Negative print. First St. Killians Church in Bendigo.Was made of brick. Also found in Box 87 2402.61.cottage, miners, first st. killians church., first st. killians church.

BHS CollectionBendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from Monday, April 15, 2002. Milestone: children celebrate their first communion at St Killian's Church in 1960. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

George Henry Backhaus (1811-1882) was born in Prussia. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1836 and began his missionary work in India. In 1846 he came to Australia, first ministering in Sydney and then Adelaide. With the discovery of gold in Victoria, Backhaus believed he was called to become a missionary on the goldfields. His first Bendigo mass was celebrated 2/5/1852. He travelled extensively throughout the goldfields eventually establishing a tent church on the site of St Killians in 1852. In 1853 this was replaced by a slab-walled and canvas-roofed church.. The site also included a Catholic school. In 1863 he returned to Germany but came back to Bendigo in 1867. He retired from parish work in 1881 and moved to Melbourne but as his health declined he returned to Bendigo in 1882 to die.The age from 08/01/1966. Article titled: A Prussian priest gave Bendigo his heart, Churches of history - 9 by John Hetherington. The article details the life of Dr. Henry Backhaus, the first Catholic priest in Bendigo.In blue pen "The Age" 8-1-66bendigo churches, backhaus, st.killian

Photograph of a large stone church, There is a paling fence visible each side at the rear of the church and a post and rail fence in front of the building. This was the first St. Kilian's church to be built (note that on the rear of the photo it says ' All Saints Church ' )buildings, church, st. killians, st. kilian's church

George Henry Backhaus (1811-1882) was born in Germany and studied for the priesthood in Rome. He was a missionary in India before coming to Australia in 1843. He first worked in Sydney and then Adelaide before coming to the goldfields in 1852. He held the first Catholic Mass in Bendigo in 1852 in a tent and was then instrumental in the building of St Killians church. He returned to Germany in 1864 but in accordance to the wishes of his Bendigo congregation he returned to Bendigo where he served until his retirement in 1881Dr Backhaus Centenary celebrations - Mass for the religious, 11 September 1982. Held at St Kilian's Church, Bendigochurch, centenary, the very reverend henry backhaus

The first permanent Catholic Church was a slab construction covered in Canvas. It measured 40 x 16feet. A new church designed by George and Schneider was begun in 1856 and completed in 1857. However this structure was demolished in 1887 due to faulty foundations. The current church, the largest weatherboard church in Australia, was designed by Wilhelm Vahland and was blessed 1st July 1888.Serving for 150 years: St Killian's Catholic Church will celebrate 150 years of service next weekend. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo