No. 1631 - Tunnack - St Brigid's Catholic Church and School (1866-1894)
Tunnack is small rural town located about 20 kilometres south of Oatlands. The district around Tunnack was predominantly settled by Irish-Catholic migrants after the mid-19th century. Settlement was promoted by the passage of the Waste Lands Act (1863) which made available small lots of cheap land for clearing and farming. The original settlements centred around properties at "The Bluff" and "Brandy Bottom”. As the Irish population grew the district was informally known as Limerick. When a township was surveyed at the crossroads to Levendale the name Tunnack was adopted. Tunnack is derived from an Aboriginal word for "cold".
Tunnack’s first Catholic church can be dated to 1866 when a 4 acre site at ‘The Bluff’ was granted for a church and burial ground. In June 1868 Father Marum wrote to the Board of Education requesting permission for “the temporary use of a chapel as a school building” and expressed his “desire to comply with the regulations of the Board”. In August the Catholic Standard published a list of subscribers who had made donations “for the erection of St. Bridget’s School and Temporary Chapel”. The building was described as being constructed “of wood, 32 feet long, 13 feet wide, and 8 feet high” and being “floored with boards, ceiled, and [having] a fireplace”. The building had “at the east end a space 8 feet deep…railed off as a sanctuary”. A “well conducted and well attended school” was “carried on five days of the week in the remainder of the building”.
This building was still in use in the late 1870s by which time the construction of a new church was being considered. This was no doubt prompted by a visit by Bishop Murphy in 1877 who was singly unimpressed by the temporary slab church:
“The approach to the chapel for several yards was strewn with flowers and evergreens, as a mark of respect to his Lordship on his first visit, this being the act of the good ladies of Tunnack, for which, indeed, they deserve thanks. After prayers being said by his Lordship and those assembled, he delivered a short but eloquent discourse on sin, its origin, and consequences. After entering fully into the subject, he next alluded to the little church, and in his remarks said it was the worst he ever saw. It is by far too small for the congregation which has considerably increased for the last few years, and in appearance it is anything but a house suitable for the worship of God. On His Lordship quitting the little church he was greeted with three hearty cheers from all assembled. The whole party then drove back to Mr. O’Connor’s, who has given a site for a new church, and their Lordships selected the spot upon which the Tunnack Roman Catholic Church is to stand…”.
In April 1878 the Tasmanian Catholic Standard announced:
“The old building used here [Tunnack] for Mass to be offered up in, will soon be dispensed with. Mr. O’Conor, the enterprising storekeeper has given some land near the crossroads, upon which a Catholic church is to be erected. Mr O’Conor has to fence the ground. A commencement has been made, which it is hoped will be continued until a suitable Church is built…”.
For reasons not known, work on a new church did not proceed and instead the old building was renovated. In May 1878 the Catholic Standard reported:
“Repairs have been done to the little church here during the past month; and they were sadly needed, seeing that the beams used as a foundation for the slabs had given way and this caused gaps on every side. The Tunnack Catholics ought to bestir themselves in getting funds for a new Church, as the present one is really a disgrace to such a populous locality….”.
The renovated old church was to be used for another 16 years and in 1881 it was moved to the crossroads. Here it remained until the new church was eventually built and consecrated in 1894. That fact that the “temporary” church remained in use for a quarter of a century is largely a consequence of ongoing economic hardship experienced by the Catholic community.
While not all of the Catholic community were poor, poverty was nevertheless evident well into the 1880s. A special correspondent for the Hobart Mercury who passed through the district wrote:
“I have said the farmers of Tunnack are fairly well to do, but there are people the reverse, indeed people abjectly poor. The fathers of some of those families work at odds and ends, splitting and fencing, or farm work, and find their earnings just enough, or a little short of what is needful to keep the bodies and souls of selves, wives, and perhaps a dozen children together. One family is in very low water, the father being dead, and mother obliged to earn what she can at washing and such work to maintain herself and eight or nine little ones. On some of the farms, during harvest and potato digging, women and girls work. I saw two young girls at this latter humiliating employment in a paddock where a moiety of the crop had escaped the frost. They were clad in brown wincey skirts and cotton jackets, and wore capacious hoods, and I thought it was a most powerful illustration of the scarcity of labour prevalent. I like to see girls and women at the dairy or washing, and other useful household employment, and, under proper supervision, don't think them misplaced in the fruit garden, hop-ground, or binding in the wheat field, but draw the line there, and would, if vested with power, punish any man, father or otherwise, who sets girls to work in the potato field….”.
