Historical information

The images depict the newly completed fourth Catholic Church at Kinglake. The previous three churches having been destroyed by 'Black Saturday' bushfire.

The painting is oil on canvas. The historical continuity is expressed by the continuity of the skyline and the disconnectedness of the colours. it is not a literal depiction of each church, but a recognizable and symbolic image conveying resilience of faith of the local community. The first church was burnt down in a bushfire, the second burnt down by vandals, and the three burnt down in the 2009 bushfires known as 'Black Saturday'.The white cross and black fence at the lower left commemorated the remarkable fact that these remained intact after the 2009 bushfires.
The red-orange can be the colour of the kinglake soil or the fires. The return of new life is indicated by the green growth on the burnt gumtrees.
The presence of the Holy Trinity is shown above the entrance to the church. The return of new life is indicated by the green growth on the burnt gumtrees.
The presence of the Holy Trinity is shown above the entrance to the church. The Holy Sprit is symbolized by the sulphur crested cockatoo, an Australian bird instead of the white dove. The symbol for the father is above the church in the triangle which has God's Holy Name (I AM) as given to Moses from the Burning Bush, written in Hebrew. Christ is represented by the cross above the entrance.

The previous church was destroyed in the 2009 bushfires. The area is surrounded by 22,000 hectares of Kinglake National Park, the largest National Park close to Melbourne. The park was established in 1928 to protect native flora and fauna. Kinglake takes its name from Alexander Kinglake who travelled through the area in 1870.

Physical description

Photographs showing the newly built St Mary's Catholic Church at Kinglake.

.1) Interior of Church

.2) Painting of the Four Churches of Kinglake by Judy Racz

.3-5) Views from the Church windows to the adjoining landscape

.6) St Mary's Church grounds

Subjects