No. 1593 - Kelso - Anglican Youth Centre (1960)

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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.

Kelso is a small settlement in the local government area of West Tamar. It is located about 14 kilometres north of the town of Beaconsfield. It was originally called Kelsalls Bay or Kelsalls Point after an early settler in the area.

The Kelso Anglican Youth Centre was built as a joint venture between the parishes of the Launceston Archdeaconry of the Anglican Church. It was constructed in the late 1950s by volunteer labour from plans drawn up by architect Jim Hart. The Centre’s foundation stone was ceremonially laid by Bishop Cranswick on 22 November 1958. In February 1960 the building was dedicated following the completion of the ‘Main Hall Block.

The Centre was used by the Anglican Church for about five years. The building deteriorated given that there was no permanent caretaking living on the remote site. The Centre was leased to the Scout movement and also used by other community groups for a period before it was handed over to Launceston Church Grammar School in 1974. The Centre was sold in 2007 and converted into a private residence.


The Main Hall Block of the Kelso Anglican Youth Centre. Source: All Saints Network

Source: All Saints Network


Sources:

https://resources.allsaints.network/histcoll/index.php/Detail/entities/P091
https://resources.allsaints.network/documents/History/Kelso_Anglican_Youth_Centre.pdf



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