Research :: Australian Christian Church Histories

Cranbourne, VIC - St John's Anglican

Year Built: 1864

Address: Corner Childers & Russell streets, , Cranbourne Victoria, 3977

Creswick, VIC - St John's Anglican

Year Built: 1861

Address: 103 Napier Street, , Creswick Victoria, 3363

Dalby, QLD - St John's Anglican

Year Built: 1922

Address: 153 Cunningham Street, , Dalby Queensland, 4405

The Foundation stone was laid by the Right Honourable H.W.B. Forster of Lepe on 29 August 1922. St John's Church, Dalby is a brick church constructed in 1922-1923 to the design of Harry Marks and is the third church of this name on the site. The previous timber church, built in 1876, remained on the site in a modified form as part of a…

Darling Point, NSW - St Mark's Anglican

Year Built: 1852

Address: 57A Darling Point Road, , Darling Point New South Wales, 2027

Built of Pyrmont sandstone in the Gothic Revival style with a shingle roof, the church has a spire, porch, gallery and vestries. It was designed by Architect Edmund Blacket on land donated by T.S. Mort. The spire was added in 1875 and donated by William Laidley. St Mark's was opened for Divine Service on November 7, 1852.

Daylesford, VIC - St Peter's Catholic

Year Built: 1863

Address: 13 Duke Street, , Daylesford Victoria, 3460

A Gothic church designed by Willilam Wardell in 1863 rather in the manner of Charles Hansom, but later degraded by the rebuilding of the west end after the collapse of the west wall and turret, The church is a simple form with a five bay gabled nave containing geometric decorated gothic windows and stepped buttressing. The gable roof…

Drysdale, VIC - St James' Anglican

Year Built: 1871

Address: 43 Collins Street, , Drysdale Victoria, 3222

The Foundation stone was laid by Bishop Perry. The actual foundations of the church were completed on 18 November 1871 and construction was completed the following year.

Drysdale, VIC - Uniting

Year Built: 1887

Address: High Street, , Drysdale Victoria, 3222

The Foundation stone was laid on 24 May 1887 by Rev J.D. Dodgson Ex President of the Conference. This was the fourth site of the Wesleyan and Methodist church and was opened in 1888.

Eaglehawk, VIC - St Liborius Catholic

Year Built: 1869

Address: 50 Panton Street, , Eaglehawk Victoria, 3556

On January 31st 1869 The right Reverend Dr Goold, Catholic Bishop of Melbourne with Dr Backhaus and Rev. Dean Fitzgerald, opened the new Roman Catholic Church at Eaglehawk, named St Liborius.

East Melbourne, Protestant

Year Built: 1872

Address: 4 Morrison Place, , East Melbourne Victoria, 3002

A Church built for the Trustees of the Swedenborgian Church. Built in 1872, to the design of Lloyd Tayler the gothic-style bluestone residence was once home to the New Temple Church. The main facade embraces a Decorated Gothic window of three lights flanked by buttresses, with a projecting porch. Was a store room for the Eye and Ear…

Echuca, VIC - Uniting

Year Built: 1901

Address: 115 Hare Street, , Echuca Victoria, 3564

The Presbyterians of Echuca first began worshipping together in 1858. The Church was erected in 1901. A Foundation stone reads, " This stone was laid by Hon G.S. Simme MLC 16th January AD 1901 Gloria Deo". A wall plaque on the front door reads "To The Glory of God and in Memory of past Members of the Ladies Guild. The Gift of Members…

Edgecliff, NSW - St Joseph Catholic

Year Built: 1874

Address: 12 Albert Street, , Edgecliff New South Wales, 2027

The church is in the early English style of Gothic architecture, and is built of brick on stone foundations. The nave is 80 by 35 feet in width, 20 feet high to wall plate, and 45 feet to ridge pole. The chancel is placed at the north end and is 20 feet wide by 15 deep…” is how the Freeman’s Journal Sydney begins the description of the…

