Silver commemorative trowel with a carved/turned wooden handle. Presented to Wm Dods Esqre on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of the Free Presbyterian Church Brunswick 2nd May 1865,william dods, free presbyterian church, brunswick

This snuff horn belonged to the Rev. Thomas Hastie, pioneering Presbyterian minister at Buninyong from 1847 to 1898. It was presented to the Society by his great grand-daughter in 2010.This item is historically significant for its connection with an important figure in the history of Buninyong, who was also a notable figure in the Free Presbyterian Church in Victoria in the 19th Century.A brown snuff horn, made of ivory, with a silver band and inlaid silver decoration on the lid. The lid opens to reveal a cavity, where snuff was stored.Lid has a silver disc with the inscription 'T H'.buninyong, hastie, snuff, free presbyterian church, presbyterian church, victoria

USED IN THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. GLENDONALD CHURCH, ONCE ON THE PROPERTY NOW KNOWN AS SNIZORT. CHURCH WAS PULLED DOWN ABOUT 1925 AND THE CONGREGATION TRANSFERRED TO ST. DAVID'S, COGHILLS CREEK.ROUND WOODEN COLLECTION PLATE ON TURNED COLUMN AND BASE, PRE 1884IN PEN ON BASE: COLLECTION PLATE GLENDONALD CHURCH PRE 1884local history, handcrafts, woodwork

The weatherboard Ballarat East State School SS 1071 was formerly known as Specimen Hill. According to 'Visions and Realisations' The Eureka gold lead opened in August 1852, running from Little Bendigo, south beneath Yarrowee Creek into Pennyweight flat, where it was joined 100 yards or so from the intersection of main and Eureka Streets by the Canadian Lead. State School 1071 was formerly known as Ballarat Common School No. 71, and was founded by the Free Presbyterian Church on Specimen Hill in Eureka Street, Ballarat on 01 January 1854. On 20 May 1869 the trustees of the Presbyterian School, Specimen Hill, Ballarat, consented to the transfer of the site to the Board of Education. On 01 September 1870, Specimen Hill, Ballarat, was vested in the Board and then became known as SS 1071. On 01 March 1879 the Minister, The Hon. William Collard Smith, and William Dobbie, Inspector of School Buildings, visited Ballarat to report on the buildings with a view to extensions and renovations. The minister issued instructions for the old wooden part of the school to be demolished, and brick additions to be erected, so that the whole premises would accommodate 350 students. (''Visions and Realisations: A Century of State Education in Victoria, Vol. 2'', Education Department of Victoria, 1973, p 729-730.)Black and white photograph of a weatherboard school with shingle roof known as Ballarat East (SS1071). The building has a brick chimney and bell tower. This school has Castlemaine flagging in the passages.ballarat east state school, education, st paul's school, specimen hill state school

Ascot Denominational School in Ascot opened in 1859 for the Presbyterian Free Church with 26 students, which quickly grew to 96. In 1866 the local Board of Managers offered the school to the Board of Education if it would pay the 200 pound building debt, but the offer was rejected. In 1873 Ascot Primary School (No. 16) opened. A new site was purchased in 1981 forcing the closure of School 16. Ascot State School (No. 2507) opened in February 1883..1) Twenty three children stand in from on a brick building with corrugated iron roof. They are students of Ascot Primary School. .2) Twelve males students of Ascot Primary School stand in front of a timber post and rail fence. They are the same boys as depicted in the .1) Ascot Primary School photo. Members of the Chatham family were educated at Ascot Primary School and are thought to be in these photographs. In the late 1950s and 60s the children of Phillip and Elizabeth Chatham nee Holmes also attended Ascot State School along with the children of Bill and Margaret Holmes.Verso in blue ballpoint pen "Chatham Ascot"chatham family collection, ascot, ascot primary school, ascot state school, post and rail, elizabeth holmes, bill holmes

