Churches of Tasmania

West Hobart is an inner-city suburb of Hobart immediately west of the city centre. The suburb occupies the high ground below Knocklofty Hill. The Seventh-day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale followed by Hobart in 1896 and at Launceston shortly after the turn of the 20th century. The Upper Warwick Street church was opened on Friday 19 June 1896 with a dedicatory service held on Saturday morning. In 1904 a section of the church was used as an Adventist schoolroom. The original school was established by Miss Katie Judge in two rented rooms in Harrington Street around 1901. In 1933 the school was relocated to Fleet ...

Smithton is the commercial and industrial centre of the Circular Head district in the far northwest of the island. The early settlement was known as Duck River but this was changed to Smithton in 1895. Smithton is named after an Irishman, Peter Smith, who had been a constable, and later the licensee of ‘The Plough Inn,’ at Stanley. Smith moved to Duck River after buying some 500 acres of land from the Poke and Ollington families. Smith’s successful enterprises enabled his return to Ireland. The Seventh-day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a community was formed in Melbourne in 1886, members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and then Hobart followed by Launceston in the early 20th century. Smithton’s Seve...

Moonah is a suburb of Greater Hobart and is located approximately 5 kilometres north of the central business district. Moonah was previously known as South Glenorchy before it was developed as a residential area in the late 19th century. Moonah’s Seventh-day Adventist church was located on Fleet Street, which is now dominated by businesses and warehouses. The church and its school was once an important centre of the Seventh-day Adventist church and formed an important role in the denominations history. The Seventh-day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and then Hobart and Launceston shortly after the start of the...

Irishtown is rural community situated approximately 10 kilometres south of Smithton. The area was first settled in the late 1850s by Irish migrants when the area was known as Upper Duck River. In 1932 Irishtown acquired its sixth church following the establishment of a community of Seventh-Day Adventists. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a community was formed in Melbourne in 1886, members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and then Hobart followed by Launceston in the early 20th century. The first Adventist service in the Circular Head district was held at Lileah in 1902. By 1929 a “Sabbath school” was organised which met in the Lileah school. Around this time the Adventists began evange...

Currie is the largest town and administrative centre on King Island. The settlement at Currie began after the ship "Netherby" ran onto rocks, south of the harbour mouth in 1866, and was taken into the harbour for salvaging by Captain Archibald Currie. The harbour and later the settlement were named in his honour. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and then Hobart and Launceston shortly after the start of the 20th century. Currie’s Seventh Day Adventist church was established following a visit to King Island by members of the church in 1977. In 1978 ‘cottage meetings’ were held and soon ...

Kaoota is a rural settlement approximately 18 kilometres south-west of Kingston. Kaoota once had a coal mine with a dedicated railway. Mining petered out when the quality of coal started to decline. Kaoota is an aboriginal word for dusk. Kaoota’s former Seventh Day Adventist church is the only church that was established at the settlement. It was built in 1934 after Mr J.C. Warren, an elder of the church, moved into the area. It was the sixth ‘Adventist’ church to open in Tasmania. The original church, which measured only 36ft. by 18ft., was built from the timber of a single giant tree. The church was dedicated on Sunday 4 March 1934. The date of the church’s closure is not known but it is believed to be in the early 1960s, prior to the opening of a Seventh Day Adventist Church at Margate. The church has been converted into a house and is located at the junction of Pelverata Road and Coal Mine Road. Additional information about this church is welcomed as all articles are continua...

Collinsvale is a rural settlement approximately 12 kilometres west of Glenorchy. It is named after Colonel David Collins, first Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen’s Land. The area was originally known as Sorell Creek but this was changed to Bismarck in 1881. Following the outbreak of the Great War, the name Collinsvale was adopted given strong anti-German sentiment in Tasmania. The Seventh-day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in 1863. In 1885 a group travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a community was established in Melbourne in 1886, some members moved to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888, which lead to the establishment of a Hobart community. Seventh-day Adventists arrived at Bismarck in February 1889 and began to preach in the local Wesleyan church. When the church was closed to them, they held meetings in the State school classroom before this too wa...

