No. 69 - Beaconsfield - St Stephen's Presbyterian Church (1908)

The town of Beaconsfield, previously known as Brandy Creek, dates back to the late 1840s when small quantities of gold was discovered in the area. Commercial gold mining only got underway in the 1870s which led to a substantial growth in the town’s population. Brandy Creek was renamed Beaconsfield in 1879 in honour of Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield and British Prime Minister. By this time the reef was the richest gold discovery anywhere in Australia and virtually overnight Beaconsfield became Tasmania's third largest town.

Beaconsfield attracted a number of religious denominations and it had seven churches operating in the township at one stage. Two Presbyterian churches were built at Beaconsfield. The first, built in 1882, [See No. 1542] was destroyed in a fire and replaced with a new church in 1908.

I spotted this country hall at Rowella on my way back from photographing churches along the West Tamar. Country halls sometimes resemble early weatherboard churches but there were a few features of this building which suggested that it may have originally been a church. Research confirmed that the hall was Beaconsfield's second Presbyterian church which had been transported to Rowella in 1927.

In March 1908 a report in the Examiner described the fire which consumed The original church:

“One of the most disastrous fires that have occurred here for many years happened this morning about 3.30 [a.m]. The fire whistle blew at 1.45 a.m., and very soon a large crowd gathered, but nothing could be done to save the buildings. The, fire started in Forsyth's cycling shop, or rather in the kitchen at the back of the shop…. The Presbyterian Church which was about 30ft. from Forsyth's and was covered with shingles, was soon a mass of flames, and nothing was saved. The organ, forms, etc., were all lost. 

The church had only recently been renovated, at a cost of about £40, and will be a great loss to the congregation. Mr Zanker, who carries on the business of a cabinetmaker, and was only separated from the church by a few feet, next fell a victim to the fire fiend. Plenty of willing helpers, however, saved the contents of the shop and house…. Another house, occupied by Mr Williams, …was saved by a number of men keeping blankets saturated with water hung on the walls. 

The police, under Sergeant Harris, were present, and saw that the furniture was removed to the Presbyterian manse, which is empty, and Mr Zanker and his family were allowed to occupy the manse for the present. The Presbyterians are arranging to continue services and Sunday school in the Masonic Hall until a new church is erected”.

As the church was insured, it was not long before a new church was built. In September 1908 the church's foundation stone was ceremonially laid. The Examiner reported:

“A lovely day and a half-holiday combined drew a very large number to witness the placing of the foundation stone of the new Presbyterian Church at Beaconsfield. The place looked quite gay with strings of flags, whilst over [at] the tripod below the Commonwealth flag …the Moderator delivered an address on some of the teachings of the church. He referred to the great loss the people had sustained when the church was burned down, but he trusted that when the new building was opened it would prove a greater blessing to the people. The stone was ready to be lowered into position. A bottle was placed in the cavity, in which copies of the "Examiner" and "Telegraph" of the 16th …and a programme of the day's proceedings, a list of former ministers, the names of the elders and board of management, the date of the erection (1882) of the old church and the date… when [it] burned down, were placed…. A very large contingent of visitors from Glengarry and Winkleigh where present….”

The church was dedicated to St Stephen in November 1908. Newspaper reports described the church as having a “very neat appearance" with a tin ceiling "being picked out in blue and white”. The building measured "45ft in length, 30ft in breadth, with... plastered walls and seating accomodation for 200 people". The church's architect is not recorded. It was built by local contactor, Mr J. Cole.

The end of mining activity in Beaconsfield, with the closure of the mine in 1917, was accompanied by a rapid decline in the town’s population and within 20 years of its dedication the church was closed and removed to Rowella to serve as a community hall. It was purchased by public subscription and moved by a bullock dray to its current location.

As a footnote to the story, in 2018 the Rowella hall survived an attempt to close and sell the building by the West Tamar Council after community resistance.  Link to story here

Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018

A commemorative plaque inside the Rowella Hall

The dedication of the church as St. Stephen's - Examiner Monday 23 November 1908

Sources:

Examiner Wednesday 4 March 1908

Examiner Friday 18 September 1908

Examiner Wednesday 17 May 1882

Examiner Saturday 7 March 1891

Examiner Monday 23 November 1908

The Tasmanian Saturday 20 May 1882

The Tasmanian Saturday 30 June 1894