No. 1595 - King Island - Grassy - Combined Church (1953-1997)
Grassy is the main settlement on King Island’s south-east coast and is located about 30 kilometres from Currie. The town was centred on a scheelite mine considered to have been one of the largest of its type in the world. The scheelite deposit (from which tungsten is extracted) was first discovered in 1911 when a prospector named Tom Farrell searched the area for tin.
In 1949 land for the construction of an Anglican church was donated by Mr. D W Bowling. At this time Anglican, Methodist and Catholic services were held at the Grassy recreation hall. In 1950 the Old Grassy School building was donated to the “Church of England for all denominations church services”.
After the school was building was renovated the church opened in 1953. The building was dedicated by Archdeacon Walters on Wednesday 17 December 1953. Assisting in the ceremony were Reverend F. Stewart (Anglican) and Mr E.B. Cousins (Methodist). The church was initially used by Methodist and Anglican congregations while Catholic gatherings commenced at a later date.
Little is known about the early years of the church although it did make the news in 1959 after the building was damaged in a serious act of vandalism. King Island News reported:
“Wanton destruction of church property on a level never before attained In such a depraved act has occurred at the Grassy church, and the scene which greeted Mr. Geo[rge]. Milsom when he opened the church at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning was one beyond words.
The matter was immediately put in the hands of the police and Const. Tierney, of Grassy, and Senr. Const. Ling, of Currie are investigating. Just to give an outline of the damage done and the mess created. —
The Organ was tipped over and pieces broken off it.
The Communion table vestments were torn down and then rubbed in clag and sugar in the vestry.
The Cross from the tables had apparently been thrown into the vestry too.
The hymn number board was broken.
Paint, sugar and sand was mixed up on the floor of the vestry.
Sunday School equipment generally strewn around.
Two tins varnish were tipped around in the general mess.
Valves in the amplifier broken, also a religious record.
Residents will be looking forward to early apprehension of those responsible for the damage, for surely there is no place in our community for persons who quite evidently are possessed of deranged minds”.
In 1981, under the leadership of Reverend John de Groot, a new church was built by volunteers from the Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Church communities. A donate of $15000 from the King Island Scheelite Mine made the project possible. The new prefabricated building was constructed from a kit supplied by Mr John Bakker of Ulverstone.
The church was officially opened on Sunday 31 October 1981. King Island News described the opening ceremony:
“On Sunday, the new Grassy Combined Church was dedicated by the Most Reverend Archbishop Sir Guildford Young, the Right Reverend Bishop Davies, the Reverend Robert Kazeldine, the Reverend Father Peter Nichols, the Reverend Bill Turner, the Reverend John de Groot, Sister Ellen and Sister Elizabeth.
Both the new and old churches were beautifully decorated with flowers arranged by Mrs. Kathleen Brooks. The organist was Mrs. Kath Lennon, who led the 150 strong congregation in joyful hymn singing.
Manager of Operations at King Island Scheelite, Mr. Roger Zaremba, presented the keys of the church to the officiating priests, who then dedicated and blessed the new church….The Reverend John de Groot made a short speech welcoming the visiting clergy. He also thanked the volunteers who had given up so many of their Saturdays to help in the construction of the church…Mr. Zaremba was thanked for the support he had given since becoming manager at the mine…Rev. de Groot said special thanks had to be given to the core of the church builders. They were Grieve Brown, Derek Thompson, Rick Fell and Robert Skipworth….”.
The close of the Scheelite mine in 1990 had a significant impact on the town and by the mid 1990s the church had closed. It was deconsecrated in 1997 and a cross which had stood at the church was donated for a memorial to all who had lived and worked at the Sheelite Mine from 1917 To 1990.
I have yet to locate a photograph of the two churches at the time which they were in use. The buildings still exist but have been significantly modified.
Sources:
Examiner, Thursday 12 May 1949, page 4
King Island News, Wednesday 9 December 1953, page 2
King Island News, Wednesday 23 December 1959, page 5
King Island News, Wednesday 27 January 1982, page 5
King Island News, Wednesday 27 October 1982, page 4
King Island News, Wednesday 3 November 1982, page 6
King Island Courier, Volume 13 No. 29, 16 June 1997, page 3
Henslowe, Dorothea I and Hurburgh, Isa. Our heritage of Anglican churches in Tasmania / by Dorothea I. Henslowe ; sketches by Isa Hurburgh,1978.
In 1949 land for the construction of an Anglican church was donated by Mr. D W Bowling. At this time Anglican, Methodist and Catholic services were held at the Grassy recreation hall. In 1950 the Old Grassy School building was donated to the “Church of England for all denominations church services”.
