Sorell, TAS - St Thoma's Catholic

History and Architecture:

Bishop Willson asked the Government for a church allotment at Sorell. Four years later, he sent a detailed plan of the land he required, four lots for "a minister's house, school and other Church purposes'', and the same number of lots for a cemetery. It was pointed out that the Catholics had not received any grant from the Government in the township of Sorell. The Government approved of a four-acre grant, which was later reduced to three acres. The land, near the Church of England burial ground, was duly surveyed and "set apart", once the Church had paid the £1 survey fee. Work on the construction of a stone church at Sorell got under way in 1863.

Andrew Counsel, who had come to the colony in 1823, donated £200 to the building fund.

The Church was complete in 1864 and the Architect was Henry Hunter.