Construction of a new church was initially driven by Father Marum who was based at Colebrook and later by Father Feehan at Oatlands (1877). Fundraising took the form of bazaars; concerts and on at least two occasions performances put on by minstrel groups from Oatlands and Colebrook. In June 1879 the Catholic Standard reported:
“The first concert in this thriving township…proved a great success in all respects….we sincerely hope the Rev. Father Feehan will have the success he desires in his great enterprise; and now that a beginning has been made there can be no doubt he will succeed”.
A more colourful account of the event was published in the Hobart Mercury. The highlight of the ‘concert’ or ‘show’ were the “Original Christies”, a minstrel group from Oatlands. The event… was held at Tunnack’s Good Templars Lodge, located next to the State school-room. The Mercury’s report, most of which is reproduced here, provides a fascinating window into the cultural values and attitudes of that time:
“It was the Oatlands priest who broke the ice, and got a troupe of minstrels to go there on Saturday last. He badly wants funds to build a new church and as subscriptions are dribbling in too slowly, and he sees no prospect of any kind Christian making a donation towards it of a "cool hundred or two” - though, sure, many a hundred pounds has been worse spent - he thought the charms of music might not only bring in a few pounds, but might also soften the hearts of the backward in subscribing. At his asking the Oatlands minstrels (who, I believe, term themselves the “Original Christy's") at once cheerfully consented to give a concert at Tunnack on the Queen's Birthday. About 1 p.m. they started from Oatlands and after three hours over a road portions of which make you involuntarily whistle the “Rocky Road" whilst other portions are as "level as a bowling green”- they arrived at their destination. The people had already begun to wend their way towards the "Good Templar's Hall, which had been hired for the occasion, and from North and South East and West you could see them coming, some in chaise-cart more in the saddle, but the majority on "Shanks Pony”.
"The first part of the “Minstrels" programme consisted of nigger songs and witticisms - but, stop! "I'm going before my story," as the man said - the (first part of the entertainment consisted of a "prelude" not in the programme at all nor expected by any portion. The worthy school master of Tunnack came forward on the stage (whilst the "Christy's" were being "blackened“) and gave recitations of some beautiful and instructive pieces, such as, "The Sabbath Morn,” "Cowper's' Lines on seeing the portrait of his Sister, and others. His object being (as he hinted) to amuse and preserve order until the singers came forward. Although the effect was hardly produced in full, yet the eloquent and pathetic delivery of goods sublime extracts called forth many an unbidden tear, and proof was given that the township of Tunnack has in its teacher an inexhaustible fund of matter for any "Silver Readings" the inhabitants may wish to start. The clapping and cheering had hardly subsided after “The Burial of Sir John Moore" when the Minstrels appeared. In less than while you could say “Jack Robinson" the audience were in roars with the drolleries of "Tambo" and "Bones" (Messrs. McClaren and Aitcheson), and if it be one that "a hearty laugh is the best medicine” the men of Limerick had doses of the largest and rarest kind. Messrs. Madden, Hepworth, and Robinson accompanied the songs in an artistic manner on the violin, and sang very sweetly themselves some favourite airs; whilst Messrs. Bomford, Bagley, Bradshaw, and Fox, thrummed the banjos and caused the "triangle" to contribute its silvery tinkling. In their turn these gentleman sang, and, where each did not only his beat, but did his best well, it would be invidious to single out any for special praise. When I mention that amongst the airs were, "Anna Maria Jones," "The Monkey’s Courtship," "The Roving Irish Boy, "Eilleen Alannah," and "The fussy old Mother-in-law," you can conclude that a rich treat was given….The whole concluded with a short farce, “The Barber," which so amused the juvenile portion of the audience that they could not control themselves from giving forth peal after peal of that sweet ringing laughter which belongs only to "hours, of happy childhood." Father Feehan next came forward and called on the good folks of Tunnack to thank the Oatlands Minstrels by three hearty cheers. With a will was this done, and all departed delighted with the entertainment afforded, and, of course, delighted too, to know that in a pecuniary point of view, as well as in every other way, the first concert ever given at Limerick " proved such a great success”.
