No. 1611 - Zeehan - St Luke's Anglican Church (1891-1909)
Zeehan is a town on the West Coast region approximately 40 kilometres from Queenstown. As a significant mining town it became the administrative centre for a number of mining companies in the region. Zeehan was established in the early 1880s and by the turn of the 20th century it had become Tasmania's third largest town. Zeehan takes its name from Mount Zeehan which had been named by George Bass and Matthew Flinders after Abel Tasman's brig ‘Zeehaen’.
In 1890 the Anglican community at Zeehan built a “church room” at a cost of £250. The building was was licensed for public entertainment therefore it was used for secular events as well as church services. In October 1890 the earliest record of a service was published in the Zeehan and Dundas Herald:
“Special services were held on Sunday last in the Church-room, the occasion being the introduction of the Rev A. G. King, our first resident clergyman. Morning prayer was said at 11 o'clock, followed by the reading of a Pastoral Letter from the Bishop, a short address from Mr King, and a celebration of tho Holy Communion. The Bishop's letter, which was also read at the two subsequent services, dwelt principally with Mr King and his spiritual work…..”.
During Reverend King’s tenure (1890-1893) a second more substantial “temporary” church was built. This was completed in July 1891. The official opening of the building was described in some detail in an article published in the Hobart Mercury:
“Since the Rev. A G. King was appointed to take charge of the Church of England Mission at Zeehan and the West Coast, one of the greatest difficulties he and his congregation have had to contend with was that occasioned by the want of a suitable buildings wherein to hold Devine worship. Some few weeks ago, at a meeting of parishioners, it was decided to build a temporary church, and thanks to the untiring energy and perseverance of the committee and liberality of members of the congregation the necessary funds were forthcoming, and tenders were called. Mr. H. A. Sands, of Zeehan, secured the contract, which he had completed in a faithful and workmanlike manner last week. The building is a substantial structure, built outside of iron. The interior of the building is lined with pine, and has been decorated in a superior style by a local tradesman, Mr. Isherwood.
The design for the whole was prepared by Mr. A. Barnes. It is intended to use the present building, which is capable of seating about 200 people, until a more commodious and imposing edifice is erected, and then it will serve the purposes of a Sunday school, a hall for entertainments, parochial meetings, etc.
On Thursday last the Venerable Arch-deacon Mason, of Hobart, arrived at Strahan where he was met by the Rev. A. G. King, who accompanied him to Zeehan on Saturday. The next morning (Sunday) at the morning service he delivered a dedicatory address, declaring St. Luke’s Church formally open for Divine worship. At this and the evening service, conducted by the Ven. Archdeacon, the building was literally packed by a very attentive congregation..…. The chancel and altar were beautifully draped with a richly coloured cloth tastefully arranged by Mrs. J. Holman. The floor of the sanctuary was covered with a valuable carpet, presented by Mr. Holman. Above the altar an artistically designed device, the Sanctus held a conspicuous place. The Building Committee are to he congratulated upon the results of their efforts in providing such a handsome place of worship for the Anglican Communion at Zeehan….”.
Although it was intended that the temporary church be used for a year or two, the building remained in use until 1909 when a new poured-concrete church was built. The old church continued to be used as a Sunday school and parish hall for a number of years before it was eventually pulled-down.
The history of the new church will be the subject of a further article on ‘Churches of Tasmania’.
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Wednesday 29 October 1890, page 2Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Friday 17 July 1891, page 3
Colonist, Saturday 21 February 1891, page 8
Mercury, Saturday 18 April 1891, page 1
Mercury, Wednesday 29 July 1891, page 2
Weekly Courier, 2 May 1903, page 22
Weekly Courier 14 November 1907, page 22
Tasmanian Mail 11 September 1909 11, page 22
Henslowe, Dorothea I and Hurburgh, Isa. Our heritage of Anglican churches in Tasmania / by Dorothea I. Henslowe ; sketches by Isa Hurburgh,1978
Howard, Patrick, 1935-. The Zeehan El Dorado : a history of Zeehan / Patrick Howard Mount Heemskirk Books Blackmans Bay, Tas. 2006
In 1890 the Anglican community at Zeehan built a “church room” at a cost of £250. The building was was licensed for public entertainment therefore it was used for secular events as well as church services. In October 1890 the earliest record of a service was published in the Zeehan and Dundas Herald:
“Special services were held on Sunday last in the Church-room, the occasion being the introduction of the Rev A. G. King, our first resident clergyman. Morning prayer was said at 11 o'clock, followed by the reading of a Pastoral Letter from the Bishop, a short address from Mr King, and a celebration of tho Holy Communion. The Bishop's letter, which was also read at the two subsequent services, dwelt principally with Mr King and his spiritual work…..”.
