No. 1505 - Butlers Gorge - Anglican Chapel (1947)
Butlers Gorge is a former Hydro Electric Commission village located in the Central Highlands region. It forms a part of the Derwent scheme that comprises eleven hydroelectric power stations. Butlers Gorge Power Station was the first station built in the scheme and its workers’ settlement was the first true villages built by the Commission.
Tasmania’s vast hydro-electric scheme dates back to 1914 when the Tasmanian Government bought a small electricity company in financial difficulty and created the Hydro-Electric Department. The first power station at Waddamana in the Great Lake Power Scheme was opened in 1916. Over a period of 80 years, 30 power stations and 54 major dams were built. Construction camps and villages were built to support major projects and during this period 10 villages were established, most of which had a full social infrastructure including a school, public hall and a church. After the Second World War, large numbers of migrants were recruited to construct dams and power stations. This brought English, Polish, German, Italian, Scandinavian and other migrants together with Tasmanians, creating lively and diverse communities.
Construction of Butlers Gorge Village began in 1940 by which time a retail store, post office, recreation hall and medical centre had been completed. The recreation hall served many purposes including a school and cinema. A dedicated school building was constructed in 1942 by which time the villages population numbered several hundred workers and their families. The population expanded considerably at the conclusion of the war with the arrival of a large number of single Polish workers as well smaller groups of other nationalities.
There are few surviving records about religious life at Butlers Gorge and it is certain that occasional services were held in the recreation hall before this burnt down in 1945. In February 1945 the Launceston Examiner reported the Baptist Minister at Perth, Rev. V.G. Britton, had regularly held services at Butlers Gorge:
“In spite of several motor car accidents he has had, Mr Britton still enjoys good health and visits Butlers Gorge regularly to conduct services…”.
In September 1947 the Launceston Examiner reported that the chapel at the 111th Australian General Hospital at Campbell Town had been donated to the Anglican parish of Hamilton for use at the Butlers Gorge camp as a chapel. The building was transported to Butlers Gorger by the Hydro-Electric Commission and was likely in use by early 1948. It is not known if the converted building was ever dedicated. Although gifted to the Hamilton parish it is likely that the chapel was used by several religious denominations.
Little else is known about chapel but it was likely in use up until the village’s staged closure in the early 1950s. No photograph of the building is available and I have no information as to where the building was removed to after the closure of the Butlers Gorge Village.
Tasmania’s vast hydro-electric scheme dates back to 1914 when the Tasmanian Government bought a small electricity company in financial difficulty and created the Hydro-Electric Department. The first power station at Waddamana in the Great Lake Power Scheme was opened in 1916. Over a period of 80 years, 30 power stations and 54 major dams were built. Construction camps and villages were built to support major projects and during this period 10 villages were established, most of which had a full social infrastructure including a school, public hall and a church. After the Second World War, large numbers of migrants were recruited to construct dams and power stations. This brought English, Polish, German, Italian, Scandinavian and other migrants together with Tasmanians, creating lively and diverse communities.
Construction of Butlers Gorge Village began in 1940 by which time a retail store, post office, recreation hall and medical centre had been completed. The recreation hall served many purposes including a school and cinema. A dedicated school building was constructed in 1942 by which time the villages population numbered several hundred workers and their families. The population expanded considerably at the conclusion of the war with the arrival of a large number of single Polish workers as well smaller groups of other nationalities.
There are few surviving records about religious life at Butlers Gorge and it is certain that occasional services were held in the recreation hall before this burnt down in 1945. In February 1945 the Launceston Examiner reported the Baptist Minister at Perth, Rev. V.G. Britton, had regularly held services at Butlers Gorge:
“In spite of several motor car accidents he has had, Mr Britton still enjoys good health and visits Butlers Gorge regularly to conduct services…”.
In September 1947 the Launceston Examiner reported that the chapel at the 111th Australian General Hospital at Campbell Town had been donated to the Anglican parish of Hamilton for use at the Butlers Gorge camp as a chapel. The building was transported to Butlers Gorger by the Hydro-Electric Commission and was likely in use by early 1948. It is not known if the converted building was ever dedicated. Although gifted to the Hamilton parish it is likely that the chapel was used by several religious denominations.
Little else is known about chapel but it was likely in use up until the village’s staged closure in the early 1950s. No photograph of the building is available and I have no information as to where the building was removed to after the closure of the Butlers Gorge Village.
Butlers Gorge Village - Libraries Tasmania - Photo Album - Item number AA193/1/2803 |
Butlers Gorge village in winter - Libraries Tasmania - Photo Album - Item number AA193/1/2803 |
Workers cottages at Butlers Gorge. Libraries Tasmania - Item Number AB713/1/2077 |
The 111th Australian General Hospital at Campbell Town from where a building was removed to be refurbished as a chapel at Butlers Gorge. Libraries Tasmania - Item Number: LPIC 27/2/31 |
Sources:
Examiner, Saturday 10 February 1945, page 4
Examiner, Tuesday 16 September 1947, page 3
Rackham, Sarah and Woodberry, Joan and Tasmania. Hydro-Electric Commission. Public Relations Department. Hydro construction villages. Volume Two. Butlers Gorge, Bronte Park, Trevallyn, Wayatinah / written and compiled by Sarah Rackham ; edited by Joan Woodberry Public Relations Dept., Hydro-Electric Commission, Tasmania [Hobart] 1982
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