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Anglican Christ Church, Hamilton

The foundation stone of Christ Church was laid in November 1876 and the building opened in 1878. Designed by Ballarat architect H.R. Casselli, this bluestone building incorporates a massive tower and spire at the west end, and a spacious nave, unusually of unplastered bluestone. The apsidal chancel was added in 1956 - 1957 to the design of G.S. Richards, Ballarat diocesan architect. In 1924, Robert Prenzel provided a design for a reredos and side panelling at the church. The organ was built in 1892 by Cassons Patent Organ Company, London and was installed in the residence of the Hon. William Winter Irving, Toorak in 1894. The instrument was moved to Christ Church after 1901, and was rebuilt in 1957 by Hill, Norman & Beard, who electrified the action, resited the organ on a loft above the chancel and supplied a new console, but retaining all of the original pipework. The instrument is of particular interest for its imitative string stops, thought to have been voiced by William Thynne, who worked for Casson at the time, and the first such stops in Australia and also for its floridly decorated facade pipes.

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Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Tabor

When the pioneers arrived and settled in this district, services were held in the homes of the members. The first service that Pastor C.W. Schurmann conducted was held on December 26, 1853. In 1860 it was decided to erect a church. The foundation stone was laid on December 27 and early in 1861 a bluestone church was dedicated. However, the church soon began to deteriorate. When signs of collapse were evident, it was demolished and a new bluestone church was erected and dedicated on July 10, 1884.

By 1910, the Tabor congregation had expanded to such an extent that the members decided to build a larger church. On May 25, 1911, the foundation stone was laid for the current church. The bluestone for the new church was quarried out of Mr Andreas Rentsch’s property and carted on wagons and horses by Tabor members to the church site. The sandstone was carted by bullock teams from Mount Abrupt quarries. On March 7, 1912, an attendance of 1000 people saw the dedication of this building.

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Trinity Lutheran Church, Warrayure

Members of St. Michael’s, Hochkirch (Tarrington), living in the Warrayure area, began meeting for worship in the Lutheran School building which had been built nearby on Mr. E. B. Noske’s property in 1895. The group decided to build their own church (the present church), and this was dedicated in 1909. The building was enlarged in 1929 with the addition of a transept, chancel and vestry.

The first one-manual pipe organ was donated in 1911. In 1961, the organ was sent to the Melbourne factory of Hill, Norman & Beard Pty. Ltd. A new modern
detached console with 14 speaking stops was fitted, and the organ extended to include a total of 970 pipes, as we see today.

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St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Hamilton

St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church was the focus for Presbyterianism, not just for Hamilton but for much of the squatter-dominated Western District. St Andrew’s first church was built in 1857, but the growth and prosperity of Hamilton early in the century made it possible for several church facilities to be improved. The final stage of St Andrew’s Gothic - style bluestone church with Mount Abrupt sandstone dressings was opened on June 6, 1909. A strong core at St Andrew’s adhered to traditional Presbyterian theology and voted to remain as a Presbyterian congregation when the Uniting Church in Australia was established in 1977.

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St Mary's Catholic Church, Hamilton

Hamilton’s Catholic Church services in the mid-1850s were conducted in a small wooden chapel in Lonsdale Street at the far end of town. The congregation was without a parish priest for several years and services were held only when one could visit the town. When the new church opened in 1866, Father Michael Shanahan (1837 - 1931) arrived and served the Hamilton parish until his passing. The first section of the church was designed in 1865 by distinguished architect William Wilkinson Wardell, who was also responsible for designing St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne and many other significant buildings. The original section was completed in 1866, with the west end completed in 1902 and the spire in 1916. Hamilton architect Francis Punch designed the extensions carried out in 1987.

Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Coleraine

In 1849 Dr Francis Thomas Cusack Russell was appointed to the District of the Wannon. During the 24 years of his ministry he was responsible for the building of Anglican churches in Branxholme, Casterton, Coleraine, Digby, Henty and Merino. The foundation stone of Holy Trinity was laid in 1865 by Dr Russell. The tower or belfry was later added. In 1876 the stone building now known as the Sunday School was built. The chancel was added in 1877 in memory of Dr Russell and features stunning stained glass windows, as do other walls of this beautiful building. The District of the Wannon was reorganised in 1876, and the parish name changed to Coleraine in 1885. The Church was consecrated in 1884 by Bishop Thornton and a set of 8 carillon bells were rung for the first time on Easter Saturday, 1887. The present rectory was built in 1901. The new pipe organ and chamber were dedicated by Archdeacon Bennett in 1921. A special centenary service was held in 1966. The vision, foresight and tremendous efforts of Rev. P. J. Coote and dedication of volunteer workers from the parish achieved an amazing refurbishment project in time for the celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone on February 11th, 1990. A comprehensive history of Holy Trinity Coleraine, written by B. J. Pepper and published in 1990, makes fascinating reading.

