No. 1641 - Nabageena - Presbyterian Church (1915)
Nabageena is a farming district about 20 kilometres south of Smithton in Tasmania’s far north-west. When the districted was settled around 1900 it was named ‘Sunny Hills’ before ‘Nabageena’ was adopted at the time of the Great War. Some of the families associated with the early settlement include: Gaby; Rivett-Carnac; Fenton; Saward and Laird. A single church was built at Nabageena which over the years served Presbyterian, Methodist and Anglican congregations.
In October 1914 the Circular Head Chronicle reported that a meeting was held at Nabageena in Mr Reginald Gaby’s house, with Reverend Cashboult in the chair. At the meeting a decision was made to build a small weatherboard Presbyterian church. It was also agreed that the building be made available for use as a school during the week . The Chronicle's report added that there had been “money enough subscribed to cover the cost”.
The church was officially opened on Sunday 14 March 1915. There is no description of the opening service and little is known about the appearance of the simple weatherboard building. The church was used as a school from 1916 until 1921 when a new school was built.
Religious services at the church were conducted by the Presbyterian minister based at Smithton. The challenge of visiting remote Presbyterian congregations is vividly described in an article published in the Circular Head Chronicle in 1916:
“Rev. R. W. Casboult had a strenuous time on Sunday, unfortunately not an uncommon experience in the mission work of his charge. Taking Sunny Hills at 11 a.m., he passed through the back road to Trowutta, holding a service there to a well-filled schoolroom. He left there at 5 p.m. to take a third service at Irishtown, on a jaded horse, which broke down completely within six miles of Irishtown. He found it necessary to leave the horse at Mr Furphy’s place, and tramp on to Irishtown with half-an-hour to do 6 miles—a physical impossibility. Through the kindness of Mr R. Sharman, who very kindly loaned a bicycle to the “ tramping parson,” Irishtown was reached at 8.30 p.m., just one hour later than the appointed time. As an evidence of the confidence that the congregation had in their minister, a large number of people awaited him, the service concluding about 9.30 p.m. Are there any other congregations in the district who would patiently await their preacher, and then give him an attentive hearing till so late an hour ? The work of the Presbyterian Church in the remote parts of the Smithton mission [is] making rapid progress, and may be accounted for by the increasing note of earnestness in the preacher’s addresses, and his constant and close friendship with his people. We are informed that of the two horses necessary to Mr Casboult’s work, one has died, partly the result of overwork, and the second one is almost disabled. It is therefore evident that the strain that tells on the two animals must of necessity operate upon the man using them”.
By the time the school vacated the church in 1922, Presbyterian services had already ceased. In September 1925 the Circular Head Chronicle reported that the Nabageena church “belonging to the Presbyterians is now being used by the Methodists free of charge”. In 1932 a proposal was made to remove the building to Mengha where a block of land had been donated for a church for local the Presbyterian community. However, the plan did not eventuate and it appears that the Methodists acquired the building some time after this.
The Anglican community also made regular use the church from 1926. The Nabageena Public Hall (which was built in 1923 and stood opposite the post office) was also used for social gatherings by both the Methodists and Anglicans.
In 1936 the church had electric lights installed and in the early 1950s the building was thoroughly renovated. Methodist services continued to be held until the early 1960s while the Anglican’s departed from from Nabageena in the late 1950s.
Little remains of the early Nabageena settlement and significant buildings including the church, public hall and school have all been removed. I have yet to come across a photograph of the church and remain hopeful that one may be found.
Sources:
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 7 October 1914, page 5
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 10 March 1915, page 2
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 8 March 1916, page 5
Advocate, Wednesday 14 December 1921, page 4
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 30 September 1925, page 6
In October 1914 the Circular Head Chronicle reported that a meeting was held at Nabageena in Mr Reginald Gaby’s house, with Reverend Cashboult in the chair. At the meeting a decision was made to build a small weatherboard Presbyterian church. It was also agreed that the building be made available for use as a school during the week . The Chronicle's report added that there had been “money enough subscribed to cover the cost”.