Elmore, VIC - St Peter's Anglican

Year Built: 1877

Address: 44 Michie Street, , Elmore Victoria, 3558

The Church is of Gothic style. Consecreation of the church took place on December 31 1922 when the Lord Bishop of the Diocese the Right Reverend Dr Baker declared the new parish. The Church was erected in 1877 and was Consecrated on 31/12/22. The first Vicarage (later the Rectory) was built in 1893, at a cost of £400/-/-. The Parish…

Eltham, VIC - St Margaret's Anglican

Year Built: 1861

Address: Pitt Street, , Eltham Victoria, 3095

The land on which St Margaret's Church and Vicarage stands was donated by Henry Dendy, a well known Melbourne pioneer and wealthy land owner. Dendy later moved to England returning and residing in Eltham again. He chaired a meeting held in 1860 for the purpose of devising a means of establishing a Church of England in the township. The…

Essendon, VIC - St Monica's Catholic

Year Built: 1934

Address: Mount Alexander Road, , Essendon Victoria, 3040

The Parish has its Official beginning at Keilor in 1854 when Father Matthew Downing OSA as the first Priest in Charge of the Keilor Mission. The present St Monica's Church was built on the site of a stone church, begun in 1884, completed in 1910 and demolished in 1934 to make way for the larger building. The style of the building…

Forbes, NSW - St Lawrence O'Toole Catholic

Year Built: 1880

Address: 13 Johnson Street, , Forbes New South Wales, 2871

There were two church buildings erected before the current one. The first was located in Camp street and the second was in Harold Street. Of Gothic Revival style the church was erected in 1880. The Architect was Edward Gell. A sanctuary was added in 1905 and a gallery in 1923.

Forest, TAS - St Bartholomew's Anglican

Year Built: 1904

Address: 506 Mengah Road, , Forest Tasmania, 7330

Constructed around 1904, the weatherboard building is of Victorian Gothic style. In 2023 the Church was put up for sale.

Geelong, VIC - St George's Presbyterian

Year Built: 1861

Address: Corner La Trobe Tce & Ryrie Streets, , Geelong Victoria, 3220

St George's Presbyterian Church was formed in 1861 by a breakaway group from the St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Yarra Street. The large and finely constructed Church reflects the wealth of many of the Church's foundation patrons, which included Francis Ormond and other western district squatters. The Church is a significant and intact…

Glebe, NSW - Presbyterian (Former)

Year Built: 1879

Address: 175 Bridge Road, , Glebe New South Wales, 2037

This church was originally built in 1876-80 at the corner of Parramatta and Glebe Point Roads to the design of Thomas Rowe. Faithfully re-erected on this present site in 1927. High Victorian Gothic church built of fine sandstone, with thin plate tracery and a notable broached spire, also stone built. The building and grounds were…

Goulburn, NSW - St Peter & Paul's Catholic Cathedral

Year Built: 1843

Address: Bourke Street, Goulburn, Goulburn New South Wales, 2580

The first Mass in the Goulburn District was celebrated by Father Therry in 1833 at Matt Healey's Inn (now called Riversdale). The second of the original southern N.S.W. missions was served by priests from Yass until Rev. Michael McGrath was appointed in 1840. The Cathedral was built in two stages and was constructed around the original…

Grafton, NSW - St Mary's Catholic

Year Built: 1914

Address: 1 Victoria Street, , Grafton New South Wales,

The Church was destroyed by fire on April 29, 1913. Opened by Bishop O'Connor, of Armidale on Sunday, November 29, 1914, in the presence of church hierarchy from as far afield as Melbourne. Built of red brick and stucco facing is very handsome in its Gothic design, large in size, length and breadth and in the usual cruciform shape. The…

Grovedale, VIC - St Paul's Lutheran

Year Built: 1849

Address: Torquay Road, , Grovedale Victoria, 3216

The beginnings of this church go back to 1849 when five families were brought out to Geelong by the local Geelong Mayor Dr Thomson. The first church was in Church Street. The first service was held on 24 June 1854. Grovedale was called Germantown at the time but this changed in 1915. A Manse was built in 1855. In the following years…

