This page is dedicated to the history of the former St Peters Church in Wandiligong, Victoria, Australia. The following history has been obtained largely from the work of Mr Ken Treacy, author of 'Beyond Gold 150 years of memories 1848-1998' (ISBN 1864 201436) and the Wandiligong Preservation Society, publishers of 'Wandiligong A Valley Through Time' (ISBN 0731617320). We gratefully acknowledge the work in these books and recommend them to anyone interested in reading more about the history of the area. Our thanks go to the Bishop's Office, Diocese of Sandhurst, Bendigo and the Catholic Parish of Bright and Mt Beauty. A special thanks also goes to Coral Bennett for her dedication to Wandiligong.

History of Wandiligong

Wandiligong is an aboriginal name with various meanings including 'place of the echidnas', 'meeting of the water', spirit place' and 'little bushman'. For many thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans, Wandiligong was the home of the local Theddora Mittung group of the Jaithamathang tribe. Sadly this ancient culture was displaced by the arrival of Early European explorers and pastoralists. In the 1850's a shepherd named Morse, who at that time worked for Dr Mackay on the Wondillegong run, discovered a creek running into the Ovens river. This creek became known as Morses creek and the local area became known as Morses Crossing. In 1853 a small settlement developed at Morses Crossing which officially became known as Bright in 1866. The discovery of gold led to the rapid development of a goldfield's settlement upstream which in 1862 had 40 shops, 12 hotels and wine saloons and a population of 3500. This settlement officially became known as Wandiligong in January 1875.

1950's

The First Church

On 28th July 1860 a wooden chapel, 36 ft by 18 ft, manufactured and transported up from Melbourne, was officially opened in Wandiligong. Friar Tierney officiated at the ceremony, that raised enough money to pay off the building with a surplus of £10. From 1860 until1894 the chapel also functioned as a school. William Austin, arrived in Victoria on "The Monarch" and was said to have walked from Melbourne to Wandiligong to take up his position as Head teacher at the school on 14th August 1860.

The Second Church.

On 18th June 1864 a meeting of the Catholic community was held at Lynch's Miner's Right Hotel to plan the relocation of the Church from its location at the junction of Growler's and Morse's Creeks. The relocation had become necessary because the 'Australasia Mill' had been built adjacent to the Church. The Church was relocated further South next to the Uniting Church Camp now known as Camp Wandiligong.

"Violent Storm Wrecks the Church

1970's

On Friday afternoon 20th October 1864, a fearful storm accompanied by torrents of rain passed up the valley of the Ovens River, as far as Bright, and rushing up Morse's Creek, seemed to take its course over the ranges towards the head of the Buckland.

In Bright little damage was done, owing probably to the township lying so low. The storm then appeared to take the direction of the Pioneer Reef, where numerous trees were torn up and strewn across the road, but on Morse's Creek the wind seemed to have ravaged with the greatest force. A large brick chimney on the gable end of Lynch's Miner's Right Hotel was blown over on the house and crushing through the roof, the "debris" fell in the parlour making a wreck of the furniture, and absolutely driving the legs of a table through the floor into the cellar underneath, thus smashing some cases of brandy.

The wind tore off fully three fourths of the entire roof, and carried portions of the sheets as far as the Ovens Hardware Co. store, a distance of 200 yards. Mr Stephen's mill, Mr Nuttall's store, the Ovens Hardware Co. and the mill of Messrs. Wood and Stenhouse all likewise suffered in a lesser degree.

On the exposed point of the range recently selected for the erection of a Roman Catholic Chapel, the effects of the storm were most apparent, as the Chapel, in which Mass has only been celebrated since the re-erection of the building about six weeks ago, was completely blown over and rendered an utter ruin. The Wesleyan Chapel received some slight injury, as did some other buildings nearby.

Only one opinion seemed to prevail, to the effect that this was, for its duration, the most violent squall ever experienced here, but fortunately it passed over in less than ten minutes. I am not aware of any personal inujuries inflicted on anyone, but one of the coaches carrying the "free and enlightened" to the polling booth had a narrow escape, as a huge tree fell so closely to it as the vehicle passed, that a portion of the bough struck the roof."

(Ovens & Murray Advertiser - 25th October 1864)

1980's

The Third Church

Shortly after the storm destroyed the second Church in 1864 a third Church, 35 ft by 18ft with a shingled roof, was built lower down the hill and a newspaper report of 9th May 1876 indicated that the Church was to be re-roofed in iron.

In 1865, the Commonwealth Gazette published details of Crown Grants for the Catholic, Wesleyan, Presbyterian and Church of England Churches. On 18th October 1902 Rev Dr S. Reville and Rev. T F Gaffey accepted an adjacent 33 perches of land on behalf of the Catholic Church and this is where the current Church now sits.

The Fourth Church

By the late 1890's plans to replace the third Church were being discussed. During Easter 1900 a fundraising "Bazaar and Promenade Concert" was held at the Oddfellows Hall in Wandiligong. The admission price was One Shilling with proceeds in aid of the construction of the new Catholic Church in Wandiligong.

The Architect, Mr. J. E. Lundholm of Faithful Street Wangaratta, lodged the building plans for the proposed Church to the Department of Health in Melbourne on 21st January 1903. The Church was built by a Mr. Earwaker of Wangaratta at a cost of £382. On November 1903 Mr Lundholm advised the Department of Health that the work had been completed in July of that year and that the building complied with regulations.

The Church was officially opened on 14th June 1903 by Friar Morrow assisted by the Parish Priest Friar J. F. Gaffey.

Changing times

Reef Mining in Wandiligong declined by 1880 but there was a temporary resurgence in 1890 with the commencement of dredging. When dredging stopped in the 1920's the population again declined.

The Police Station was closed from 1st June 1922 because of the absence of crime in the area there having been no arrests made since 1914.

Patrick and Jean O'Shea celebrated the last officially registered marriage in the Church on 12th February 1955. The last funeral was held on 29th October 1960 for James O'Shea and in 1962 Josie O'Shea celebrated the Church's last baptism.

2003

By 1966 the Wandiligong population dropped to 132 and the Church fell into disuse. The Church was purchased in 1975 and renovated for private use as a holiday home. In 2002 the new owners Jenny and Maurice Harden made the Church available for family holiday accommodation and are committed to preserving the Church and its memories for generations to come.

Anyone wishing to provide contributions to the history of Wandiligong's St Peter's Church may forward stories, photos and old or new memories to 'Wandi Church'
PO Box 21
Wandiligong Victoria 3744 or
email: historyof@wandichurch.com.au.
Contributions will be added to this site over time.