No. 727 - Lindisfarne - St Aidan's Mission Hall (1907-1926)

Lindisfarne is an eastern shore suburb of Hobart. It was named after "Lindisfarne House", a property situated in the adjoining suburb of Rosny. The area was originally known as Beltana but this was changed to Lindisfarne in 1903.

In the early 1890s the first Anglican services at Lindisfarne were held in a “recreation pavilion” and later in the local State school. Fundraising for building a place of worship began in the late 1890s with the aim of establishing a Mission Hall which could also be be used for social gatherings.

By 1907 sufficient funds had been raised for the project to proceed. The Mercury reported on the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone that took place on Saturday 17 August 1907:

“Lindisfarne has gone ahead so much of late that the residents there who are members of the Anglican Church have long felt the necessity for a building which would at once fulfil the requirements of a church and a hall for business and social meetings. They have been working with that aim for about ten years past, and they now feel themselves in a position to go on with the project. By means of fairs, concerts, and other social gatherings, they have raised £50, and they were granted £30 by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. With that sum in hand, they decided to proceed with the work, and a site was acquired on the Risdon-road some twelve months ago. When complete the building, with furnishings, will cost £300. It is to be a weatherboard building on a stone foundation, and it will include a hall 44ft. by 22ft., and a small committee-room 14ft. by 11 ft. It will be 12ft. in height on a staging of 18ft., and will have a porch in front. Messrs. Huckson and Hutchison are the architects, and Mr. A. Cuthbertson was the contractor for the foundations…”.

“The foundation stone was laid on Saturday afternoon by the Bishop of Tasmania (Rev. Dr. Mercer), assisted by Rev. Canon Shoobridge and Rev. J. S. Bryers as chaplains….. There was also a considerable gathering of members of the church and other residents….The Bishop, in laying the foundation stone, said it afforded him peculiar delight to be present that afternoon both in his capacity as Bishop and in his individual capacity as a churchman, for the laying of a foundation stone for any building connected with the ceremonies of the Anglican Church was a distinct sign of progress, and also of loyalty to the church….The foundation stone is laid at the north-western angle of the building, and bears the following inscription: - "This stone was laid by John Edward, Bishop of Tasmania, August 17, 1907.” A collection taken up for the building fund realised £18 16s….”.

The hall was completed by the end of 1907. The official opening was due to take place on Tuesday 17 December but this was delayed until Saturday of that week.

The rapid growth of the suburb resulted in the Mission Hall being replaced by St Aidan’s church in 1926. When the church was later extended the hall was moved and extensively renovated in its new position alongside the present church.

The history of the St Aidan’s church will be the subject of a future article on ‘Churches of Tasmania.”

St Aidan's Mission Hall - The Tasmanian Mail, January 1912

The old Mission Hall alongside St Aidan's church 

An advertisement from the Mercury - The Mission Hall's opening was delayed to Saturday 21 December 1907
           The old Mission Hall was moved from a site at what is now 180 East  Derwent Highway. 
                                           Photo Credit: The Mercury, March 1953


Sources:

Tasmanian News, Saturday 17 August 1907, page 4
Mercury, Monday 19 August 1907, page 5
Mercury, Tuesday 10 December 1907, page 5
Mercury, Monday 23 December 1907, page 5
The Tasmanian, 11 January 1912, page 20
Mercury, Thursday 5 March 1953, page 6


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