No. 1637 - Latrobe - St Luke's Anglican Church (1868-1909)
Latrobe is a large regional town on the east bank of the River Mersey. The settlement was named after Charles LaTrobe, acting Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania from 1846 to 1847. Until the River Mersey silted up Latrobe was an important port town.
The first Anglican services in the Latrobe district were held at a small settlement near Ballahoo Creek on the western bank of the Mersey River. Subsequently services were held in a store that stood near the local wharf (near Bells Parade). In 1868 an Anglican church was built which was also used as a school for a number of years.
The earliest reference to the church is found in a article published in the Launceston Examiner in March 1868. The report records that following Bishop Charles Bromby’s consecration of St George’s church at New Ground:
“In the evening [Bromby] preached at Latrobe. A collection was made after the service in aid of the school and church now in the course of erection there…The site was given by Mr. J. Bonney, a resident near Latrobe. In about two months it is expected that the building will be completed”.
While the church was completed and opened in 1868 the building remained unconsecrated and was only dedicated to St Luke in 1874. The buildings use as a public school was the likely reason for this delay. Bishop Bromby’s address to the Church of England’s annual Diocesan Synod in 1875 records:
“I have also formally opened the church at Latrobe… in the Northern Archdeaconry. The fabric was erected 6 or 7 years ago as a school and church, and has done good service in that double and temporary capacity”.
By the early 1880s the church could no longer accomodate the growing congregation and for a short time worship was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall. The appointment of Reverend Hogg in 1882 gave impetus to a move to build a new church. However, due to financial constraints, a decision was instead made to renovate and enlarge the old church. In 1884 Launceston’s Daily Telegraph reported:
“The tender of Messrs. Fergus and Blair has been accepted at £90 to move and enlarge St. Luke’s Church. The building will then hold about 80 more persons”.
It is assumed that the building was moved on the site to accomodate the eventual construction of a new church. The renovated church was reopened in 1885. It continued to be used for another 25 years.
While plans for a new church were revived in 1892 this was only realised in 1909 when the present church was opened. The old church, which was retained for use as a parish hall, was eventually demolished in the 1950s.
Sources:
Launceston Examiner, Thursday 5 March 1868, page 2
Launceston Examiner, Tuesday 10 March 1874, page 3
Weekly Examiner, Saturday 29 August 1874, page 17
The Mercury, Wednesday 31 March 1875, page 2
Daily Telegraph, Saturday 29 March 1884, page 3
Daily Telegraph, Friday 12 September 1884, page 3
Daily Telegraph, Friday 17 October 1884, page 3
Tasmanian News, Tuesday 27 January 1885, page 1
Examiner, Tuesday 14 December 1909, page 3
Mercury, Wednesday 5 December 1906, page 2
North West Post, Friday 4 July 1913, page 2
Henslowe, Dorothea I and Hurburgh, Isa Our heritage of Anglican churches in Tasmania. Mercury-Walch, Moonah, Tas, 1978.
The first Anglican services in the Latrobe district were held at a small settlement near Ballahoo Creek on the western bank of the Mersey River. Subsequently services were held in a store that stood near the local wharf (near Bells Parade). In 1868 an Anglican church was built which was also used as a school for a number of years.
The earliest reference to the church is found in a article published in the Launceston Examiner in March 1868. The report records that following Bishop Charles Bromby’s consecration of St George’s church at New Ground:
“In the evening [Bromby] preached at Latrobe. A collection was made after the service in aid of the school and church now in the course of erection there…The site was given by Mr. J. Bonney, a resident near Latrobe. In about two months it is expected that the building will be completed”.
While the church was completed and opened in 1868 the building remained unconsecrated and was only dedicated to St Luke in 1874. The buildings use as a public school was the likely reason for this delay. Bishop Bromby’s address to the Church of England’s annual Diocesan Synod in 1875 records:
“I have also formally opened the church at Latrobe… in the Northern Archdeaconry. The fabric was erected 6 or 7 years ago as a school and church, and has done good service in that double and temporary capacity”.
By the early 1880s the church could no longer accomodate the growing congregation and for a short time worship was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall. The appointment of Reverend Hogg in 1882 gave impetus to a move to build a new church. However, due to financial constraints, a decision was instead made to renovate and enlarge the old church. In 1884 Launceston’s Daily Telegraph reported:
“The tender of Messrs. Fergus and Blair has been accepted at £90 to move and enlarge St. Luke’s Church. The building will then hold about 80 more persons”.
It is assumed that the building was moved on the site to accomodate the eventual construction of a new church. The renovated church was reopened in 1885. It continued to be used for another 25 years.
While plans for a new church were revived in 1892 this was only realised in 1909 when the present church was opened. The old church, which was retained for use as a parish hall, was eventually demolished in the 1950s.
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| Detail of a postcard of the first Anglican church at Latrobe. c.1909 - Photographer not known |
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| St Luke's Latrobe - photographed in 2019 |
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| Detail of a postcard of the first Anglican church at Latrobe. c.1909 - Photographer not known |
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| A postcard of the first Anglican church alongside the new church. c.1909 - Photographer not known |
Launceston Examiner, Thursday 5 March 1868, page 2
Launceston Examiner, Tuesday 10 March 1874, page 3
Weekly Examiner, Saturday 29 August 1874, page 17
The Mercury, Wednesday 31 March 1875, page 2
Daily Telegraph, Saturday 29 March 1884, page 3
Daily Telegraph, Friday 12 September 1884, page 3
Daily Telegraph, Friday 17 October 1884, page 3
Tasmanian News, Tuesday 27 January 1885, page 1
Examiner, Tuesday 14 December 1909, page 3
Mercury, Wednesday 5 December 1906, page 2
North West Post, Friday 4 July 1913, page 2
Henslowe, Dorothea I and Hurburgh, Isa Our heritage of Anglican churches in Tasmania. Mercury-Walch, Moonah, Tas, 1978.
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