No. 1620 - Zeehan - St Luke's Anglican Church (1909) "The Richest Encomiums"
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. During Reverend King’s tenure (1890-1893) a second more substantial “temporary” church was built. This was completed in July 1891. [See No. 1611] Fifteen years were to pass before further progress was made in building a permanent church.
Foundation Stone for St Luke’s was laid on Sunday 10 November 1907 by Bishop Mercer. and the church was officially opened and dedicated by Archdeacon Beresford on 11 August 1909. A report in the Zeehan and Dundas Herald provides a detailed description of the church as well as a timeline of its construction:
“In April, 1907, a Building Committee was formed…This committee worked assiduously, and by November of the same year sufficient funds were available to warrant preliminaries for the construction of a new church. On November 9, 1907, the Right Rev. J. E. Mercer, D.D., Lord Bishop of Tasmania, laid the foundation stone of the projected new St. Luke's Church. Early in 1908 tenders were called for the erection of the church, and in the middle of the year one of the tenders put in was accepted. However, the successful tenderer was unable to go on with the work, and in February, 1909, Mr W. G. Wells, of Zeehan, took over the abandoned contract, and proceeded with the erection, upon plans supplied by Mr North, architect, of Launceston."
"The exterior of the building is not yet quite completed, but the interior is a pleasure for the eve to see. The design of the structure in every detail exhibits a high artistic taste in the work of the architect (Mr North). He is deserving of the richest encomiums in planning this magnificent edifice. Mr W. G. Wells also must be complimented upon the skill which he and his workmen have displayed in the work of construction….”.
“The new church is situated in Belstead street (just off Main street), on the same site as that occupied by the old church. Unlike the Original St. Luke's, the new St. Luke's has its chancel facing to the east,… the main entrance is at the west end of the building”.
"The church, besides being imposing, is also commodious. In dimensions the main body of the church is 75ft by 32ft. with a chancel extending back a further 28ft. Adjoining the chancel there is an organ chamber 8ft by 12ft. At the main entrance there is a porch 10ft by 9ft. A belfry tower has been erected at the west end of the building, which rises to an eminence of 18ft above the roof. The tower tapers upwards from a base of 6ft. It is constructed of Oregon, stringy bark frame, covered with cement fibre tiles. The church itself is built of Goddard's patented Camerated concrete, which is reputed to be a very durable substance, equal to brick, and cheaper. The roofing is of ordinary galvanised iron,…. A very pretty and special design is evident in the windows, which are of the best cathedral glass. A lily is represented in the coloured panel work of each window. The truss on the ceiling consists of some very beautiful effects produced on Oregon pine…. seating accomodation is of the very best, and was planned out and designed by Mr North…. The seats are made of Scottsdale stringy bark, nicely polished and manufactured by Messrs. J.T. Gunn and Sons, of Launceston….”
“There are two aisles in the building, and sufficient seating accommodation for about 300 to 350 persons. The cost of the church and the furniture is estimated at £900, and at the end of this year it is expected there will only be a debt of about £250 upon same”.
The original timber and iron church remained in use for a number of years before it was demolished. Due to a declining congregation the church was not used for a number of years and worship was conducted in a small building next to the church. The church was eventually sold in 2022.
Sources:
In 1890 the Anglican community at Zeehan built a “church room” at a cost of £250. During Reverend King’s tenure (1890-1893) a second more substantial “temporary” church was built. This was completed in July 1891. [See No. 1611] Fifteen years were to pass before further progress was made in building a permanent church.
Foundation Stone for St Luke’s was laid on Sunday 10 November 1907 by Bishop Mercer. and the church was officially opened and dedicated by Archdeacon Beresford on 11 August 1909. A report in the Zeehan and Dundas Herald provides a detailed description of the church as well as a timeline of its construction:
“In April, 1907, a Building Committee was formed…This committee worked assiduously, and by November of the same year sufficient funds were available to warrant preliminaries for the construction of a new church. On November 9, 1907, the Right Rev. J. E. Mercer, D.D., Lord Bishop of Tasmania, laid the foundation stone of the projected new St. Luke's Church. Early in 1908 tenders were called for the erection of the church, and in the middle of the year one of the tenders put in was accepted. However, the successful tenderer was unable to go on with the work, and in February, 1909, Mr W. G. Wells, of Zeehan, took over the abandoned contract, and proceeded with the erection, upon plans supplied by Mr North, architect, of Launceston."
