No. 1662 - Shipwrights Point - Congregational Church (1867)
Shipwrights Point is now known as Port Huon. It was so named as it was the centre of boatbuilding in the district. For many years it was well known for regattas which attracted large numbers of spectators.
A visitor to the area in 1875 described the settlement as follows:
“Its population numbers perhaps a hundred and fifty, the labouring portion of which are mainly employed in connection with the shipbuilding yards of Messrs. Inches and Sons and Messrs. Hawkins and Co. Old Mr. Inches, by the way, settled here more than thirty years ago, started the industry with which his name will long be associated, and gave to the town the descriptive appellation it still bears. With some slight intermissions, shipbuilding has been carried on here ever since….Mr. Hawkins, in addition to his shipbuilding business, some years ago started a jam manufactory, which, though not of course so large as kindred establishments in Hobart Town, is remarkably complete in its appointments. Steam is used in the manufacture. The quantity of jam produced last year was stated to be fifty tons…The small settlers, as in other places, divide their time between the bush and the field, and are generally speaking prosperous and contented. The religious sects are pretty equally represented, and at the public school, under Mr. Develyn, there is a regular attendance of fifty children. There is one general store in the town, but no shops for the supply of provisions, the inhabitants being dependent for their daily bread (and meat) on Geeves' Town, Hospital Bay, and Franklin”.
The two shipbuilders, Thomas Inches and William Hawkins were instrumental in establishing a Congregational church at Shipwrights Point:
“The two men were responsible for congregational services, which were at first held in Thomas Inches’ barn. Rev. R. E. Dear visited the district at three-monthly intervals…”.
There is no record of the churches opening apart from a brief reference to it at the General Council of the Congregational Union of 1867. There is no description of the church although it was likely a small weatherboard building as typically erected in isolated rural settlements. A photograph of the church has yet to be found.
In January 1887 the church came close to being destroyed in a fire. The Tasmanian reported:
“At Shipwright’s Point to-day a small bushfire broke out, very likely due to some party’s picnicking fire, the sparks from which reached the roof of the little Congregational chapel there, setting it alight. A number of willing hands, however, speedily applied themselves to the extinguishing of the fire, which was soon secured, but not before damage was done to about £50”.
According to Theo Sharples, (Congregationalism in Tasmania, 1830–1977) the church was:
“…used until the late 1950s when the building was removed for use as a chapel at the [Congregational] Conference Centre at Seven Mile Beach. Several graves remaining were removed after the 1967 bushfires, and the site has since been built on”.
The site of the church camp at Seven Mile Beach (later known as the Uniting Church Camp Centre) has been redeveloped in recent years. It is not known if the old Shipwright Point chapel was demolished or removed from the site.
Sources:
The Mercury, Thursday 22 August 1867, page 3
The Mercury, Thursday 15 July 1875, page 3
Mercury, Monday 18 December 1882, page 3
The Mercury, Wednesday 5 January 1887, page 5
The Tasmanian, Saturday 8 January 1887, page 19
Huon times, Friday 14 March 1924, page 5
Huon Times, Friday 26 February 1926, page 2
A visitor to the area in 1875 described the settlement as follows:
“Its population numbers perhaps a hundred and fifty, the labouring portion of which are mainly employed in connection with the shipbuilding yards of Messrs. Inches and Sons and Messrs. Hawkins and Co. Old Mr. Inches, by the way, settled here more than thirty years ago, started the industry with which his name will long be associated, and gave to the town the descriptive appellation it still bears. With some slight intermissions, shipbuilding has been carried on here ever since….Mr. Hawkins, in addition to his shipbuilding business, some years ago started a jam manufactory, which, though not of course so large as kindred establishments in Hobart Town, is remarkably complete in its appointments. Steam is used in the manufacture. The quantity of jam produced last year was stated to be fifty tons…The small settlers, as in other places, divide their time between the bush and the field, and are generally speaking prosperous and contented. The religious sects are pretty equally represented, and at the public school, under Mr. Develyn, there is a regular attendance of fifty children. There is one general store in the town, but no shops for the supply of provisions, the inhabitants being dependent for their daily bread (and meat) on Geeves' Town, Hospital Bay, and Franklin”.
The two shipbuilders, Thomas Inches and William Hawkins were instrumental in establishing a Congregational church at Shipwrights Point:
“The two men were responsible for congregational services, which were at first held in Thomas Inches’ barn. Rev. R. E. Dear visited the district at three-monthly intervals…”.
There is no record of the churches opening apart from a brief reference to it at the General Council of the Congregational Union of 1867. There is no description of the church although it was likely a small weatherboard building as typically erected in isolated rural settlements. A photograph of the church has yet to be found.
In January 1887 the church came close to being destroyed in a fire. The Tasmanian reported:
“At Shipwright’s Point to-day a small bushfire broke out, very likely due to some party’s picnicking fire, the sparks from which reached the roof of the little Congregational chapel there, setting it alight. A number of willing hands, however, speedily applied themselves to the extinguishing of the fire, which was soon secured, but not before damage was done to about £50”.
According to Theo Sharples, (Congregationalism in Tasmania, 1830–1977) the church was:
“…used until the late 1950s when the building was removed for use as a chapel at the [Congregational] Conference Centre at Seven Mile Beach. Several graves remaining were removed after the 1967 bushfires, and the site has since been built on”.
The site of the church camp at Seven Mile Beach (later known as the Uniting Church Camp Centre) has been redeveloped in recent years. It is not known if the old Shipwright Point chapel was demolished or removed from the site.
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| Shipwrights Point was once a popular venue for annual regattas. Photograph c.1910 - Libraries Tasmania - Item Number PH30/1/7666 |
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| The Mercury, Wednesday 5 January 1887 |
Sources:
The Mercury, Thursday 22 August 1867, page 3
The Mercury, Thursday 15 July 1875, page 3
Mercury, Monday 18 December 1882, page 3
The Mercury, Wednesday 5 January 1887, page 5
The Tasmanian, Saturday 8 January 1887, page 19
Huon times, Friday 14 March 1924, page 5
Huon Times, Friday 26 February 1926, page 2
Sharples, Theo E. and Congregational Union of Tasmania. Congregationalism in Tasmania, 1830-1977 : a brief history / compiled by Theo E. Sharples Congregational Union of Tasmania Hobart 1977
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