No. 1619 - Mountain River - Methodist Church (1901)
Mountain River is a small settlement in the Huon Valley located on the southern slopes of Mount Wellington. It takes its name from the river which rises in the Wellington Ranges and flows through the area to join the Huon River.
Three religious denominations were once active in Mountain River. The Methodist’s built a church at Mountain River in 1901 and the Salvation Army opened in hall in 1947. Regular Anglican services were first held from 1918 in the local public hall before a church was built.
Very little information has survived concerning the Methodist church at Mountain River. At the Hobart Wesleyan District Synod held in November 1900, permission was given for the “erection of a church” at Mountain River. The Synod’s report in the following year confirmed that the church had been built and opened.
A single report in the Tasmanian News makes reference of the church’s opening in July 1901:
“Our Ranelagh (Huon) correspondent writes:— At the Mountain River Valley Wesleyan Church on Monday last, a public tea and concert took place for the purpose of opening this new building. A large number of people were present— about 130—and after three good sittings at the tables, a considerable amount of food was still left. At the end of the concert a coffee supper took place to refresh those present for their homeward journey. All the food left was sold by auction. Everything was thoroughly satisfactory; the proceeds in all amounted to £7, which was very good, especially as it was very unpleasant weather. This church was officially opened by the Rev. A . McCallum on Sunday, July 7".
Very few reports about the church exist and it would appear that it was no longer operating by the mid 1920s. A report of a meeting of the Huon Municipal Council in July 1928, concerning “Sunday Pictures”, states that “there were no churches at Mountain River, so the holding of picture entertainments did not interfere with divine services in the district”.
The handful of reports that have survived include the Methodist Synod’s report of 1907 which notes that the Mountain River church would be transferred from the Franklin circuit to a home mission station which also included the churches at Ranelagh, Lower Longley and Judbury.
In 1910 a report in the Mercury states:
“….On December 22, the little Methodist Church at Mountain River held a social in Councillor Talbot’s apple-house for the purpose of raising funds in aid if the Sunday-school, which has a very creditable attendance…”.
In 1913 the annual Synod reported that “new wooden seats” had been had purchased for the Mountain River church and in the same year the church is mentioned in the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Franklin Methodist church. No further references can be found about the church after 1913. No photograph or description of the church is known.
Sources:
Three religious denominations were once active in Mountain River. The Methodist’s built a church at Mountain River in 1901 and the Salvation Army opened in hall in 1947. Regular Anglican services were first held from 1918 in the local public hall before a church was built.
Very little information has survived concerning the Methodist church at Mountain River. At the Hobart Wesleyan District Synod held in November 1900, permission was given for the “erection of a church” at Mountain River. The Synod’s report in the following year confirmed that the church had been built and opened.
A single report in the Tasmanian News makes reference of the church’s opening in July 1901:
“Our Ranelagh (Huon) correspondent writes:— At the Mountain River Valley Wesleyan Church on Monday last, a public tea and concert took place for the purpose of opening this new building. A large number of people were present— about 130—and after three good sittings at the tables, a considerable amount of food was still left. At the end of the concert a coffee supper took place to refresh those present for their homeward journey. All the food left was sold by auction. Everything was thoroughly satisfactory; the proceeds in all amounted to £7, which was very good, especially as it was very unpleasant weather. This church was officially opened by the Rev. A . McCallum on Sunday, July 7".
Very few reports about the church exist and it would appear that it was no longer operating by the mid 1920s. A report of a meeting of the Huon Municipal Council in July 1928, concerning “Sunday Pictures”, states that “there were no churches at Mountain River, so the holding of picture entertainments did not interfere with divine services in the district”.
The handful of reports that have survived include the Methodist Synod’s report of 1907 which notes that the Mountain River church would be transferred from the Franklin circuit to a home mission station which also included the churches at Ranelagh, Lower Longley and Judbury.
In 1910 a report in the Mercury states:
“….On December 22, the little Methodist Church at Mountain River held a social in Councillor Talbot’s apple-house for the purpose of raising funds in aid if the Sunday-school, which has a very creditable attendance…”.
In 1913 the annual Synod reported that “new wooden seats” had been had purchased for the Mountain River church and in the same year the church is mentioned in the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Franklin Methodist church. No further references can be found about the church after 1913. No photograph or description of the church is known.
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| Tasmanian News, Saturday 3 August 1901 |
Sources:
Mercury, Thursday 15 November 1900, page 3
Tasmanian News, Saturday 3 August 1901, page 3
Tasmanian News, Friday 15 November 1901, page 2
Tasmanian News, Friday 15 November 1901, page 2
The Mercury, Tuesday 24 September 1907, page 8
The Mercury, Thursday 21 November 1907, page 3
The Mercury, Saturday 31 December 1910, page 9
Huon Times, Wednesday 20 August 1913, page 3
Daily Post, Thursday 13 November 1913, page 7
Huon Times, Tuesday 10 July 1910, page 2
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