No. 1656 - Zeehan - St Andrew's Presbyterian Church (1897-1916)
Zeehan is a town on the West Coast 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’.
Of the nine religious denominations that were once active in Zeehan only two remain. One of the earliest departures was Zeehan’s Presbyterian community which had a presence in the town for only 25 years. From the time of the establishment of the church until its closure in 1916, the problem of the supply of a permanent minister was an enduring issue.
In 1891 Zeehan’s small Presbyterian community petitioned the Presbyterian Church in Hobart for support. In February 1892 Reverend Charles Henry Talbot of Chalmers Church, Hobart, led the first Presbyterian service at Williams Hall. Subsequently services were held in Linton’s Hall which was hired for 10 shillings a week. In the year before a church was built in 1897, services were held at the Masonic Hall.
The movement to built a church began in late 1896. When a block of land was donated for this purpose in February 1897 rapid progress was made. The Zeehan and Dundas Herald reported:
“It will he gratifying to Presbyterians to learn that an effort is being made for a more permanent settlement in church matters. The Rev William Riding (who comes from the neighbourhood of Hobart with a very favourable reputation as a minister and preacher) his commenced work, and expects to settle in Zeehan as pastor of the church. A large number of those interested in this matter met on Monday evening last to consider what steps should be taken to raise a new church and otherwise provide for permanent work in the township. Some valuable steps were taken, and Mr S. J. Honiball offered and gave free of charge a piece of land on which a church might be erected. This offer was very gratefully accepted, and steps are being taken to commence building without delay….”.
The church was built on Wilson Street, near the corner of Main Street and within sight of the Cecil Hotel. The foundation stone was ceremonially laid on Wednesday 22 September 1897 by Rev. Dr. Scott and assisted by the Rev. R. Bayles. The church was officially opened on Sunday 21 November 1897.
The church, which could seat 250 worshippers, was constructed of weatherboard at a cost of almost £300. It was constructed by Mr F. Kendell and designed by Mr H. E. Gooding, both men being local tradesmen. The dimensions of the building are given as 50 feet x 30 feet for the main auditorium with a vestibule (18ft x 6ft) and an anteroom (20ft x 10ft). A loan of £200 was provided by Mr J H S Munro who also donated the seating.
From the outset the congregation struggled to secure a permanent minister even though a manse was eventually built on land donated by Mr W Rawson. In 1903 the congregation was listed as “71 adherents” while “62 scholars attended the Sunday-school, of which Mr. S. G. Hall was superintendent”.
The departure of Reverend J. A. Lee in April 1909 brought a period of decline for the church. A number of Home Missionaries did their best in the absence of a permanent minister. By 1914 services became intermittent and were suspended by 1916.
Despite the churches closure the building was maintained by a “loyal elder” who “from sheer devotion, with his own hands and at his own expense, did what was needful in maintenance and painting, in the hope of a revival of the town”.
This however never eventuated and the church was eventually sold. The building was demolished around 1939.
I have located only two photographs of the church, one of the interior and the other showing a partial view of building at its location near the corner of Wilson and Main Streets.
Of the nine religious denominations that were once active in Zeehan only two remain. One of the earliest departures was Zeehan’s Presbyterian community which had a presence in the town for only 25 years. From the time of the establishment of the church until its closure in 1916, the problem of the supply of a permanent minister was an enduring issue.
In 1891 Zeehan’s small Presbyterian community petitioned the Presbyterian Church in Hobart for support. In February 1892 Reverend Charles Henry Talbot of Chalmers Church, Hobart, led the first Presbyterian service at Williams Hall. Subsequently services were held in Linton’s Hall which was hired for 10 shillings a week. In the year before a church was built in 1897, services were held at the Masonic Hall.
The movement to built a church began in late 1896. When a block of land was donated for this purpose in February 1897 rapid progress was made. The Zeehan and Dundas Herald reported:
“It will he gratifying to Presbyterians to learn that an effort is being made for a more permanent settlement in church matters. The Rev William Riding (who comes from the neighbourhood of Hobart with a very favourable reputation as a minister and preacher) his commenced work, and expects to settle in Zeehan as pastor of the church. A large number of those interested in this matter met on Monday evening last to consider what steps should be taken to raise a new church and otherwise provide for permanent work in the township. Some valuable steps were taken, and Mr S. J. Honiball offered and gave free of charge a piece of land on which a church might be erected. This offer was very gratefully accepted, and steps are being taken to commence building without delay….”.