In December 1879 the Catholic Standard recounted the slow progress made towards building a new church:
“Tunnack promises some day to be a large township. The great drawback is the want of a church, for the miserable makeshift at present used does not merit to be called one. Of course, at the time it was erected, it was a boon to the few and poor folks who then formed its congregation; but at the present time, considering the change that has taken place in the number and circumstances of the Tunnackites, it is a standing disgrace to them. Movements towards the building of a new church were made during the zealous pastorate of the Rev. J. Holehan [Richmond], but the effect produced was the collection in promises of some fifty or sixty pounds, but no cash paid. Another movement was made a year ago, under the present pastor, but this, too, realised only a “baker’s dozen” pounds, out of £78 promised, so that he was almost inclined to abandon altogether the idea of building a new church at the Bluff. On Sunday, 16th ult., a meeting was called after mass, and so determined did all “come up to the scratch”, as regards payment of promised subscriptions, that there is a hope now of something being done…”.
One of the first fruits of this renewed effort was a fundraising bazaar held on Tunnack Race Day in April 1880 where an amount of £50 was raised. In the following year another Bazaar was held at Oatlands where a further £100 was raised. The Mercury reported:
“The bazaar realised a….very good sum, considering that the times here are dull just now realise that it was not for a local object, but for Tunnack. A quantity of valuable articles are still on hand, and it is contemplated to hold another bazaar in a few months' time. The proceeds of the supplementary bazaar will be devoted to shingling the [Oatlands] presbytery (which has worn its present roof for 27 years) and necessary repairs to the church and school. Let us hope that charity, which is said to begin at home, may prove even still greater at next bazaar than that which has just now been shown for requirements abroad”.
In January 1882 tangible progress was at last made with Bishop Murphy visiting Tunnack to lay the foundation stone for a new church. An article published in the Catholic Standard reviewed the progress made by Tunnack’s Catholic community:
“A new era is about to dawn on this locality, and as far as church matters are concerned, a change is sorely needed. Your readers, no doubt, are aware that a church was erected of humble proportions, and of truly humble material (for it was of slabs) some fifteen or more years ago. It was erected by the late Archdeacon Marum, and was a great boon at that time to the Catholics of the Bluff. A site could not be procured, except in a backward part, far away from the great bulk of the congregation of Tunnack, and making it a weary journey each Mass Sunday for priest and people. This little rustic temple has been taken down during the past month, and is being re-erected, on a central and convenient site given by Mr. O’Conner. Here it will form a temporary Chapel and Sunday School until the new Church is finished; and very soon, too, it will be used for a Catholic School….”.
The Bishop’s visit to Tunnack is described in an article published in The Mercury:
“On Saturday last His Lordship Bishop Murphy was expected at Tunnack to administer the rite of Confirmation there, and to lay the foundation-stone of a new Catholic church. As it was known that he intended to reach Jericho by train, and thence ride to the Bluff, a few of the inhabitants rode to the Jericho siding, and here he was met by them and by the Rev, J. Feehan, who had procured for His Lordship a small but smart nag to ride, which had figured more than once over hurdles at our "Limerick Races." The route from Jericho to Tunnack is an easy and short one for equestrians, though for vehicles it is one far worse…The Bishop stayed that evening at the hospitable cottage of Mr. P. O'Brien, a worthy son of the county Clare, who, for years, has deemed it a privilege and a pleasure to entertain the soggarth [priest] and his horse at his monthly visits to Tunnack. After having refreshed the inner man, His Lordship examined the good children, who, for some months past, had been preparing for confirmation; and he expressed himself thoroughly pleased with their knowledge of the Christian Doctrine. Great credit is due to theMisses Reynolds and McAuliffe for this, and to Mr. O'Conor and Thomas O'Brien, who, with them,have given their kind help in instructing the "young ideas" of Tunnack”.
“On Sunday morning, from an early hour, folks might be seen in all directions wending their way towards the temporary chapel erected near the site of the future new church. Even Oatlands sent a fair contingent; and some ladies did not fear to "tackle" on their grey nags a journey which represents nearly 35 miles, for to and from the Bluff in one day is little short of that distance….”.
“An early Mass was offered by the Bishop, at which many assisted; and at 11 o'clock, Father Feehan said a second, in the temporary church, after which His Lordship administered the sacrament of Confirmation….”.