Eulogy by John McArthur t seems trite to say that it is a privilege to be able to speak about Alex’s work in the Church, but having known Alex for over 50 years and our various activities having been inextricably intertwined it is indeed an honour as well as a privelge. I first met Alex in the late 1950s when we were members of the PFA State Council – they were halcyon days for the young people in the church with very strong youth groups in most congregations. Alex was the state Treasurer. John Anderson was the President with Maureen Hancock, the secretary, Maureen, who with many others from that Council are here today. Alex was also very active in his local church at Canterbury in all aspects of its life and witness as we have heard from his children, Barrie and Jo, earlier in this service Alex who had trained as an accountant, applied for and been appointed to a position with the PCV and upon the retirement of his mentor, S. K. Williams, was appointed the Financial Secretary of the Church. When I was appointed as a member of the Trusts Corporation, I was very glad to see that Alec was the secretary – most members were nearly twice my age and it waas comforting to be with an old friend of somewhat similar age. The meetings were reasonably formal as one would expect from a gathering of some of the very senior business men in our State. Alex’s records were immaculate – not only did his agendas have the business arising from the previous meeting but there on the side were a list of matters that in Alex’s opinion had not been satisfactorily finalised over the past year. But one matter has stuck in my memory - only the correspondence that required action was considered, many other letters were left to be formally minuted. This time there was a letter from the Government advising that a building on the south side of Collins Street originally owned by the Free Presbyterian Church in the 1800s was to be placed on the Historic Register and this was our first intimation of the matter. One trustee, a knight of the realm, whose chin was always down on his chest, ( I wondered whether he was asleep or something) raised his head and said “If one just stood still in Collins Street for five minutes they would slap a historic citation on you” and back down went his head. I was not sure what would happen next when I looked at Alex and slowly, that recognisable smile appeared on his face – not really a smile , more like a grin as Barrie and Jo said earlier, one that would appear time and time again over the years at meetings which were meant to be quite formal. Alex had an encyclopaedic memory – for example, ask him about bequest funds, say, the W. S. Godfrey Perpetual Bequest, his answer would be, “Ah yes, donated by the man who founded the Grocery business in Carlton, the capital now would be about 53, 250 dollars, been no call on it for 2 ½ years”. If a new project was thought appropriate and needed funding, he would be able to find a fund or a bequest that, with a little tweaking, could be used to seed the programme. His financial presentations at meetings contained all the information one could want – he would choose his words carefully, and one would sometimes think – get on with it Alex - but his purpose was to make it quite clear what funds were available and what was their correct use. He took this financial acumen into other committees of the church, the Stipend Committee dealing with Ministers’ salaries, the Beneficiary Committee, the superannuation fund for both ministers and lay workers. There are many in the church who have had cause to be grateful for his financial input which added to their well being. But his work was not all with financial matters – as the Financial Secretary for the State, Alex was ex-offficio a member of the Presbytery of Maroondah where he was not the Treasurer and although as an ex officio member he was not expected to take that much part in the Presbytery’s activities – but Alex did, he took part in the strategy and pastoral care committees which showed his depth of concern for others in his church life. But I believe it was around this time that Alex produced some of his greatest work for the church – Church Union, not all Presbyterians wanted to be part of the Uniting Church – so a Statutory Commision was established on a national level, to divide the assets of the Church between those desiring to form part of the Uniting Church and those wanting to remain Presbyterian. Each State produced detailed records and submissions for the Commission – and Victoria was always the first to have its documents to the Commission – although Alex had made it quite clear that he would be with the Uniting Church, his work was meticulous, impartial and assisted greatly the work of the Commission relating to Victoria. And this in addition to his normal day to day work which continued over a period of some four or five years. The inauguration of the Uniting Church did present Alex, and indeed the rest of us, with some challenges. There were the financial records of three churches to be merged, properties to be considered, new community programmes required, new administrative structures to be put in place. Alex took these all in his stride – although after the initial planning, his role was to concentrate on financial matters only, the other activities had to be financed. As the chairperson of the Finance Division and the Resources Commission for a large portion of the early years of the Uniting Church, I was more than pleased to have Alex again by my side, reports were prepared, queries answered, it was just like old times. The Rev. Allan Stuart, now retired and living closer to his family in NSW was one on those young people from the Canterbury congregation – emailed me recently “Alex has been a faithful servant of the Church, at all levels from the National Assembly to the local congregation. But times are changing, and Alex had rightly passed the torch onto others” Allan was right but I also think that words of that great Scottish poet, Robert Louis Stevenson, sum up Alex’s life: “A man is a success when he has lived well, laughed often and loved much. One who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who leaves the world better than he found it, whether by work, relationships, one who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.” To me, that is our friend who we remember today - Alexander Robert Gillespie. BW photo of Alex Gillespie dressed in shirt sleaves and tie, upper body.C&N 11/2/1987, p. 33alex gillespie (29/2/1928–1/9/2009) worked for the presbyterian church as its managing treasurer for many years before then moving to the uniting church as the synod treasurer.

