No. 325 - The Seventh Day Adventist Church at Devonport

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The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860’s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and later at Hobart and Launceston.

The first Adventist church at Devonport opened in August 1903 at a site on Oldaker Street, a short distance from the Town Hall. The North West Advocate described it as a “very neat structure capable of holding about 100 persons. The building was dedicated on July 9, 1904. Almost 50 years later the church was rededicated in September 1953 following substantial renovations to the building. This building was replaced in the 1970’s by the modern building in Steele Street.

Photograph: Duncan Grant 2019

Photograph: Duncan Grant 2019

Sources:

The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times, Wednesday 8 July 1903, page 2 
The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times, Saturday 15 August 1903, page 2
The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times, Monday 17 August 1903, page 2
Advocate, Tuesday 1 September 1953, page 7

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