Following the Confirmation the ceremonial of laying the foundation stone of the new church took place:
“The beginning of this portion of the day's proceedings consisted of a sermon by Father Gleeson,of Launceston. One of our "crack preachers," to use a common phrase, Father Gleeson is ever listened to with rapt attention… He… delivered a very eloquent discourse on the occasion, which was highly admired by all denominations present….After Father Gleeson's sermon, the whole congregation proceeded to the site of the new church, where the foundation-stone was poised ready to be laid, and where the foundations of the new church were accurately marked out by a trench, as time did not permit Mr. Surman, the contractor, to do more….A collection was then made towards tho church fund, and about £52 was the result. This, considering that harvest is not yet gathered at Tunnack, and that the people are not burdened with excessive riches, was not bad, and Father Feehan expressed himself satisfied with it….”.
While the foundation stone had been laid, a further 14 years were to pass before the new church was completed. In the interim, the old slab church which had been relocated from its original site, continued to be used as a church and Sunday school.
In April 1882 it was announced that a Catholic school was to be opened at Tunnack which was to be run by 18 year old ‘Miss Florence Lucas’ and assisted by her elder sister Miss Teresa Lucas. The two women were daughters of Captain James Lucas and Eliza Lucas [nee Mooney]. The death of Captain Lucas (1866) and his wife Eliza (in 1876) left three girls and their two younger brothers orphans. The children were placed under the guardianship of Archbishop Murphy. After completing school at St Mary’s Presentation convent, Florence worked as a Governess until Father Feehan arranged for her to teach at the new Catholic School at Tunnack. In 1884 Florence was appointed as postmistress at Tunnack’s post and telegraph office. The third sister, Mary Cecilia, entered the Sacred Heart Convent in 1879, the first Tasmanian girl to done so. She was a teacher of music, and taught at Longford, Beaconsfield, and Karoola.
Tunnack’s first Catholic church can be dated to 1866 when a 4 acre site at ‘The Bluff’ was granted for a church and burial ground. In June 1868 Father Marum wrote to the Board of Education requesting permission for “the temporary use of a chapel as a school building” and expressed his “desire to comply with the regulations of the Board”. In August the Catholic Standard published a list of subscribers who had made donations “for the erection of St. Bridget’s School and Temporary Chapel”. The building was described as being constructed “of wood, 32 feet long, 13 feet wide, and 8 feet high” and being “floored with boards, ceiled, and [having] a fireplace”. The building had “at the east end a space 8 feet deep…railed off as a sanctuary”. A “well conducted and well attended school” was “carried on five days of the week in the remainder of the building”.
This building was still in use in the late 1870s by which time the construction of a new church was being considered. This was no doubt prompted by a visit by Bishop Murphy in 1877 who was singly unimpressed by the temporary slab church:
“The approach to the chapel for several yards was strewn with flowers and evergreens, as a mark of respect to his Lordship on his first visit, this being the act of the good ladies of Tunnack, for which, indeed, they deserve thanks. After prayers being said by his Lordship and those assembled, he delivered a short but eloquent discourse on sin, its origin, and consequences. After entering fully into the subject, he next alluded to the little church, and in his remarks said it was the worst he ever saw. It is by far too small for the congregation which has considerably increased for the last few years, and in appearance it is anything but a house suitable for the worship of God. On His Lordship quitting the little church he was greeted with three hearty cheers from all assembled. The whole party then drove back to Mr. O’Connor’s, who has given a site for a new church, and their Lordships selected the spot upon which the Tunnack Roman Catholic Church is to stand…”.
In April 1878 the Tasmanian Catholic Standard announced:
“The old building used here [Tunnack] for Mass to be offered up in, will soon be dispensed with. Mr. O’Conor, the enterprising storekeeper has given some land near the crossroads, upon which a Catholic church is to be erected. Mr O’Conor has to fence the ground. A commencement has been made, which it is hoped will be continued until a suitable Church is built…”.
For reasons not known, work on a new church did not proceed and instead the old building was renovated. In May 1878 the Catholic Standard reported:
“Repairs have been done to the little church here during the past month; and they were sadly needed, seeing that the beams used as a foundation for the slabs had given way and this caused gaps on every side. The Tunnack Catholics ought to bestir themselves in getting funds for a new Church, as the present one is really a disgrace to such a populous locality….”.
The renovated old church was to be used for another 16 years and in 1881 it was moved to the crossroads. Here it remained until the new church was eventually built and consecrated in 1894. That fact that the “temporary” church remained in use for a quarter of a century is largely a consequence of ongoing economic hardship experienced by the Catholic community.