The church was officially opened on Sunday 14 March 1915. There is no description of the opening service and little is known about the appearance of the simple weatherboard building. The church was used as a school from 1916 until 1921 when a new school was built.
Religious services at the church were conducted by the Presbyterian minister based at Smithton. The challenge of visiting remote Presbyterian congregations is vividly described in an article published in the Circular Head Chronicle in 1916:
“Rev. R. W. Casboult had a strenuous time on Sunday, unfortunately not an uncommon experience in the mission work of his charge. Taking Sunny Hills at 11 a.m., he passed through the back road to Trowutta, holding a service there to a well-filled schoolroom. He left there at 5 p.m. to take a third service at Irishtown, on a jaded horse, which broke down completely within six miles of Irishtown. He found it necessary to leave the horse at Mr Furphy’s place, and tramp on to Irishtown with half-an-hour to do 6 miles—a physical impossibility. Through the kindness of Mr R. Sharman, who very kindly loaned a bicycle to the “ tramping parson,” Irishtown was reached at 8.30 p.m., just one hour later than the appointed time. As an evidence of the confidence that the congregation had in their minister, a large number of people awaited him, the service concluding about 9.30 p.m. Are there any other congregations in the district who would patiently await their preacher, and then give him an attentive hearing till so late an hour ? The work of the Presbyterian Church in the remote parts of the Smithton mission [is] making rapid progress, and may be accounted for by the increasing note of earnestness in the preacher’s addresses, and his constant and close friendship with his people. We are informed that of the two horses necessary to Mr Casboult’s work, one has died, partly the result of overwork, and the second one is almost disabled. It is therefore evident that the strain that tells on the two animals must of necessity operate upon the man using them”.
By the time the school vacated the church in 1922, Presbyterian services had already ceased. In September 1925 the Circular Head Chronicle reported that the Nabageena church “belonging to the Presbyterians is now being used by the Methodists free of charge”. In 1932 a proposal was made to remove the building to Mengha where a block of land had been donated for a church for local the Presbyterian community. However, the plan did not eventuate and it appears that the Methodists acquired the building some time after this.
The Anglican community also made regular use the church from 1926. The Nabageena Public Hall (which was built in 1923 and stood opposite the post office) was also used for social gatherings by both the Methodists and Anglicans.
In 1936 the church had electric lights installed and in the early 1950s the building was thoroughly renovated. Methodist services continued to be held until the early 1960s while the Anglican’s departed from from Nabageena in the late 1950s.
Little remains of the early Nabageena settlement and significant buildings including the church, public hall and school have all been removed. I have yet to come across a photograph of the church and remain hopeful that one may be found.
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| The opening of the church was advertised in the Circular Head Chronicle. |
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| Reverend R.W. Casboult |
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| Mr Reginald Gaby (1876 - 1971) and Mrs Mary [Bald] Gaby (1876 - 1952) outside their home at Nabageena (1909). Gaby was instrumental in establishing the church and school and likely donated the land for the building. Source: Circular Head Heritage Centre |
Sources:
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 7 October 1914, page 5
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 10 March 1915, page 2
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 8 March 1916, page 5
Advocate, Wednesday 14 December 1921, page 4
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 30 September 1925, page 6
Advocate, Saturday 12 March 1932, page 6
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 15 March 1939, page 3
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 30 September 1926, page 6
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 12 December 1934, page 2
Advocate, Wednesday 26 August 1926, page 6
Advocate, Saturday 11 March 1939, page 8
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 15 March 1939, page 3
Advocate, Wednesday 3 December 1952, page 9
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 17 November 1954, page 10
Back to Circular Head Souvenir Booklet, 1952 https://nla.gov.au:443/nla.obj-3400036981
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 15 March 1939, page 3
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 30 September 1926, page 6
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 12 December 1934, page 2
Advocate, Wednesday 26 August 1926, page 6
Advocate, Saturday 11 March 1939, page 8
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 15 March 1939, page 3
Advocate, Wednesday 3 December 1952, page 9
Circular Head Chronicle, Wednesday 17 November 1954, page 10
Back to Circular Head Souvenir Booklet, 1952 https://nla.gov.au:443/nla.obj-3400036981
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