No. 1244 - Taroona - The Uniting Church

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Located on the Western shore of the Derwent River, Taroona is an outer southern suburb of Greater Hobart which lies within the Kingston municipality. The name ‘taroona’ is a Mouheneener word for chiton, a marine mollusc found on rocks in the intertidal regions of the foreshore. The name ‘Taroona’ was adopted by Clarendon James Cox Lord for his 18-acre property which he purchased in 1894.

The Uniting Church is located at 1 Taroona Crescent off the Channel Highway. Most of the information used in this article has been gleaned from a publication of the ‘Taroona History Group’.

The origins of Taroona’s Uniting church date back to 1902 when Methodist services were regularly held in the local public hall. In 1948 a Presbyterian Church was built on land in Taroona Crescent donated by the the Watkins family. In 1954 the Presbyterians invited the Methodist congregation to use the church which resulted in Presbyterian and Methodist services being conducted on alternative weeks. The combined congregations became known as the Taroona United Congregation.

In 1977 the Taroona United Congregation became a part of the newly established Uniting Church. In 1980 land on the Channel Highway belonging to the Methodist Church was sold and the funds were used to build a new church at 1 Taroona Crescent. This building was dedicated on Sunday 22 February 1981. The old Presbyterian church was demolished in 1985.

Taroona Uniting Church - Photograph: With thanks to 'Barb Elena'. 


Sources:

Taroona Historical Group.  Taroona, 1808-1986 : farm lands to a garden suburb / written by past and present residents of Taroona, Taroona Historical Group [Taroona, Tas.]  1988

https://taroona.tas.au/churches/

http://www.kingborough.unitingchurch.org.au/





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