No. 1540 - Broadmeadows - Methodist Church (1918)
This article is one in a series about public buildings in country areas that were used as places of worship. In these communities churches may have been planned but were never built due to lack of finance or changing circumstances. In many settlements, before a church was built, worship was typically held in homes, schoolrooms, barns, halls and other buildings. Conversely, in some communities, churches were sometimes the first public building erected and were used as schools and community halls. The focus of this series will primarily be on the public halls and schools that were used as churches. These buildings, and the religious communities which used them, are often overlooked in published histories of churches.
Broadmeadows is a rural area on the Bass Highway approximately 7 kilometres west of Smithton. The area was known as Mowbray Swamp until 1919. Following the drainage of the swamp it became highly developed farming district. At its peak Broadmeadows had a cheese factory and sawmill. There were also two churches, a Methodist church which shared the Broadmeadows hall and school, and a Baptist church built in 1914.
Broadmeadows Methodist church services were held in a public hall which was specifically built for use as a school, church and public meeting place. The hall’s opening in January 1918 is recorded in the Launceston Examiner:
“On Sunday afternoon Divine service was held in the new hall which has been erected on Mowbray Swamp. There was a large congregation. Mr. Caple (Victoria) conducted. Suitable hymns were sung; Miss R. Care presided at the organ. On Tuesday night a social evening was held in connection with the opening of the above. A large number were present. Mr. W. Geale occupied the chair….A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Jones, who is 71 years old. He built the hall gratuitously, performing the labour unaided. It is erected of hardwood, the inside being polished. Mr. W. Geale donated the land. Mr. Jones responded, and explained that having conceived the idea of building the hall, of which there was a great need, as it would do for a school, he set to work, with this result, and the inspector had promised a teacher when the building was ready, as it was too far for them to walk to the Smithton State School. Although he had done all the labour free, the material, which cost £10, had to be paid for. The sum of £3 10s was collected in the room”.
The Methodist worshipped at the hall for a period of 20 years. During this time the local newspaper, the Circular Head Chronicle published numerous reports concerning activities such as the annual harvest festival, Sunday school meetings and general fundraising. For example in March 1922 the “Chronicle” reported:
“The Broadmeadows sports and sale of gifts, in aid of the hall, which does service as a school, church, etc.; was an unqualified success. The debt which is owing will be liquidated…”.
A similar event was held in March 1925:
“Mr. H. Smith, the secretary, and many others, worked hard to make the event a success. The proceeds were about £40. The money is in aid of a shelter shed for the children, and an organ. The building Is used for all purposes -church, school, and hall- so every one will benefit”.
In 1933 the Circular Head Chronicle reported:
“The Methodist harvest festival was was held at Broadmeadows school on Monday evening, when a very fine programme was given, thanks largely to the organisation of Mrs. Lancaster. A very fine display of produce and vegetables was sold by Mr. L. W. Brooks, yielding the record sum for the season of £11 15s. The Rev. E. Barren, thanking Mr. Brooks, said that in all his experience at such functions he had never met anyone who had the happy knack of getting the money from the public that he had”.
In addition to the Methodists, the hall was occasionally used by other religious denominations, including Anglicans and Baptists, for the purpose fundraising events.
Broadmeadows is a rural area on the Bass Highway approximately 7 kilometres west of Smithton. The area was known as Mowbray Swamp until 1919. Following the drainage of the swamp it became highly developed farming district. At its peak Broadmeadows had a cheese factory and sawmill. There were also two churches, a Methodist church which shared the Broadmeadows hall and school, and a Baptist church built in 1914.
Broadmeadows Methodist church services were held in a public hall which was specifically built for use as a school, church and public meeting place. The hall’s opening in January 1918 is recorded in the Launceston Examiner:
“On Sunday afternoon Divine service was held in the new hall which has been erected on Mowbray Swamp. There was a large congregation. Mr. Caple (Victoria) conducted. Suitable hymns were sung; Miss R. Care presided at the organ. On Tuesday night a social evening was held in connection with the opening of the above. A large number were present. Mr. W. Geale occupied the chair….A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Jones, who is 71 years old. He built the hall gratuitously, performing the labour unaided. It is erected of hardwood, the inside being polished. Mr. W. Geale donated the land. Mr. Jones responded, and explained that having conceived the idea of building the hall, of which there was a great need, as it would do for a school, he set to work, with this result, and the inspector had promised a teacher when the building was ready, as it was too far for them to walk to the Smithton State School. Although he had done all the labour free, the material, which cost £10, had to be paid for. The sum of £3 10s was collected in the room”.
The Methodist worshipped at the hall for a period of 20 years. During this time the local newspaper, the Circular Head Chronicle published numerous reports concerning activities such as the annual harvest festival, Sunday school meetings and general fundraising. For example in March 1922 the “Chronicle” reported:
“The Broadmeadows sports and sale of gifts, in aid of the hall, which does service as a school, church, etc.; was an unqualified success. The debt which is owing will be liquidated…”.
A similar event was held in March 1925:
“Mr. H. Smith, the secretary, and many others, worked hard to make the event a success. The proceeds were about £40. The money is in aid of a shelter shed for the children, and an organ. The building Is used for all purposes -church, school, and hall- so every one will benefit”.
In 1933 the Circular Head Chronicle reported:
“The Methodist harvest festival was was held at Broadmeadows school on Monday evening, when a very fine programme was given, thanks largely to the organisation of Mrs. Lancaster. A very fine display of produce and vegetables was sold by Mr. L. W. Brooks, yielding the record sum for the season of £11 15s. The Rev. E. Barren, thanking Mr. Brooks, said that in all his experience at such functions he had never met anyone who had the happy knack of getting the money from the public that he had”.
In addition to the Methodists, the hall was occasionally used by other religious denominations, including Anglicans and Baptists, for the purpose fundraising events.
A new "Central Hall" was built at Broadmeadows in 1935 and the Methodists ceased using the school after this date. In the the mid 1940s the school closed permanently. In 1950 the old hall was moved to the Smithton school for use a temporary classroom and then a canteen.
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| Broadmeadows Hall was used as a school and church. Photograph: Circular Head Heritage Centre |
Sources:
Examiner, Friday 18 January 1918, page 3
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 23 January 1918, page 5
Examiner, Tuesday 18 March 1922, page 2
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 18 March 1925, page 2
Examiner, Saturday 28 March 1925, page 11
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 5 April 1933, page 3
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 3 January 1934, page 3
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 26 February 1936, page 2
Advocate, Wednesday 28 June 1950, page 12
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