No. 1565 - Hobart - St John's Presbyterian Manse (1849)

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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 of those that no longer exist.

St John’s Presbyterian church on Macquarie Street opened in 1843 after the congregation outgrew the original church. St John’s Presbyterian Manse is located behind the church and fronts on Davey Street. It is named ‘Bellkirk’, a play on the Gaelic word for church and Reverend James Bell, the minister for whom the manse was built. In August 1848 tenders were advertised for the construction of the manse and the building was completed in 1849. It is built in the Late Georgian style and possibly designed by Alexander Dawson. 

Not long after Reverend Bell moved into the Manse he became seriously ill and passed away at his new home in September 1852.

The building is currently utilised as the church offices but over the years it has been rented out as a residence and offices for Diabetes Australia.

Libraries Tasmania - Sir Ralph Whishaw - Item Number: Item Number: NS165/1/178


Libraries Tasmania - Item Number: NS3195/1/1399



Photograph: Geoff Richie





St John's Presbyterian Church on Macquarie Street - Item Number  NS165/1/232


Sources:

Colonial Times, Tuesday 15 August 1858, page 1
Colonial Times, Tuesday 7 September 1852, page 2
The Mercury, Monday 5 April 1943, page7

St. John's Presbyterian Church (Hobart, Tas.). St. John's Presbyterian Church, Hobart : 90th anniversary services St. John's Presbyterian Church [Hobart 1930 https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2685783061






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