Centenary of St. John's Presbyterian Church Forest Street, Bendigo 1872-1972. List of former Ministers of St. John's Church. A brief account of the history of the church is given. Extracts from minutes of Presbytery Church of Castlemaine 2/7/1872 states that they had not yet held any Sabbath Services in Sandhurst a grant not exceeding Twenty Pounds to meet the expenses of such Services necessary to establish a Second Charge in Sandhurst. Services were conducted in the Albion Hall, collections were obtained were liberal, Memorial signed by 104 members and adherents who expressed their desire to be recognized as a Congregation. St. John's first met at the Orderly Room (site of the Art Gallery), then at the Albion Hall (site of the Royal Princess Theatre), they then moved to St. James Hall (now Myer Store). In 1874 a weatherboard church in Forest St. was erected seating 550 persons, and named St. John's Presbyterian Church. It then became known as St John's Free Church and in 1880 it was admitted into the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and named Chalmer's Church. History accounts goes on to explain the further changes which happened within the church to 1972. Many other details have been included in the book such as the costs of the pews the 'Ladies Work Committee', a monthly church paper, Anniversary platform, securing a Manse, the year of the 'black-out', food parcels, the purchase of a building, the pioneering of religious films in church services, renovations, Sunday School, Stewardship Campaign, electronic organ. The history goes on detailing the growth of the organisations in the church; Choir, Sunday School Sunday School Ladies Auxiliary, PWMU, Afernoon Fellowship, Ladies Guild, PGF, Men's Club and Brotherhood, Bible Class, Sporting Clubs, PFA, Mission Band, Creche, Cradle Roll, Board of Management. A list of 'Memorials and Other Gifts Through the Years' from 1904 to 1972. Present 'Office Bearers of the Church'. Photo of present church on front cover, on rear cover is the church erected in 1897. With Indexchurch, centenary, st john's bendigo, st john's presbyterian church forest street bendigo centenary

This glass kerosene lamp was used at St Peter's Church of England at Cape Bridgewater. From Victorian Heritage Database - St. Peter's Anglican Church (former) is a small sandstone church, located at the end of Bridgewater Fire Station Road. The church was constructed between 1883-1884, as a result of lobbying by the congregation and the Reverend Allnutt to establish an Anglican Church in the area. The area was predominately Presbyterian and Methodist, so such a fine church was somewhat unusual. There was obviously much community support for the establishment of the church; the land was donated by Kennedy, a nearby landholder, and the stone was quarried for free at Mount Pleasant, owned by the Kittson family. The church was designed gratis by the ecclesiastical architect, Mr. Casselli of Ballarat, who designed many significant buildings throughout Victoria in the nineteenth century. The building contractors were a local firm, Messrs. Benson and Hardie. The church retains a high degree of integrity externally, and is in good condition. This item is significant because it demonstrates early methods of storing fuel. It is also connected to St Peter's Anglican Church in cape Bridgewater which is now a visitor accommodationA glass container with a metal sleeve. The top of the glass container has a metal opening and screw top as well as a spout for pouring. There is a metal carry handle with a wooden cylinder in the middle for carrying. This is only fixed to the container on one side as the metal eyelet on one side has broken off. The metal sleeve on the glass container has embossed pattering above and below the word - Dandy. There is an old carboard label attached to the top with string.Metal sleeve - DANDY Label -This kerosene container was used in / St Peter's Church of E / Cape Bridgewaterreligion, church, place of worship, cape bridgewater, st peters church, anglican, glenelg shire, glenelg, portland, fuel, kero, kerosene, light

317 p. : ill. ; pale blue cover, images of native Americans holding guns on front cover, frontiersman holding gun on spine.fictionAdventure story for boys set in the American frontier.children's fiction, westerns, american frontier