During Reverend King’s tenure (1890-1893) a second more substantial “temporary” church was built. This was completed in July 1891. The official opening of the building was described in some detail in an article published in the Hobart Mercury:
“Since the Rev. A G. King was appointed to take charge of the Church of England Mission at Zeehan and the West Coast, one of the greatest difficulties he and his congregation have had to contend with was that occasioned by the want of a suitable buildings wherein to hold Devine worship. Some few weeks ago, at a meeting of parishioners, it was decided to build a temporary church, and thanks to the untiring energy and perseverance of the committee and liberality of members of the congregation the necessary funds were forthcoming, and tenders were called. Mr. H. A. Sands, of Zeehan, secured the contract, which he had completed in a faithful and workmanlike manner last week. The building is a substantial structure, built outside of iron. The interior of the building is lined with pine, and has been decorated in a superior style by a local tradesman, Mr. Isherwood.
The design for the whole was prepared by Mr. A. Barnes. It is intended to use the present building, which is capable of seating about 200 people, until a more commodious and imposing edifice is erected, and then it will serve the purposes of a Sunday school, a hall for entertainments, parochial meetings, etc.
On Thursday last the Venerable Arch-deacon Mason, of Hobart, arrived at Strahan where he was met by the Rev. A. G. King, who accompanied him to Zeehan on Saturday. The next morning (Sunday) at the morning service he delivered a dedicatory address, declaring St. Luke’s Church formally open for Divine worship. At this and the evening service, conducted by the Ven. Archdeacon, the building was literally packed by a very attentive congregation..…. The chancel and altar were beautifully draped with a richly coloured cloth tastefully arranged by Mrs. J. Holman. The floor of the sanctuary was covered with a valuable carpet, presented by Mr. Holman. Above the altar an artistically designed device, the Sanctus held a conspicuous place. The Building Committee are to he congratulated upon the results of their efforts in providing such a handsome place of worship for the Anglican Communion at Zeehan….”.
Although it was intended that the temporary church be used for a year or two, the building remained in use until 1909 when a new poured-concrete church was built. The old church continued to be used as a Sunday school and parish hall for a number of years before it was eventually pulled-down.
The history of the new church will be the subject of a further article on ‘Churches of Tasmania’.
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| The interior of the 'temporary' tin church - Weekly Courier 1903 |
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| A detail from a photograph taken in 1909 by which time the tin church was used as a Sunday school and parish hall. Tasmanian Mail September 1909 |
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| Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Friday 17 July 1891 |
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| Bishop Mercer laying the foundation stone of the new church in 1907. The 1891 tin church is in the background. Photograph: Weekly Courier, November 1907 |
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| A postcard of Zeehan in 1891, the year the church was built. |
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| A postcard of Zeehan at the turn of the 20th Century. The original tin church built in 1891 can be seen on the left hand margin of the photo. Source: Libraries Tasmania |
Sources:
Colonist, Saturday 21 February 1891, page 8
Mercury, Saturday 18 April 1891, page 1
Mercury, Wednesday 29 July 1891, page 2
Weekly Courier, 2 May 1903, page 22
Weekly Courier 14 November 1907, page 22
Tasmanian Mail 11 September 1909 11, page 22
Henslowe, Dorothea I and Hurburgh, Isa. Our heritage of Anglican churches in Tasmania / by Dorothea I. Henslowe ; sketches by Isa Hurburgh,1978
Howard, Patrick, 1935-. The Zeehan El Dorado : a history of Zeehan / Patrick Howard Mount Heemskirk Books Blackmans Bay, Tas. 2006
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