Heidelberg, VIC - St John's Anglican

Year Built: 1849

Address: 1 Burgundy Street, , Heidelberg Victoria, 3084

One of Melbourne's earliest churches it was built between 1849 and 1851 in Gothic style to a design by John Gill. The architect was Mr G. R. Cox who had designed an early English Gothic church of brick with a square tower. Heidelberg was originally called Warrigal and the first Anglican clergyman to be stationed there was the Rev. Dr…

Heidelberg, VIC - St John's Catholic

Year Built: 1909

Address: Corner Cape & Yarra Streets, , Heidelberg Victoria, 3084

The Church was designed by William W Wardell and commenced in 1860 under the supervision of J B Denny. It was completed in 1909 largely to Wardell's design, under Kempson and Conolly. The Foundation stone was laid on 5 September 1909 by the Most Reverend Dr Carr Archbishop of Melbourne.

Hobart, TAS - St David's Anglican Cathedral

Year Built: 1868

Address: Macquarie Street, , Hobart Tasmania, 7000

On 17 January 1862 St David's Cathedral and land on the corner of Murray and Macquarie Streets, Hobart was granted by the Crown to the Trustees of the Diocese of Tasmania. The original church on this site is dated from 1817. The Church was named in memory of Governor David Collins who established Hobart in 1804. It was completed in…

Hobart, TAS - St John the Baptist Anglican (former)

Year Built: 1852

Address: Corner Goulburn & Forest Road, , Hobart Tasmania, 7000

This former church is now a set of private residences. A modest stone church in Gothic-Revival style set on irregular corner site, the major aspect of the building reveals an unusual occurrence in Gothic design - the building is visually very heavy, the result of a naturally steep site and creating a level across the contours. The…

Hobart, TAS - St Joseph's Catholic

Year Built: 1841

Address: 165 Macquarie Street, , Hobart Tasmania, 7000

A sandstone church built in Gothic style. Has a Nave with featured stonework to arched openings and pilasters to side walls. The church was built in 1841 and opened by Father Therry on Christmas morning 1841. It was designed by James Thomson, a former convict with convict labour employed to carry out the work. The tower is 60 feet…

Inverleigh, VIC - Presbyterian

Year Built: 1861

Address: Western Highway, , Inverleigh Victoria, 3321

Inverleigh, VIC - St Paul's Anglican

Year Built: 1889

Address: 23 - 41 High Street, , Inverleigh Victoria, 3321

A Foundation stone reads 1858 however it was re laid on 16 July 1889 by Mrs Moriarty. One of the few and earliest church building complexes in the Golden Plains Shire, comprising a distinctive and predominantly intact Victorian Early English Gothic styled church building, moderately intact Victorian styled Vicarage and rudimentary…

Ipswich, QLD - St Stephen's Presbyterian

Year Built: 1864

Address: Corner Limestone & Gordon Streets, , Ipswich Queensland, 4305

St Stephens Presbyterian Church stands as the second church to be constructed on the current site in 1864 - 1865. This striking gothic style brick church was designed by architect Joseph Backhouse and continues to be the place of worship for one the oldest congregations in Ipswich. The first Presbyterian church service held in Ipswich was…

Ivanhoe, VIC - St Stephen's Anglican (Former)

Year Built: 1926

Address: 22 Merton Street, , Ivanhoe Victoria, 3079

The Architect was Louis R. Williams who designed this church in 1926 in an unusual and inventive Arts and Crafts style.Built by T.H. Rowe for its opening by Archdeacon Hindley in April 1927.1 St Stephen's was the second Anglican church built in the Ivanhoe Parish. A vestry was added in 1929. Constructed of clinker brick, the church…

Kangaroo Ground, VIC - Presbyterian

Year Built: 1878

Address: Corner Graham & Eltham Yarra Glen Road, , Kangaroo Ground Victoria, 3097

From 1843 to 1853 the Rev Gunn conducted church services at regular intervals in the Donaldson's barn in Kangaroo Ground. The school was closely associated with the Church as officially it was Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church School No. 27. By 1853 the name had changed to Scots Church School and by 1854 to Church of Scotland School.…

Kempton, TAS - Presbyterian (Former)

Year Built: 1886

Address: 88 Main Street, , Kempton Tasmainia, 7030

The Church was put up for sale in 2024.

