Historical information

Located at 277-279 St Helena Road Saint Helena, Victoria. In 1841 Anthony Beale, born on the Island if St Helena took a pastoral lease on the Plenty River where he built a cottage, St Helena, which ultimately gave this area its name. Beale's wife Katherine Rose, nee Young died in 1856 and he erected "The rose Chapel" to her memory. After his death in 1865 the chapel was willed to the Church of England and consecrated in 1876. It was severely damaged by bushfire in 1957. It was fully restored and rededicated in November 1957. The bell calls parishoners to Sunday services is believed to a have come from the Island of St Helena.

Source: Mr. A.E. Parsons, Pryor St., Eltham (Mrs. Glasgow - daughter)

Significance

Statement of Significance
Last updated on - October 10, 2005

St Helena's is a rare surviving example of a churchyard cemetery. It is of local historical significance because of its association with the local pioneering family, the Beales, and other notable citizens including Walter Withers and Graham Webster. The cemetery is also the oldest in the municipality, of State significance. The high level of maintenance and the rural ambience contribute to the overall significance of the site.

St Katherine's Church building has been reconstructed and is of local historical interest, principally for its value in interpreting the original setting within the Cemetery. It contains stained glass windows of local historical significance, commemorating casualties of the Beale family in World War One. - Victorian Heritage Database

This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.'
It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.

Physical description

Digital image

Inscriptions & markings

"St Katharine's Church, St Helena, Victoria"