Small blue covered book with black text on the cover. The book is held together by two staples along its spine. 55 p. presbyterian church of australia, field chaplain world war 1939-1945, defence forces chaplaincy committee of the presbyterian church

This dress was made for and belonged to Mrs Elizabeth McLachlan (nee Duncan, 1820-1904), wife of Reverend John Hamilton McLachlan (1813-1908), who was the first Minister of St Cuthbert's Presbyterian Church in Brighton. Elizabeth and John were married at the Free Church of Ayr at Lindsaystonn in the Parish of Kirkmickach, Ayrshire, Scotland on 15 October 1849. At this time his occupation was listed as "Minister of Presbyterian Church" and hers as "Governess". They left for Australia on the 1 November 1849 and arrived in Australia 6 months later. Apparently John's hair turned snow white during the journey due to his seasickness! The McLachlans first went to Geelong upon their arrival in 1850, then to the Western District, then Brighton, then Talbot at the height of the gold mining era. The couple had seven children: John Campbell Duncan McLachlan (b. Geelong, October 1850), Mary McLachlan (b. Geelong, November 1851), Agnes McLachlan (b. Hopkins River near Wickliff, May 1853), twins Elizabeth and Walter McLachlan (b. June 1854), Elizabeth McLachlan (b. Hesham, June 1855), Margaret McLachlan (b. Brighton, 1857). Elizabeth died in 1904. She and John are both buried in Amherst Cemetery. The dress was donated by one of her granddaughters. This circa 1849 silk blue grey window pane check dress features a high round neck and pleats on either shoulder extending over the natural shoulder line. The dress shows evidence of nine ornamental buttons down the centre front with only four blue silk buttons currently still attached. The dress fastens with thirteen concealed hook and eye closures to the waist. The Pagoda sleeves inset into the bodice in a small high armhole flaring out and finishing just below the elbow. A pale blue silk ribbon with a diagonal drawn stitch design decorates the front of the sleeve in a simple geometric design. The Pagoda sleeve is lined in a matching pale blue silk. The full skirt is pleated into the waistband and finishes just above the floor at the front. At the back the bodice features a squared off design to the princess panels shaping the dress into the body. The skirt is heavily pleated at the centre back into the waistline and finishes slightly longer at the back than the front. The skirt features two very small pockets on either side of the dress, just inside the hips. reverend john hamilton mclachlan, st cuthberts presbyterian church brighton, elizabeth mclachlan, amherst cemetery, 1840s fashion, brighton

This was presented to the Rev Yule on 22 February 1907. Alexander Yule was born in 1830 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland becoming licenced in the Free Church of Scotland in 1854. He came to Australia in 1870 where he became Minister of Erskine church, Carlton. In 1892 College Church Parkville was established by members of the Erskine congregation. In 1891 he was moderator of Victoria. He died on 18 April 1907.Framed illuminated composite presentation art work which has illuminated text, the Presbyterian symbol of the burning bush, a photograph and illustrations of the College Church, Ormond College, University of Melbourne. It is signed by ten people.presbyterian miniter rev alexander yule ma, r. johnston smith, m. reid robertson, john mather, adam kennedy, maggie adam, h. s. richardson, lily v. grant, david j. scott, m. e. downes, j. downes., the college church parkville, alexander yule 1830-1907

MacDonald, Murdoch, D.D., B: Western Ross; University of Edinburgh and Glasgow; 1863 ordained Nairn, Free Church of Scotland; 1876 Toorak Vic; 1883 1st professor of Systematic Theology, Ormond College, Professor Systematic Theology and Church History; 1889 Moderator Victorian Assembly; 1906 resigned and died.B & W waist length studio portrait of Rev Professor Murdoch MacDonald."Murdoch MacDonald 1883 first professor of systematic theology at Theological Hall Ormond College."macdonald, murdoch, ormond college, moderator 1889, presbyterian, professor of systematic theology

Chalmers Free Church was in Harrington Street, Hobart and was demolished in 1955. The burning bush is the emblem of the Church of Scotland. Nec Tamen Consumebatur translates to 'it was not however consumed'.White china saucer with blue rim and burning bush transfer print.Chalmers Free Church. Nec Tamen Consumebaturpresbyterian, chalmers' free church, burning bush

