Churches of Tasmania

Queenstown is the largest town in the West Coast region. At one time it was Tasmania's third largest town. In common with most West coast towns, Queenstown’s history has been shaped by the once dominant mining industry. The origins of Queenstown’s Presbyterian church date to 1897 when Reverend Matthew Hart, minister of Chalmers Church, Launceston, proposed that a church be established at the rapidly growing town. On 1 March 1897 a meeting was held at McKay, Sampson and McKinlay’s department store which stood at the corner of Orr and Sticht Streets. Following the meeting Mr R.A. Barton was appointed as missionary to Queenstown. On 30 June 1898, Mr James Cairns, owner of Cairns Hall, granted the Presbyterian community free use of the building for a period of three months. On 3 July church services commenced and a Sunday school was established on the same day. In 1899 the construction of a church was seriously contemplated following a donation of of £50 by Mr Robert Sticht, the gener...