While not all of the Catholic community were poor, poverty was nevertheless evident well into the 1880s. A special correspondent for the Hobart Mercury who passed through the district wrote:
“I have said the farmers of Tunnack are fairly well to do, but there are people the reverse, indeed people abjectly poor. The fathers of some of those families work at odds and ends, splitting and fencing, or farm work, and find their earnings just enough, or a little short of what is needful to keep the bodies and souls of selves, wives, and perhaps a dozen children together. One family is in very low water, the father being dead, and mother obliged to earn what she can at washing and such work to maintain herself and eight or nine little ones. On some of the farms, during harvest and potato digging, women and girls work. I saw two young girls at this latter humiliating employment in a paddock where a moiety of the crop had escaped the frost. They were clad in brown wincey skirts and cotton jackets, and wore capacious hoods, and I thought it was a most powerful illustration of the scarcity of labour prevalent. I like to see girls and women at the dairy or washing, and other useful household employment, and, under proper supervision, don't think them misplaced in the fruit garden, hop-ground, or binding in the wheat field, but draw the line there, and would, if vested with power, punish any man, father or otherwise, who sets girls to work in the potato field….”.
Construction of a new church was initially driven by Father Marum who was based at Colebrook and later by Father Feehan at Oatlands (1877). Fundraising took the form of bazaars; concerts and on at least two occasions performances put on by minstrel groups from Oatlands and Colebrook. In June 1879 the Catholic Standard reported:
“The first concert in this thriving township…proved a great success in all respects….we sincerely hope the Rev. Father Feehan will have the success he desires in his great enterprise; and now that a beginning has been made there can be no doubt he will succeed”.
A more colourful account of the event was published in the Hobart Mercury. The highlight of the ‘concert’ or ‘show’ were the “Original Christies”, a minstrel group from Oatlands. The event… was held at Tunnack’s Good Templars Lodge, located next to the State school-room. The Mercury’s report, most of which is reproduced here, provides a fascinating window into the cultural values and attitudes of that time:
“It was the Oatlands priest who broke the ice, and got a troupe of minstrels to go there on Saturday last. He badly wants funds to build a new church and as subscriptions are dribbling in too slowly, and he sees no prospect of any kind Christian making a donation towards it of a "cool hundred or two” - though, sure, many a hundred pounds has been worse spent - he thought the charms of music might not only bring in a few pounds, but might also soften the hearts of the backward in subscribing. At his asking the Oatlands minstrels (who, I believe, term themselves the “Original Christy's") at once cheerfully consented to give a concert at Tunnack on the Queen's Birthday. About 1 p.m. they started from Oatlands and after three hours over a road portions of which make you involuntarily whistle the “Rocky Road" whilst other portions are as "level as a bowling green”- they arrived at their destination. The people had already begun to wend their way towards the "Good Templar's Hall, which had been hired for the occasion, and from North and South East and West you could see them coming, some in chaise-cart more in the saddle, but the majority on "Shanks Pony”.
"The first part of the “Minstrels" programme consisted of nigger songs and witticisms - but, stop! "I'm going before my story," as the man said - the (first part of the entertainment consisted of a "prelude" not in the programme at all nor expected by any portion. The worthy school master of Tunnack came forward on the stage (whilst the "Christy's" were being "blackened“) and gave recitations of some beautiful and instructive pieces, such as, "The Sabbath Morn,” "Cowper's' Lines on seeing the portrait of his Sister, and others. His object being (as he hinted) to amuse and preserve order until the singers came forward. Although the effect was hardly produced in full, yet the eloquent and pathetic delivery of goods sublime extracts called forth many an unbidden tear, and proof was given that the township of Tunnack has in its teacher an inexhaustible fund of matter for any "Silver Readings" the inhabitants may wish to start. The clapping and cheering had hardly subsided after “The Burial of Sir John Moore" when the Minstrels appeared. In less than while you could say “Jack Robinson" the audience were in roars with the drolleries of "Tambo" and "Bones" (Messrs. McClaren and Aitcheson), and if it be one that "a hearty laugh is the best medicine” the men of Limerick had doses of the largest and rarest kind. Messrs. Madden, Hepworth, and Robinson accompanied the songs in an artistic manner on the violin, and sang very sweetly themselves some favourite airs; whilst Messrs. Bomford, Bagley, Bradshaw, and Fox, thrummed the banjos and caused the "triangle" to contribute its silvery tinkling. In their turn these gentleman sang, and, where each did not only his beat, but did his best well, it would be invidious to single out any for special praise. When I mention that amongst the airs were, "Anna Maria Jones," "The Monkey’s Courtship," "The Roving Irish Boy, "Eilleen Alannah," and "The fussy old Mother-in-law," you can conclude that a rich treat was given….The whole concluded with a short farce, “The Barber," which so amused the juvenile portion of the audience that they could not control themselves from giving forth peal after peal of that sweet ringing laughter which belongs only to "hours, of happy childhood." Father Feehan next came forward and called on the good folks of Tunnack to thank the Oatlands Minstrels by three hearty cheers. With a will was this done, and all departed delighted with the entertainment afforded, and, of course, delighted too, to know that in a pecuniary point of view, as well as in every other way, the first concert ever given at Limerick " proved such a great success”.