Members of the Presbyterian faith were among the first settlers in the North-east of Victoria, and in the year 1842 the Presbytery of Melbourne requested the Rev. Peter Gunn, Minister of the Gaelic Church, Melbourne, to visit Presbyterians along the Murray River. This was the first of a series of annual visits, and was of a missionary nature. In May 1851, the Rev. David Hunter Ballantyne was appointed to the Wodonga district based out of Albury. In 1860 the Presbytery of Beechworth was formed, and from it two large presbyteries have grown - Wagga Wagga and Beechworth. In the early days the services at Wodonga were held in the old court house, which still stands. Wodonga Presbyterian Church continued as part of the Parish of Albury until the end of 1887, when it was placed under the administration of the Session of the Beechworth Church, with a home missionary in charge. Mr William Cooper was placed in charge for the first months, then Mr William Smith, a city missionary who had recently arrived from Scotland, was appointed. Mr Smith conducted a cordage factory at Stonleigh. He remained as missionary in charge for the next 10 years, and in that time the church steadily progressed. Plans were made for the erection of the building which now stands in High Street, Wodonga. Mr John Whan was a Founding Member of the Church and was appointed Sunday School Superintendent, an office which he held for 46 years, rendering extensive and valued service to the church and congregation. With a growing congregation and realising the challenges presented to the Church by changing conditions, land for a new church was sought. In September 1950 property was purchased in Nilmar Avenue in Wodonga and the new Presbyterian Church St Stephens became their new home. With the amalgamation of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, the new Church became the Uniting Church. The original Presbyterian Church was later sold to the Free Serbian Orthodox Church.These photographs are significant because they provide evidence of the changing nature of religious worship and groups in Wodonga.A collection of black and white photographic images depicting the first Presbyterian Church at Wodonga. The Church was later taken over by the Free Serbian Orthodox Church.presbyterian church, free serbian orthodox church, wodonga churches

When the Free Serbian Church was established in Wodonga it was the only one in a country centre and the third Serbian Church established in Australia. It had a congregation of approximately 40 members. The Church was originally the first Presbyterian Church in Wodonga. It is a rectangular brick building with a red Colourbond gable roof to the nave area and a domed roof to the rear of the nave. Many features of the architecture from the original building remain. However, changes were made during the refurbishment by the Free Serbian congregation. The original façade red brickwork was rendered and painted white and it was modified to include two round arched relief panels. The upper relief panel was divided into three blocks of colour - red, pale blue and grey, with a centrally located gold cross. The relief panel above the double timber front doors has a gold cross and Serbian iconography. A cross was located on the wall at the apex of the gable and a cross rising up from the gable. The original pointed gothic style windows were replaced with round arched windows. The window hardware now includes wrought iron decorative features. A domed roofed area was constructed to the rear of the nave. The perimeter fence and gates included decorative wrought iron elements. The gates are particularly decorative with floral emblems and Serbian and English text in wrought iron. These photographs are significant because they provide evidence of the changing nature of religious worship and groups in Wodonga.A collection of black and white and coloured photographic images depicting the Free Serbian Orthodox Church, Wodonga. The Church was originally the first Presbyterian Church in Wodonga. It was extensively modified in 1961-62.free serbian orthodox church, wodonga churches, presbyterian church, religion wodonga

The St Kilda Presbyterian Church is now part of the St Kilda & Balaclava Presbyterian Church. Its first service was inaugurated by the Free Church Synod of Victoria in May 1855, in a building at the corner of High Street and Alma Road. In October 1855 the congregation moved to a wooden building in Inkerman Street, purchased from the Independent (Congregational) Church. The present church site was purchased and the first church opened in 1860. The foundation stone for the present church building, the second to be built on the site, was laid by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Brougham Loch, on 27 January 1885. The building was opened on 30 May 1886. Wilson and Beswicke were the architects. Ralph Wilson designed the Methodist church on the corner of Princes and Fitzroy Streets and lived diagonally opposite the Presbyterian church. Charles Beswicke had toured Britain and the Continent in 1886 armed with a camera and returned to Australia with photographs of what he considered the greatest examples of architecture. He was responsible for the town halls in Brighton, Malvern, Hawthorn and Essendon and Wesleyan churches in Camberwell and Dandenong. Thomas Corley was the builder. The lofty spire was ‘a landmark to the mariner’ used by sea captains sailing up Port Phillip Bay. On a prominent position, the highest point in St Kilda, the church attracted wealthy people with legal, merchant and pastoral backgrounds.colour photographst kilda, churches, presbyterian church, balaclava

