Churches of Tasmania

Taranna (an Aboriginal word for wallaby) is a small settlement about 15 kilometres north east of the Town of Nubeena on the Tasman Peninsula. Taranna was previously known as 'Old Norfolk’ and the settlement was the site of the Norfolk Bay Signal Station. The Taranna Sawmill was the main industry at the settlement in the early 20th century. Little information is available about the former Congregational Church at Nubeena. In the book ‘Congregationalism in Tasmania’ Theo Sharples states that in the late 1880s: “Rev. James Button had charge of Port Arthur, Bream Creek and Carlton. In 1894, he reported having the oversight of nine preaching places in houses, schools and a hotel, and of riding on horseback 20 miles a day, six days a week, to perform his duties. By 1896, preaching places included Green’s Creek, Port Arthur, Swan Bay and Wedge Bay (Nubeena). Taranna was included when Rev. James Hebblethwaite succeeded Mr. Button in 1898…. By 1930, the Peninsula was divided into Home Missi...

Nubeena is a small town on the western side of the Tasman Peninsula. It is approximately 13 kilometres northwest of Port Arthur. The town was previously named Wedge Bay. Little information is available about the former Congregational Church at Nubeena. In the book ‘Congregationalism in Tasmania’ Theo Sharples states that a fellowship at Nubeena was formed and a church was built in 1880. However, it is likely that the church was only built (or perhaps replaced an earlier building) at a later date. This is surmised from a report published in the Hobart Mercury in January 1893: “Members of the Congregational Church have lately erected a nice little building at Nubeena, which is now being used, but will be formally opened by Rev. George Clarke, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Tasmania, early in the year”. George Clarke (1823-1913), was a Congregational minister and educationist. In 1851 Clarke was ordained at the Union Chapel, Islington, and returned to Hobart to become minister of th...

A mortuary chapel is a building typically located within a cemetery or crematorium. It is used to hold funeral services, memorial services, or to temporarily house a coffined body before burial or cremation. With the advent of commercial funeral chapels in the early 20th century, mortuary chapel’s became redundant. In Tasmania mortuary chapels were located at cemeteries such as Carr Villa (Launceston); Cornelian Bay (Hobart); Devonport General Cemetery and Queenborough Cemetery (Sandy Bay). The closure of Hobart’s St. George's and St. David's burial-grounds in 1872, following the development of a new cemetery at Cornelian Bay, greatly inconvenienced the residents of Queenborough and Sandy Bay: “…the closing of these places imposed upon them the necessity of having to go to Cornelian Bay, a distance of at least four or five miles. Two or three funerals in the depth of winter — through cold, rain, and mud — and the inhabitants were roused”. In 1873 two Sandy Bay businessmen, Geor...

Nabageena is a farming district about 20 kilometres south of Smithton in Tasmania’s far north-west. When the districted was settled around 1900 it was named ‘Sunny Hills’ before ‘Nabageena’ was adopted at the time of the Great War. Some of the families associated with the early settlement include: Gaby; Rivett-Carnac; Fenton; Saward and Laird. A single church was built at Nabageena which over the years served Presbyterian, Methodist and Anglican congregations. In October 1914 the Circular Head Chronicle reported that a meeting was held at Nabageena in Mr Reginald Gaby’s house, with Reverend Cashboult in the chair. At the meeting a decision was made to build a small weatherboard Presbyterian church. It was also agreed that the building be made available for use as a school during the week . The Chronicle's report added that there had been “money enough subscribed to cover the cost”. The church was officially opened on Sunday 14 March 1915. There is no description of the opening serv...

Triabunna is a small town on the East Coast situated at the northern end of Spring Bay. It was established as a whaling station and was later used as a garrison town to service the Maria Island convict settlement. Triabunna is an aboriginal word for 'native hen'. Only two churches have been built at Triabunna. In 1909 a correspondent for Hobart’s Daily Post complained: “Judging from the small number of churches seen here, only two, the Anglican and the Roman Catholic, the spiritual side of the people is thoroughly neglected. There are supposed lo be fortnightly services held in the Anglican, and occasionally in the other. There are no Methodist, Presbyterian, etc., church to be found here as may be seen elsewhere. On the whole there is little or nothing done to encourage church going. The young fellows have to turn their attention to football on Sundays”. In the early1860s religious services for Anglicans at Triabunna were held in the Municipal buildings which were designed for...

Latrobe is a large country town on the east bank of the River Mersey. The settlement was named after Charles LaTrobe, acting Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania in 1846-7. Until the River Mersey silted up Latrobe was an important port town. The first members of the Church of Christ, Richard Fairlam and his wife Eliza, arrived in Tasmania in 1865 and established a fellowship at Northdown, a rural area 12 kilometres North-east of Latrobe. Initially Fairlam’s followers simply called themselves the “Christians”. They were later known as the "Disciples of Christ” and after 1885 became the ‘Church of Christ’. Fairlam moved to Latrobe in 1872 where he established a new fellowship. Although the fellowship at Northdown ended, a new fellowship was established at New Ground and a Christian Meeting House was built there in 1880. [ see No. 1084 ] This predates the Meeting House built at Latrobe in 1887. Latrobe’s Meeting House was situated on Gilbert Street, alongside the Fairlam’s house (close to...

Following the deconsecration and sale of St Peter’s Anglican Church in 2019, the Port Sorell Anglican Community continued to worship as the ‘Bridge of Hope’. The church, which is described as a Christian Evangelical Anglican Church, has centres at Port Sorell, Latrobe and New Ground. At Port Sorell the Bridge of Hope initially worshipped at the Rubicon Grove Community Centre before relocating to the Banksia Centre located on Anderson street. The Banksia Centre was previously known as Camp Banksia, a facility run by the State Education Department. In 2014 the facility was transferred to the Latrobe Council and in 2020 it was redeveloped as a modern community centre. The Banksia Centre where the Bridge of Hope gathers for worship. Photo: banksiaportsorell.com/   St Peter's Anglican church at Port Sorell. The church was sold in 2019 and has been converted into a house. Sources and further information: https://www.bridgeofhope.au/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/379361172195603 https:/...

Latrobe is a large regional town on the east bank of the River Mersey. The settlement was named after Charles LaTrobe, acting Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania from 1846 to 1847. Until the River Mersey silted up Latrobe was an important port town. The first Anglican services in the Latrobe district were held at a small settlement near Ballahoo Creek on the western bank of the Mersey River. Subsequently services were held in a store that stood near the local wharf (near Bells Parade). In 1868 an Anglican church was built which was also used as a school for a number of years. The earliest reference to the church is found in a article published in the Launceston Examiner in March 1868. The report records that following Bishop Charles Bromby’s consecration of St George’s church at New Ground: “In the evening [Bromby] preached at Latrobe. A collection was made after the service in aid of the school and church now in the course of erection there…The site was given by Mr. J. Bonney, a resident ...