street, with a depth of 250 feet to Elgin Street, now the site of Dickins Supermarket. In 1894 the consolidated title of this property was transferred to the Sale Diocese. On 24th December, 1881, the following item of country news appeared in the Advocate: "The Church of the Sacred Heart at MorwelI" "This new building was dedicated last Sunday by Rev. J. L. Hegarty of Sale. The structure is wood with iron roof and in design and dimensions admirably adapted to the requirements of the locality. 

In late 1969 plans and specifications for the new parish church were submitted by the architects, McCarthy and Collings, of Albert Road, South Melbourne. The selected design depicted a steel framed besser brick structure, surmounted at the roof apex by a forty-five foot cross with a connecting colonnade across the northern facade of the remodelled presbytery.

The Foundation stone of the current church was laid on 15 November 1970 by the Most Reverend Arthur Francis Fox D.D. Bishop of Sale. The Architect was McCarthey and Collins and the Builder was Sola Constructions.