No. 252 - Trevallyn - Methodist Church (1903-1915)

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Trevallyn is a suburb of Launceston located in the hills on the north-west side of the city centre. It is named after a 12 hectare property owned by William Barnes (1790 - 1848).

A Wesleyan Methodist Sunday school was established at Trevallyn in 1896 with four boys and three girls attending. The rapid growth of the school led to the establishment of a church and Sunday school on ‘Trevallyn Terrace’[now Bain Terrace] in 1903.

The church officially opened on Sunday 11 October 1903.  The event was reported in several newspapers including Launceston’s Examiner:

“The opening services in connection with the new Methodist church at Trevallyn were continued last evening, when a public meeting was held, and was largely attended.  Rev. James Haslem presided.  Addresses were delivered by the chairman, Revs. Ed. Youngman, B.W. Heath, and J.A. Gault, and Mr H. Kenworthy.  ... A collection was taken up in aid of the building fund…. Refreshments were afterwards handed round, full justice being done to the good things liberally provided”.

There are many brief reports about the church’s activities over the following decade.  In 1904 a report on a harvest festival service describes the church as being beautifully decorated and having “a very pleasing appearance”. A photograph of the harvest display was taken and this has been reproduced below. The last published reference to the church concerns the opening of a church fair held in early 1915. The reason for the church’s closure unclear.

In 1916 the church was used as a State primary school. In January 1916 the Examiner reported:

“Advice has  been received by the Trevallyn Improvement Association that the Education Department proposes to open a state school for junior children at Trevallyn on Tuesday next. The Methodist schoolroom has been secured for the purpose until the department erects a building of its own…”.

With the opening of the new Trevallyn State School in 1920, the church was vacated and seems to have been used as a public meeting place for a time. In 1927 the building was purchased by St Oswald’s Anglican church and moved to a site alongside the church on Bain Terrace. 

Due to the absence of a public meeting place in Trevallyn, St Oswald’s church hall was also used as a public hall for many years. The building was extended over the years but features of the original building are still evident.  St Oswald’s, along with the hall, were sold in 2022 and are now privately owned. 


Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018

Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018

The 1904 Harvest Festival. Source: Queen Victoria Museum QVM:1997:P:0350

An advertisement from The Daily Telegraph - Thursday 8 October 1903

A photograph of Trevallyn taken in 1921 [H.J. King] The Methodist church was located on the southern end of Bain Terrace, near the intersection with Delemere Crescent

Trevallyn State School opened in 1920. The Methodist church was used as a State School from 1916-1919. Photograph - Libraries Tasmania

A photograph of St Oswald's and the church hall taken in the 1950s. The hall still had its porch at this time. 

The interior of St Oswald's Hall/Former Methodist church - Photo: Knight Frank - realestate.com


St Oswald's and St Oswald's Hall (2022) Knight Frank - realestate.com



Sources:

The Daily Telegraph, Thursday 8 October 1903, page 2
Examiner, Saturday 10 October 1903, page 7
Examiner, Monday 12 October 1903, page 4
The Mercury, Tuesday 13 October 1903, page 3
Examiner, Wednesday 14 October 1903, page 4
Examiner, Monday 28 March 1904, page 6
Examiner, Monday 10 May 1915 ,page 4
Examiner, Saturday 15 January 1915, page 6
Examiner Wednesday 19 January 1916, page 4
Examiner, Thursday 1 April 1920, page 4
Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 13 April 1927, page 2
The Examiner, Thursday 4 May 1944, page 5

Branagan, J.G., St. Oswald's Church, Trevallyn : historical notes; Launceston: Regal Publications, [1993]


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