No. 1548 - Sorell - Anglican Rectory (1826)

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This article is one of a series about buildings associated with Tasmania’s historical churches. These buildings include Sunday schools, parish halls, convents, schools and residences of the clergy. Ancillary buildings are often overlooked and rarely feature in published histories. My aim is to create a simple record of these buildings, including those which no longer exist.

Sorell is one of Tasmania's oldest towns with the Pittwater district being settled in 1808. Sorell was formally established as a township in 1821 and was thereafter named after William Sorell, who served as Lieutenant-Governor from 1816 to 1824. The Anglican rectory at Sorell is one of the oldest buildings in the town being built in 1826, predating the original St George’s church which was only completed in 1827.

Construction of the rectory was begun in March 1826, and was completed several months later at a total cost of £908. The builders were Messrs. Chapman and Hiddlestone, and the engineer was Mr. Sydney Cotton. Reverend William Garrard was the first resident chaplain at Sorell, taking up residence in June, 1825. The parish then extended from Sorell to Bicheno, and included Richmond and Colebrook. Mr. James Gordon, J.P. and Police Magistrate, and Capt. W. Henry Glover, were the first churchwardens. Reverend Garrard resided at the rectory until 1832.

The building is rectangular in form with a stone struck rendered finish, cedar doors & panelling and a corrugated iron roof. A verandah, was constructed around the turn of the 20th century. Further extensions were made in the late 1950s however the house retains most of its original features. The rectory in now privately owned and has been restored in recent years.

The former Anglican rectory situated on Pelham Street. Photograph: Geoff Ritchie


A photograph of the rectory published in the Tasmanian Mail (1909)



Sources and further information:

Tasmanian Mail, 25 December 1909, page 24
Mercury, Monday 19 May 1930, page 3
Mercury, Saturday 16 March 1940, page 10

https://ontheconvicttrail.blogspot.com/2016/04/old-anglican-rectory-sorell.html


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