In December 1879 the Catholic Standard recounted the slow progress made towards building a new church:
“Tunnack promises some day to be a large township. The great drawback is the want of a church, for the miserable makeshift at present used does not merit to be called one. Of course, at the time it was erected, it was a boon to the few and poor folks who then formed its congregation; but at the present time, considering the change that has taken place in the number and circumstances of the Tunnackites, it is a standing disgrace to them. Movements towards the building of a new church were made during the zealous pastorate of the Rev. J. Holehan [Richmond], but the effect produced was the collection in promises of some fifty or sixty pounds, but no cash paid. Another movement was made a year ago, under the present pastor, but this, too, realised only a “baker’s dozen” pounds, out of £78 promised, so that he was almost inclined to abandon altogether the idea of building a new church at the Bluff. On Sunday, 16th ult., a meeting was called after mass, and so determined did all “come up to the scratch”, as regards payment of promised subscriptions, that there is a hope now of something being done…”.
One of the first fruits of this renewed effort was a fundraising bazaar held on Tunnack Race Day in April 1880 where an amount of £50 was raised. In the following year another Bazaar was held at Oatlands where a further £100 was raised. The Mercury reported:
“The bazaar realised a….very good sum, considering that the times here are dull just now realise that it was not for a local object, but for Tunnack. A quantity of valuable articles are still on hand, and it is contemplated to hold another bazaar in a few months' time. The proceeds of the supplementary bazaar will be devoted to shingling the [Oatlands] presbytery (which has worn its present roof for 27 years) and necessary repairs to the church and school. Let us hope that charity, which is said to begin at home, may prove even still greater at next bazaar than that which has just now been shown for requirements abroad”.
In January 1882 tangible progress was at last made with Bishop Murphy visiting Tunnack to lay the foundation stone for a new church. An article published in the Catholic Standard reviewed the progress made by Tunnack’s Catholic community:
“A new era is about to dawn on this locality, and as far as church matters are concerned, a change is sorely needed. Your readers, no doubt, are aware that a church was erected of humble proportions, and of truly humble material (for it was of slabs) some fifteen or more years ago. It was erected by the late Archdeacon Marum, and was a great boon at that time to the Catholics of the Bluff. A site could not be procured, except in a backward part, far away from the great bulk of the congregation of Tunnack, and making it a weary journey each Mass Sunday for priest and people. This little rustic temple has been taken down during the past month, and is being re-erected, on a central and convenient site given by Mr. O’Conner. Here it will form a temporary Chapel and Sunday School until the new Church is finished; and very soon, too, it will be used for a Catholic School….”.
The Bishop’s visit to Tunnack is described in an article published in The Mercury:
“On Saturday last His Lordship Bishop Murphy was expected at Tunnack to administer the rite of Confirmation there, and to lay the foundation-stone of a new Catholic church. As it was known that he intended to reach Jericho by train, and thence ride to the Bluff, a few of the inhabitants rode to the Jericho siding, and here he was met by them and by the Rev, J. Feehan, who had procured for His Lordship a small but smart nag to ride, which had figured more than once over hurdles at our "Limerick Races." The route from Jericho to Tunnack is an easy and short one for equestrians, though for vehicles it is one far worse…The Bishop stayed that evening at the hospitable cottage of Mr. P. O'Brien, a worthy son of the county Clare, who, for years, has deemed it a privilege and a pleasure to entertain the soggarth [priest] and his horse at his monthly visits to Tunnack. After having refreshed the inner man, His Lordship examined the good children, who, for some months past, had been preparing for confirmation; and he expressed himself thoroughly pleased with their knowledge of the Christian Doctrine. Great credit is due to theMisses Reynolds and McAuliffe for this, and to Mr. O'Conor and Thomas O'Brien, who, with them,have given their kind help in instructing the "young ideas" of Tunnack”.
