Historical information
St Alipius Parish has its beginnings in the Ballarat “Gold Rush” that started in August 1851. As thousands of people made their way to the diggings and a town quickly took shape, Father Patrick Dunne celebrated the first Mass for the Catholic miners in October 1851.
In late 1852 a second priest Father Matthew Downing arrived and named his Parish after St. Alipius' and the Bishop of the time, James Alipius Goold.
In February 1853 Father Downing moved to the present St. Alipius site and erected a church made of slabs with a canvas roof. A school was also built and classes began on April 1st.
Physical description
Colour photograph of the roofline of St Alipius' Catholic Church.