Part of a collection relating to the Parkin family. Announcement of the wedding of Ian Quihampton and Valerie Black at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Corowa. Probably from the Corowa Free Press. Exact date unknown.Newspaper clipping of wedding announcement with photo of the wedding couple.wedding photographs, ian quihampton, valerie black, valerie quihampton, corowa

Rev. Dr. Charles Strong arranged a meeting of some imminent citizens of Melbourne on the 17th of February 1885 when the decision was made to form the Melbourne District Nursing Society. Rev. Strong chaired the meeting, on 4th of March 1885, which accepted the Rules of the Society prepared by the Sub-committee. He chaired the first Annual meeting of the Society the following year and remained a Committee member for several years.Rev. Dr. Charles Strong had significant involvement in the establishment of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), the first District Nursing Society in Australia. He was born in Scotland and came to Melbourne with his family in 1875, initially being Minister of Scots Church in Collin Street. He left the Presbyterian church and became the first Minister of the newly formed, free religious, Australian Church in 1885. Rev. Strong cared passionately about social welfare issues and was a member of the Australian Health Society from 1880 and also president of the Convalescent Aid Society. He was involved with improving lodging houses in the slums of Melbourne and recognized the need for nursing care of the sick poor in their own homes. Many eminent citizens of Melbourne supported this idea and he arranged a meeting of these citizens, fifteen women and four men, at Mrs. William McCulloch's home on the 17th of February 1885, when the decision was made to form the Melbourne District Nursing Society. Dr. Strong, along with Dr. Caffyn, had experience of social welfare work in Scotland and were able to explain the object and scope of a District Nursing Society. A Sub-committee was formed, with Mrs. Charles Strong among the members, to draw up a Constitution and for suggestions to carrying on the Society's work. Rev. Strong chaired the meeting, on 4th of March 1885, which accepted the Rules of the Society prepared by the Sub-committee. A Special General Meeting was held on the 9th of April and the first Officers and Committee members, were elected with the Rev. and Mrs. Charles Strong being elected as members. Rev. Strong chaired the first Annual meeting of the Society the following year and remained a Committee member for several year. Reverend Dr. Charles Strong died on the 12th of February 1942 aged 97 years.This black and white portrait photograph shows an elderly Reverend Dr Charles Strong who has receding and thinning white hair and is sporting a white trimmed moustache and beard. His face shows the lines of an aging gentleman. He is wearing a winged collar on his white shirt and is wearing a black tie. He is also wearing a black jacket.melbourne district nursing society, mdns, rdns, royal district nursing service, rev. dr. charles strong