“On Sunday morning, from an early hour, folks might be seen in all directions wending their way towards the temporary chapel erected near the site of the future new church. Even Oatlands sent a fair contingent; and some ladies did not fear to "tackle" on their grey nags a journey which represents nearly 35 miles, for to and from the Bluff in one day is little short of that distance….”.
“An early Mass was offered by the Bishop, at which many assisted; and at 11 o'clock, Father Feehan said a second, in the temporary church, after which His Lordship administered the sacrament of Confirmation….”.
Following the Confirmation the ceremonial of laying the foundation stone of the new church took place:
“The beginning of this portion of the day's proceedings consisted of a sermon by Father Gleeson,of Launceston. One of our "crack preachers," to use a common phrase, Father Gleeson is ever listened to with rapt attention… He… delivered a very eloquent discourse on the occasion, which was highly admired by all denominations present….After Father Gleeson's sermon, the whole congregation proceeded to the site of the new church, where the foundation-stone was poised ready to be laid, and where the foundations of the new church were accurately marked out by a trench, as time did not permit Mr. Surman, the contractor, to do more….A collection was then made towards tho church fund, and about £52 was the result. This, considering that harvest is not yet gathered at Tunnack, and that the people are not burdened with excessive riches, was not bad, and Father Feehan expressed himself satisfied with it….”.
While the foundation stone had been laid, a further 14 years were to pass before the new church was completed. In the interim, the old slab church which had been relocated from its original site, continued to be used as a church and Sunday school.
In April 1882 it was announced that a Catholic school was to be opened at Tunnack which was to be run by 18 year old ‘Miss Florence Lucas’ and assisted by her elder sister Miss Teresa Lucas. The two women were daughters of Captain James Lucas and Eliza Lucas [nee Mooney]. The death of Captain Lucas (1866) and his wife Eliza (in 1876) left three girls and their two younger brothers orphans. The children were placed under the guardianship of Archbishop Murphy. After completing school at St Mary’s Presentation convent, Florence worked as a Governess until Father Feehan arranged for her to teach at the new Catholic School at Tunnack. In 1884 Florence was appointed as postmistress at Tunnack’s post and telegraph office. The third sister, Mary Cecilia, entered the Sacred Heart Convent in 1879, the first Tasmanian girl to done so. She was a teacher of music, and taught at Longford, Beaconsfield, and Karoola.
In July 1887 Teresa Lucas tragically passed away at the age of 27. Launceston’s Daily Telegraph records that at her funeral “a very large number [joined] the procession… Miss Lucas conducted the Roman Catholic School…and much genuine regret was felt here that one gifted with so many amiable qualities should have suffered so much and died so young”.
Three years after the death of Teresa Lucas, the first Sisters’ of St Joseph established a convent school which housed in Tunnack's old church.
In July 1894 the Convent was visited by Bishop Daniel Murphy on the occasion of the opening and consecration of the new St Brigid’s church. After visiting and admiring the new church, the Bishop inspected the neighbouring convent where:
“Two zealous sisters of St Joseph have been living for about three years. This little edifice and its schoolroom (which has been also used for 14 years or so as a church), are more than humble in appearance - in fact, so lowly-looking as to be practical proof of the self-sacrificing spirit of the Holy Order, which obliges its members to live in any dwelling, no matter how poor, if they can do work for the little ones dear to the Sacred Heart…However, the bishop, whilst he admired their self-denial and self sacrifice in bearing with this trial, determined at once that a change must be made and a proper dwelling erected….”
Consequently in August 1894 tenders for “the first portion of a convent” were advertised and the building was completed in the following year. With the opening of the new convent, the old church-school was finally abandoned. However, the old building was still in existence in 1930 as a report in the Mercury in July of that year mentions that it was used by the Sisters as a wash-house.