The church was built on Wilson Street, near the corner of Main Street and within sight of the Cecil Hotel. The foundation stone was ceremonially laid on Wednesday 22 September 1897 by Rev. Dr. Scott and assisted by the Rev. R. Bayles. The church was officially opened on Sunday 21 November 1897.
The church, which could seat 250 worshippers, was constructed of weatherboard at a cost of almost £300. It was constructed by Mr F. Kendell and designed by Mr H. E. Gooding, both men being local tradesmen. The dimensions of the building are given as 50 feet x 30 feet for the main auditorium with a vestibule (18ft x 6ft) and an anteroom (20ft x 10ft). A loan of £200 was provided by Mr J H S Munro who also donated the seating.
From the outset the congregation struggled to secure a permanent minister even though a manse was eventually built on land donated by Mr W Rawson. In 1903 the congregation was listed as “71 adherents” while “62 scholars attended the Sunday-school, of which Mr. S. G. Hall was superintendent”.
The departure of Reverend J. A. Lee in April 1909 brought a period of decline for the church. A number of Home Missionaries did their best in the absence of a permanent minister. By 1914 services became intermittent and were suspended by 1916.
Despite the churches closure the building was maintained by a “loyal elder” who “from sheer devotion, with his own hands and at his own expense, did what was needful in maintenance and painting, in the hope of a revival of the town”.
This however never eventuated and the church was eventually sold. The building was demolished around 1939.
I have located only two photographs of the church, one of the interior and the other showing a partial view of building at its location near the corner of Wilson and Main Streets.
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| A detail taken from a photograph (see below) showing St Andrew's Presbyterian church near the corner of Wilson street and Main Street |
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| Source: Christine Youd, posted in the Facebook group "West Coasters, Who remembers when..." Posted 24 March 2026. The origin of the photograph is not indicated. |
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| Postcard showing the interior of St Andrew's Presbyterian church. Source: QVM 1988:P:0438 |
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| Postcard of Zeehan showing the vicinity in which St Andrew's was located (out of frame in the left corner of the photograph. Producer unknown. |
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| The Mercury, Monday 22 November 1897 |
Sources:
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Friday 12 February 1897, page 4
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Thursday 9 September 1897, page 3
The Mercury, Thursday 23 September 1897, page 3
The Mercury, Monday 22 November 1897, page 3
Heyer, J. (Johannes), 1872-1945 and Presbytery of Tasmania and Archive Digital Books Australasia. The Presbyterian pioneers of Van Diemen's Land [electronic resource] : a contribution to the ecclesiastical history of Tasmania / by J. Heyer Archive Digital Books Australasia [Modbury, S. Aust.] 2010
Howard, Patrick, 1935-. The Zeehan El Dorado : a history of Zeehan / Patrick Howard Mount Heemskirk Books Blackmans Bay, Tas. 2006
Miller, R. S. (Robert S.), -1981 and Harvey, W. R and Presbyterian Church of Tasmania. Presbyterian Church of Tasmania, triple jubilee, 1973 : record / compiled and edited by R.S. Miller ; Foreword by G.A. McC. Wood ; Photography by W.R. Harvey Presbytery of Tasmania Hobart 1973
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Friday 12 February 1897, page 4
Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Thursday 9 September 1897, page 3
The Mercury, Thursday 23 September 1897, page 3
The Mercury, Monday 22 November 1897, page 3
Heyer, J. (Johannes), 1872-1945 and Presbytery of Tasmania and Archive Digital Books Australasia. The Presbyterian pioneers of Van Diemen's Land [electronic resource] : a contribution to the ecclesiastical history of Tasmania / by J. Heyer Archive Digital Books Australasia [Modbury, S. Aust.] 2010
Howard, Patrick, 1935-. The Zeehan El Dorado : a history of Zeehan / Patrick Howard Mount Heemskirk Books Blackmans Bay, Tas. 2006
Miller, R. S. (Robert S.), -1981 and Harvey, W. R and Presbyterian Church of Tasmania. Presbyterian Church of Tasmania, triple jubilee, 1973 : record / compiled and edited by R.S. Miller ; Foreword by G.A. McC. Wood ; Photography by W.R. Harvey Presbytery of Tasmania Hobart 1973
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