Rosny is an eastern suburb of Greater Hobart located on the banks of the Derwent River. The suburb spreads around the western slopes of Rosny Hill. The name is taken from Rosny Point, originally named Canadian Point. This was changed to Rosny after an ancestor of Walter Bethune, who was granted the land in 1820. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860’s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and later at Hobart and Launceston. The Rosny Adventist church is located at Riawena Road. It is one of thirteen Seventh Day Adventist churches in Tasmania. A unique feature of the church is that it is used as a funeral chapel. (Phillip Stephen Funeral C...

Wynyard is a sizeable town on the northwest coast approximately 15 kilometres west of the city of Burnie. In 1798 the area was named Table Cape by Bass and Flinders. This was changed to Wynyard in 1850 in honour of E.B. Wynyard, Lieutenant-General in the New South Wales Corps. The town currently has nine active churches including a Seventh Day Adventist church. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860’s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and then Hobart and Launceston shortly after the start of the 20th century. The Adventist’s were active in Wynyard as early as 1915 with a colporteur taking place in the home of Mrs E. Hite. A Sabbath sc...

Glen Huon is a small settlement on the banks of the Huon River approximately 10 kilometres west of Huonville. The area was once a major apple-growing district. The settlement was referred to as part of the Upper Huon before the 20th century. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860’s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and then at Hobart and Launceston soon after the start of the 20th century. Church primary schools were begun in Hobart (1901), Launceston (1904), Glen Huon (1918) and Moonah (1933). The Seventh Day Adventist Church at Glen Huon was among the first five Adventist churches established in Tasmania.  Little is known about t...

Margate is a coastal town on the Channel Highway approximately 7 kilometres south of Kingston. The original settlement was closer to the sea however the modern commuter town is now centred along the highway where the town’s churches are located. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860’s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and then Hobart and Launceston soon after the start of the 20th century. The Adventist church at Margate is situated on Crescent Drive. It is one of 13 Adventist churches active in Tasmania. *Additional information and sources about the church and building are most welcome as all articles are updated. I can be contacted ...

Wynyard is a town on the northwest coast approximately 15 west of Burnie. It was originally named Table Cape by Bass and Flinders in 1798. However, it was changed to Wynyard about 1850 after E.B. Wynyard, who was a Lieutenant-General in the New South Wales Corps. The town currently has nine active churches including a Seventh Day Adventist church. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860’s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and then Hobart and Launceston shortly after the start of the 20th century. The small Adventist church on Inglis Street is one of 13 Adventist churches active in Tasmania. An Adventist congregation was established in ...

New Norfolk is a large town on the banks of the Derwent River approximately 40 kilometres west of Hobart. It is a historic town mostly settled by Norfolk Islanders soon after its establishment. When Governor Lachlan Macquarie visited the township he named it Elizabeth Town after his wife. However, it was later decided to adopt the name New Norfolk to acknowledge the new settlers. The Seventh Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination, originated in the USA in the 1860’s and had spread to Australia by the 1880’s with a church established in Melbourne in 1886. Soon after Adventists moved to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 after which a Hobart church was organised. Thereafter churches were established at Collinsvale (1889), Launceston (1904), Glen Huon (1918) and New Norfolk (1925). The story of the the Adventist’s progress at New Norfolk is told in an article published in the Hobart Mercury on the occasion ...

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church arrived in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860’s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and later at Hobart and Launceston. The Burnie Seventh-Day Adventist church is located at Park Grove. It is one of thirteen SDA churches located in Tasmania. Photograph: Duncan Grant 2019 Photograph: Duncan Grant 2019 Photograph: Duncan Grant 2019 Photograph: Duncan Grant 2019 Photograph: Duncan Grant 2019 Sources: https://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/S/Seventh.htm https://burnie.adventist.org.au

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860’s and in 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and later at Hobart and Launceston. While Deloraine’s Seventh Day Adventist Church was established in 1968, the ‘Adventists’ had made a much earlier appearance in the town. On 14 June 1906 the Launceston Examiner reported an Adventist mission had arrived at Deloraine: “Seventh Day Adventists have been living on Deloraine [sic], and it is intended to hold special services next week. Their leaders, Messrs. Starr and Pallant, will give addresses, and the company number some good singers amongst them.” A week later the Examiner reported that the Adventists were usin...