Born: 1812 at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland Baptised: Arrived: 26 January 1842 per "Robert Benn" from Greenock, Scotland Church Registers: Presbyterian Baptisms Campbellfield 1842 Church Registers: Presbyterian Burials Melbourne 1840-1842 Church Registers: Presbyterian Burials Melbourne 1843 Married: 17 August 1841 at West Colinton, Edinburgh, Scotland to Williamina Anderson Died: 24 December 1867 at Kangaroo Point, Moreton Bay, Queensland Buried: 25 December 1867 at Paddington Cemetery, Brisbane, Queensland "As the European population grew, settlement outside Melbourne developed, and the Colonial Committee of the Church of Scotland sent out more ministers. The second to arrive was the Rev. Thomas Mowbray, on January 28th 1842. He almost immediately settled in Campbellfield, called by a small congregation brought into being largely by the work of people such as Neil Campbell, Dr Wilson and George Somerville. Mr Campbell donated five acres of land to the Presbyterian Church for the purposes of building a church, a school-house and a manse. No pictures or clear description of the church that Mowbray built on the site. One source described it as being “built of logs and roofed with imported shingles”, another said it was “shingle-roofed wattle and daub”, and still others mention “rough adzed beams” and a “bark roof”. No trace remains on the site now. Yet while it may have been “so low that people had to stoop to enter”, it is certain that the building was erected with great pride and it was with much excitement that regular, well-attended worship services began on the present Campbellfield site with its dedication on May 8th 1842. An early colonist recollected that over the next two and half years Campbellfield developed into “an important charge, with many influential and wealthy adherents”. The first meeting of the Presbytery of Melbourne was held on June 7th 1842, with the Revs James Forbes, Thomas Mowbray and Peter Gunn, with Dr David Patrick (Elder) . Their first priority for action was public education. At their second meeting on September 6th it was reported that “schools which had been established by Mr Forbes in Melbourne were well attended and efficiently taught; also that schools were connected with the congregations at Campbellfield, Geelong and Portland.” The official history of Presbyterianism in Victoria , written in 1888, says of Mowbray: He was a man of high scholarly attainments, took special interest in the cause of education, and was a preacher of superior ability. His useful and acceptable labours were very much confined to the district in which he was settled. By reason of infirm health he was unable to undergo the fatigue of long excursions into the interior. But his labours were highly appreciated at the school which he originated and superintended sustained a good reputation. No official public records can be traced pertaining to Mowbray’s school. There may be a simple reason for this, and it is suggested that it has to do with the rifts in Presbyterianism which culminated in the Great Disruption in the Church of Scotland in May of 1843. The same divisions were by then already reflected in Victoria. Clergy from both ‘sides’ came to Australia and the main criterion for categorising them as Presbyterians of the Established Church of Scotland or Free Presbyterians was their acceptance or non-acceptance of state aid. Mowbray remained neutral in the 1846 Assembly-level wrangling and, although there is no evidence to support this contention, he may well have struggled to maintain his school with local resources rather than accept Government money; hence the lack of Government records. Unfortunately Mr Mowbray’s health declined rapidly and in answer to a call from Sydney on the 3rd of December 1844, he left Campbellfield on Boxing Day in 1844. Later he established the Presbyterian Church in Queensland, with the Ann Street Presbyterian Church being established in 1849." Quoted from "Scots Church Campbellfield—A Brief History" (ed. Robert Renton), 2nd Ed. 2017, pp. 2–4.Head and shoulders portrait (drawing) of Thomas Mowbray by E PowellChurch & Nation 10/8/1988 p32; Rev. Thomas Mowbrayrev. thomas mowbray; ordained 1841 church of scotland. served at campbellfield (scots) 1842, sydney 1844, moreton bay 1847 qld. pioneer of the presbyterian church of queensland

This black and white photograph taken c1900 at a camp in Beechworth, depicts the last six survivors of the Beechworth Chinese mining community. The two men standing on the far right are believed to be local Beechworth men. The man second-from-right is believed to be George Young, a Chinese Presbyterian catechist whose task was to fulfil the Church's remit to evangelise the Chinese population. Beechworth became home to one of the largest Chinese communities in Australia after the 1857 Buckland Riots pushed Chinese miners from their claims and they were forced to relocate their camps. Under the Protectorate system, the Chinese were required to live in camps on the outskirts of town and were subject to many additional controls and regulations. Chinese miners continued to form a large part of the Beechworth population, and surrounds, until gold ran out at the turn of the century.This photograph is historically significant for its association with the development of Victoria through the discovery of gold and the first wave of free Chinese immigration to Australia as part of the 1850s gold rush. This photograph is also of social significance for its association with the history of the Chinese community in Beechworth, and the adversity faced by Chinese immigrants during the gold rush as part of a system of Chinese protectorates and segregated camps enforced by the Victorian Government in response to the hostility and violence directed at the Chinese during this period. Black and white rectangular photograph (copy) on matte photographic paper unmountedReverse: Chinese / BMM2676 / 84-79-1 / 1998.00059 / 'UNITED SHIRE OF BEECHWORTH / SHIRE SECRETARY'beechworth, chinese camp, beechworth chinese camps, 1900s beechworth, ovens goldfield, chinese mining community, beechworth presbyterian church