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Anglican Christ Church, Hamilton The foundation stone of Christ Church was laid in November 1876 and the building opened in 1878. Designed by Ballarat architect H.R. Casselli, this bluestone building incorporates a massive tower and spire at the west end, and a spacious nave, unusually of unplastered bluestone. The apsidal chancel was added in 1956 - 1957 to the design of G.S. Richards, Ballarat diocesan architect. In 1924, Robert Prenzel provided a design for a reredos and side panelling at the church. The organ was built in 1892 by Cassons Patent Organ Company, London and was installed in the residence of the Hon. William Winter Irving, Toorak in 1894. The instrument was moved to Christ Church after 1901, and was rebuilt in 1957 by Hill, Norman & Beard, who electrified the action, resited the organ on a loft above the chancel and supplied a new console, but retaining all of the original pipework. The instrument is of particular interest for its imitative string stops, thought to have been voiced by William Thynne, who worked for Casson at the time, and the first such stops in Australia and also for its floridly decorated facade pipes.




	View Larger Map
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Tabor When the pioneers arrived and settled in this district, services were held in the homes of the members. The first service that Pastor C.W. Schurmann conducted was held on December 26, 1853. In 1860 it was decided to erect a church. The foundation stone was laid on December 27 and early in 1861 a bluestone church was dedicated. However, the church soon began to deteriorate. When signs of collapse were evident, it was demolished and a new bluestone church was erected and dedicated on July 10, 1884. By 1910, the Tabor congregation had expanded to such an extent that the members decided to build a larger church. On May 25, 1911, the foundation stone was laid for the current church. The bluestone for the new church was quarried out of Mr Andreas Rentsch’s property and carted on wagons and horses by Tabor members to the church site. The sandstone was carted by bullock teams from Mount Abrupt quarries. On March 7, 1912, an attendance of 1000 people saw the dedication of this building.



	View Larger Map
Trinity Lutheran Church, Warrayure Members of St. Michael’s, Hochkirch (Tarrington), living in the Warrayure area, began meeting for worship in the Lutheran School building which had been built nearby on Mr. E. B. Noske’s property in 1895. The group decided to build their own church (the present church), and this was dedicated in 1909. The building was enlarged in 1929 with the addition of a transept, chancel and vestry. The first one-manual pipe organ was donated in 1911. In 1961, the organ was sent to the Melbourne factory of Hill, Norman & Beard Pty. Ltd. A new modern detached console with 14 speaking stops was fitted, and the organ extended to include a total of 970 pipes, as we see today.



	View Larger Map
St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Hamilton St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church was the focus for Presbyterianism, not just for Hamilton but for much of the squatter-dominated Western District. St Andrew’s first church was built in 1857, but the growth and prosperity of Hamilton early in the century made it possible for several church facilities to be improved. The final stage of St Andrew’s Gothic - style bluestone church with Mount Abrupt sandstone dressings was opened on June 6, 1909. A strong core at St Andrew’s adhered to traditional Presbyterian theology and voted to remain as a Presbyterian congregation when the Uniting Church in Australia was established in 1977.




	View Larger Map
St Mary's Catholic Church, Hamilton Hamilton’s Catholic Church services in the mid-1850s were conducted in a small wooden chapel in Lonsdale Street at the far end of town. The congregation was without a parish priest for several years and services were held only when one could visit the town. When the new church opened in 1866, Father Michael Shanahan (1837 - 1931) arrived and served the Hamilton parish until his passing. The first section of the church was designed in 1865 by distinguished architect William Wilkinson Wardell, who was also responsible for designing St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne and many other significant buildings. The original section was completed in 1866, with the west end completed in 1902 and the spire in 1916. Hamilton architect Francis Punch designed the extensions carried out in 1987.




Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Coleraine In 1849 Dr Francis Thomas Cusack Russell was appointed to the District of the Wannon. During the 24 years of his ministry he was responsible for the building of Anglican churches in Branxholme, Casterton, Coleraine, Digby, Henty and Merino. The foundation stone of Holy Trinity was laid in 1865 by Dr Russell. The tower or belfry was later added. In 1876 the stone building now known as the Sunday School was built. The chancel was added in 1877 in memory of Dr Russell and features stunning stained glass windows, as do other walls of this beautiful building. The District of the Wannon was reorganised in 1876, and the parish name changed to Coleraine in 1885. The Church was consecrated in 1884 by Bishop Thornton and a set of 8 carillon bells were rung for the first time on Easter Saturday, 1887. The present rectory was built in 1901. The new pipe organ and chamber were dedicated by Archdeacon Bennett in 1921. A special centenary service was held in 1966. The vision, foresight and tremendous efforts of Rev. P. J. Coote and dedication of volunteer workers from the parish achieved an amazing refurbishment project in time for the celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone on February 11th, 1990. A comprehensive history of Holy Trinity Coleraine, written by B. J. Pepper and published in 1990, makes fascinating reading.

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