No. 1581 - Avoca - St Thomas' Parish Hall

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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.

Avoca is town in the Fingal Valley and on the Esk Highway. It is situated on the junction of the St Pauls and South Esk Rivers. The area was previously known as St Pauls Plains. The word ‘Avoca’ is derived from Gaelic and means ‘meeting of the waters’.

The Anglican church of St Thomas was completed in 1841 but only consecrated in 1886. [See No. 160] St Thomas’ Parish Hall is located former storehouse constructed by R.C. Foster in 1850. In 1937, Mr B O’Connor, landowner of nearby property, Benham, purchased the building and donated it to the Anglican Church.

In September 1937 the Launceston Examiner reported:

“The old grain store which was the property of the Foster Estate, and situated in the main street of Avoca has been purchased for the Church of England for a parish hall. The structure has been windowless for years, and in its dilapidated condition was an eyesore in the street. A few energetic workers have completely transformed the old building. New windows have been put in, the electric light installed, the ceilings and walls renovated, and doors painted, the whole presenting a neat appearance. A fireplace and other additions have yet to be made as soon as the money is available. The hall, when finished will prove an asset to the village”.

Over the years the building has been used for a variety of purposes including a hall for dances, concerts and public meetings. In more recent times it was used as a post office for Avoca and nearby villages Rossarden and Royal George.


The former parish hall on Falmouth Street. Photo: Libraries Tasmania. Item Number NS 2267/1/25

The former parish hall on Falmouth Street. Photo: Libraries Tasmania. Item Number LPIC 33/2/16

Photograph credit: Harcourts Northern Midlands

Photograph credit: Harcourts Northern Midlands


Photograph credit: Harcourts Northern Midlands




Sources:

Examiner, Tuesday 7 September 1937, page 5
Tasmanian Heritage Register Datasheet, THR ID Number: 5889

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