Kew, VIC - Holy Trinity Anglican

Year Built: 1863

Address: High Street, , Kew Victoria, 3101

First Services were held in a small building in Peel street and conducted by Reverend W. Baxter. The present site for the church was purchased in 1862 for a sum of £125.00. On Wednesday, 3 September 1862, the foundation stone of the church was laid after prayers led by the Reverend Selwyn Chase and an address by the Bishop of…

Kilmore, VIC - St Andrew's Presyterian (Former)

Year Built: 1864

Address: 3 Hamilton Street, , Kilmore Victoria, 3764

The earlier records of this congregation have been lost, but apparently services were held at irregular intervals in the old Mechanics' Hall. These services were conducted by Mr. Donald McInnes.At the first Annual Meeting of the congregation held in October, 1852, the erection of a Free Church in Kilmore was unanimously agreed to, and Mr.…

Kilmore, VIC - Uniting (former)

Year Built: 1858

Address: Powlett Street, , Kilmore Victoria, 3764

The foundation stone was laid on 20th October, 1858 by Rev. D.J. Draper, secretary of the Australasian Wesleyan Conference and Chairman of the Victoria District. The Rev John Newton was minister in charge. The architects were Crouch and Wilson and the contractor, a Mr Wood. The church was opened in early 1859, with the "Kilmore Examiner"…

Korumburra, VIC - St Joseph's Catholic

Year Built: 1939

Address: 20 Guys Road, , Korumburra Victoria, 3950

A timber church had been built in 1893 when Fr. Coyne was parish priest. The new church was under the jurisdiction of the parish priest of Dandenong and even though half of the town and a great area of the country east and north of the town was still in the Warragul parish, in effect this area was lost to the parish because of the…

Launceston, TAS - St Andrew's Presbyterian

Year Built: 1849

Address: 36 St John Street, , Launceston Tasmania,

It was the second Presbyterian church to be built in the city of Launceston following the Scotch National Church on Charles Street (built 1831). The land was secured with a petition to Lieutenant-Governor, Sir William Thomas Denison for a lot of land occupied by one of the colony's original watch houses. The Building Committee…

Lavender Bay, NSW - St Francis Xavier Catholic

Year Built: 1881

Address: 17 McKenzie Street, , Lavender Bay New South Wales, 2060

The Church was built of sandstone with slate roof and copper spire in Gothic Revival style and was designed by William Wardell. Opened in 1881 as a Catholic school with four classrooms. Large stained glass window, some 20m x 5m, executed by Stephen Moore in 1964. Arched colonnade to Mackenzie Street added in 1964.

Leopold, VIC - St Mark's Anglican

Year Built: 1863

Address: 725 Queenscliff Road, , Leopold Victoria, 3224

In 1853 the Rev. George Pollard was appointed to care for Anglicans for the whole of the Bellarine district, the initial church being the school at Pt. Henry. This simple and original early English Gothic style church is an interesting parish church design and a notable work of Edward Prowse, a Geelong architect with an acknowledged…

Lismore, NSW - St Carthage's Cathedral Catholic

Address: 8 Leycester Street, , Lismore New South Wales, 2480

Bishop Jeremiah Doyle laid the foundation stone for the Lismore Cathedral in 1892. St Carthage's Cathedral was named after the Cathedral in Lismore, located in County Waterford, Dublin, Ireland.

Churches

Architectural Style: Gothic