"The exterior of the building is not yet quite completed, but the interior is a pleasure for the eve to see. The design of the structure in every detail exhibits a high artistic taste in the work of the architect (Mr North). He is deserving of the richest encomiums in planning this magnificent edifice. Mr W. G. Wells also must be complimented upon the skill which he and his workmen have displayed in the work of construction….”.
“The new church is situated in Belstead street (just off Main street), on the same site as that occupied by the old church. Unlike the Original St. Luke's, the new St. Luke's has its chancel facing to the east,… the main entrance is at the west end of the building”.
"The church, besides being imposing, is also commodious. In dimensions the main body of the church is 75ft by 32ft. with a chancel extending back a further 28ft. Adjoining the chancel there is an organ chamber 8ft by 12ft. At the main entrance there is a porch 10ft by 9ft. A belfry tower has been erected at the west end of the building, which rises to an eminence of 18ft above the roof. The tower tapers upwards from a base of 6ft. It is constructed of Oregon, stringy bark frame, covered with cement fibre tiles. The church itself is built of Goddard's patented Camerated concrete, which is reputed to be a very durable substance, equal to brick, and cheaper. The roofing is of ordinary galvanised iron,…. A very pretty and special design is evident in the windows, which are of the best cathedral glass. A lily is represented in the coloured panel work of each window. The truss on the ceiling consists of some very beautiful effects produced on Oregon pine…. seating accomodation is of the very best, and was planned out and designed by Mr North…. The seats are made of Scottsdale stringy bark, nicely polished and manufactured by Messrs. J.T. Gunn and Sons, of Launceston….”
“There are two aisles in the building, and sufficient seating accommodation for about 300 to 350 persons. The cost of the church and the furniture is estimated at £900, and at the end of this year it is expected there will only be a debt of about £250 upon same”.
The original timber and iron church remained in use for a number of years before it was demolished. Due to a declining congregation the church was not used for a number of years and worship was conducted in a small building next to the church. The church was eventually sold in 2022.
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| St Luke's in 2014 - Photograph: studiaphotos.wordpress.com |
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| A Google Street-view image of the church |
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| Zeehan in 1907 - the year the foundation stone of St Luke's was laid - Weekly Courier 23 March 1907 |
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| Weekly Courier, 19 August 1901 - Photo: L A Wilkinson |
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| The Tasmanian Mail, 11 September 1909 - H W Judd Photo |
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| The Tasmanian Mail, 11 September 1909 - H W Judd Photo |
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| Weekly Courier, 19 August 1901 - Photo: L A Wilkinson |
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| Weekly Courier, 19 August 1901 - Photo: L A Wilkinson |
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| The Tasmanian Mail, 11 September 1909 - H W Judd Photo |
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| The honour board that was placed in the church in 1919. https://www.monumentaustralia.org/ |
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| Photograph of the church prior to its sale in 2022 - realestate.com |
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| Photograph of the church prior to its sale in 2022 - realestate.com |
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| Photograph of the church prior to its sale in 2022 - realestate.com |
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| Photograph of the church prior to its sale in 2022 - realestate.com |
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| Photograph of the church prior to its sale in 2022 - realestate.com |
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| Photograph of the church prior to its sale in 2022 - realestate.com |
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| Photograph of the church prior to its sale in 2022 - realestate.com |
Examiner, Monday 11 November 1907, page 5
Mercury, Wednesday 20 November 1907, page 2
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Tuesday 10 August 1909, page 3
Daily Telegraph, Thursday 12 August 1909, page 8
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Thursday 12 August 1909, page 2
Examiner, Thursday 12 August 1909, page 7
Examiner, Thursday 12 August 1909, page 8
Mercury, Thursday 12 August 1909, page 4
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
Mercury, Wednesday 20 November 1907, page 2
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Tuesday 10 August 1909, page 3
Daily Telegraph, Thursday 12 August 1909, page 8
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Thursday 12 August 1909, page 2
Examiner, Thursday 12 August 1909, page 7
Examiner, Thursday 12 August 1909, page 8
Mercury, Thursday 12 August 1909, page 4
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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