The history of Tunnack’s convent-school will feature in a future article on ‘Churches of Tasmania’. The history of the new church can be found here [No.402]. Further articles about churches in the Tunnack district already published on the blog include:
Tunnack Methodist Church [No. 1628]
St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church [No. 433]
Tunnack’s original Presbyterian church [No. 431]
Three years after the death of Teresa Lucas, the first Sisters’ of St Joseph established a convent school which housed in Tunnack's old church.
In July 1894 the Convent was visited by Bishop Daniel Murphy on the occasion of the opening and consecration of the new St Brigid’s church. After visiting and admiring the new church, the Bishop inspected the neighbouring convent where:
“Two zealous sisters of St Joseph have been living for about three years. This little edifice and its schoolroom (which has been also used for 14 years or so as a church), are more than humble in appearance - in fact, so lowly-looking as to be practical proof of the self-sacrificing spirit of the Holy Order, which obliges its members to live in any dwelling, no matter how poor, if they can do work for the little ones dear to the Sacred Heart…However, the bishop, whilst he admired their self-denial and self sacrifice in bearing with this trial, determined at once that a change must be made and a proper dwelling erected….”
Consequently in August 1894 tenders for “the first portion of a convent” were advertised and the building was completed in the following year. With the opening of the new convent, the old church-school was finally abandoned. However, the old building was still in existence in 1930 as a report in the Mercury in July of that year mentions that it was used by the Sisters as a wash-house.
The history of Tunnack’s convent-school will feature in a future article on ‘Churches of Tasmania’. The history of the new church can be found here [No.402]. Further articles about churches in the Tunnack district already published on the blog include:
Tunnack Methodist Church [No. 1628]
St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church [No. 433]
Tunnack’s original Presbyterian church [No. 431]
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| The old slab church-school at Tunnack at its new site at the crossroads. c.1882. In the doorway are teachers Florence and Teresa Lucas. Father Feehan is visible on the far left. Fr. Terry Southerwood -Hobart Catholic Archdiocese |
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| The headstone of Teresa Lucas located in St Brigid's cemetery. Theresa was of the first teachers at the Tunnack Catholic school - Source: findagrave.com |
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| Mercury, Monday 20 August 1894 |
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| The convent school built in 1894 - Hobart Catholic Archdiocese |
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| Cornwall Chronicle, Saturday 3 April 1880 |
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| St Brigid's in 1904 with its old shingle roof - Weekly Courier |
Sources and further information:
Mercury, Tuesday 11 September 1866, page 2
Mercury, Wednesday 10 June 1868, page 3
Tasmanian Catholic Standard, April 1868
Tasmanian Tribune, Thursday 20 January 1876, page 3
Mercury, Monday 3 December 1877, page 2
Tasmanian Catholic Standard, May 1878
Tasmanian Catholic Standard, June 1878
Tasmanian Catholic Standard, August 1878
Tasmanian Catholic Standard, December 1878
Tasmanian Catholic Standard, April 1880
Tasmanian Catholic Standard, July 1880
Tasmanian Catholic Standard, December 1881
Tasmanian Catholic Standard, January 1882
Tasmanian Catholic Standard, April 1882
Tasmanian News, Friday 21 January 1887, page 4
Mercury, Wednesday 28 May 1879, page 2
Tasmanian News, Friday 21 January 1887, page 4
Cornwall Chronicle, Saturday 3 April 1880, page 3
Mercury, Wednesday 5 October 1881, page 1
Mercury, Saturday 24 December 1881, page 2
Mercury, Saturday 5 July 1884, page 1
Daily Telegraph, Thursday 4 August 1887, page 3
Mercury, Friday 6 January 1882, page 3
The Monitor, July 1894
Mercury, Monday 20 August 1894, page 1
Weekly Courier, Saturday 3 April 1904, page 24
Mercury, monday 28 July 1930, page 3
Beven, Kathleen and Friends of Tunnack Heritage Committee. A collection of memories : Tunnack, Tasmania / Kathleen Beven Friends of Tunnack Heritage Committee [Hobart 2012
Southerwood, W. T Planting a faith in Tasmania : the country parishes. [W. T. Southerwood], [Hobart], 1977.
https://obrienirelandvdl.wordpress.com/2017/01/22/the-history-of-st-brigids-tunnack-tasmania/
https://jameshuntlucas.wordpress.com/
Pamphlet produced by St Brigid's at Tunnack (produced 1998) Supplied by Lyn Scott
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