After the school was building was renovated the church opened in 1953. The building was dedicated by Archdeacon Walters on Wednesday 17 December 1953. Assisting in the ceremony were Reverend F. Stewart (Anglican) and Mr E.B. Cousins (Methodist). The church was initially used by Methodist and Anglican congregations while Catholic gatherings commenced at a later date.
Little is known about the early years of the church although it did make the news in 1959 after the building was damaged in a serious act of vandalism. King Island News reported:
“Wanton destruction of church property on a level never before attained In such a depraved act has occurred at the Grassy church, and the scene which greeted Mr. Geo[rge]. Milsom when he opened the church at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning was one beyond words.
The matter was immediately put in the hands of the police and Const. Tierney, of Grassy, and Senr. Const. Ling, of Currie are investigating. Just to give an outline of the damage done and the mess created. —
The Organ was tipped over and pieces broken off it.
The Communion table vestments were torn down and then rubbed in clag and sugar in the vestry.
The Cross from the tables had apparently been thrown into the vestry too.
The hymn number board was broken.
Paint, sugar and sand was mixed up on the floor of the vestry.
Sunday School equipment generally strewn around.
Two tins varnish were tipped around in the general mess.
Valves in the amplifier broken, also a religious record.
Residents will be looking forward to early apprehension of those responsible for the damage, for surely there is no place in our community for persons who quite evidently are possessed of deranged minds”.
In 1981, under the leadership of Reverend John de Groot, a new church was built by volunteers from the Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Church communities. A donate of $15000 from the King Island Scheelite Mine made the project possible. The new prefabricated building was constructed from a kit supplied by Mr John Bakker of Ulverstone.
The church was officially opened on Sunday 31 October 1981. King Island News described the opening ceremony:
“On Sunday, the new Grassy Combined Church was dedicated by the Most Reverend Archbishop Sir Guildford Young, the Right Reverend Bishop Davies, the Reverend Robert Kazeldine, the Reverend Father Peter Nichols, the Reverend Bill Turner, the Reverend John de Groot, Sister Ellen and Sister Elizabeth.
Both the new and old churches were beautifully decorated with flowers arranged by Mrs. Kathleen Brooks. The organist was Mrs. Kath Lennon, who led the 150 strong congregation in joyful hymn singing.
Manager of Operations at King Island Scheelite, Mr. Roger Zaremba, presented the keys of the church to the officiating priests, who then dedicated and blessed the new church….The Reverend John de Groot made a short speech welcoming the visiting clergy. He also thanked the volunteers who had given up so many of their Saturdays to help in the construction of the church…Mr. Zaremba was thanked for the support he had given since becoming manager at the mine…Rev. de Groot said special thanks had to be given to the core of the church builders. They were Grieve Brown, Derek Thompson, Rick Fell and Robert Skipworth….”.
The close of the Scheelite mine in 1990 had a significant impact on the town and by the mid 1990s the church had closed. It was deconsecrated in 1997 and a cross which had stood at the church was donated for a memorial to all who had lived and worked at the Sheelite Mine from 1917 To 1990.
I have yet to locate a photograph of the two churches at the time which they were in use. The buildings still exist but have been significantly modified.
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| Grassy Mine Monument overlooks a no longer used open-cut scheelite mine site. The Cross was donated by Grassy Combined Church following its deconsecration in 1997. Photograph: Cynthia Chew |
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| Grassy in the late 1950s. The old Grassy school which by this time had become a church can be seen at the North East edge of the oval. Photograph: Libraries Tasmania |
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| The foundations for the new church being laid in January 1982. Photograph: King Island News |
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| A memorial plaque at the site of the Memorial. Photograph courtesy of Arthur Garland |
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| King Island News 1959 |
Sources:
Examiner, Thursday 12 May 1949, page 4
King Island News, Wednesday 9 December 1953, page 2
King Island News, Wednesday 23 December 1959, page 5
King Island News, Wednesday 27 January 1982, page 5
King Island News, Wednesday 27 October 1982, page 4
King Island News, Wednesday 3 November 1982, page 6
King Island Courier, Volume 13 No. 29, 16 June 1997, page 3
Henslowe, Dorothea I and Hurburgh, Isa. Our heritage of Anglican churches in Tasmania / by Dorothea I. Henslowe ; sketches by Isa Hurburgh,1978.
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/technology/industry/display/101169-grassy-scheelite-mine-memorial-cross
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