Old Church Ruins At Cootamundra.

Just outside Cootamundra is very little left of the small village of Cullinga. One of the very few claims to fame, that are still standing, are the remains of former St John’s Anglican Church.

 

In the early 1880s, Mr. Frank Sweeney donated a portion of his property on which to build the church.

 

The church building was erected during 1884 with volunteer labour using pisé, a type of rammed earth construction. Once the walls were standing, the timber roof and other fittings were completed by Mr. J W Richardson, contractor of Cootamundra.

 

St John’s Church was officially opened in November 1884, although it wasn’t completely finished until February 1885. Miss Lucy Bradman and Mr. George Freer became the first couple to get married there.

 

The pisé construction began to show signs of deterioration within a few years, and historical photos show large cracks in the side of the building and exposed steel tie rods on the corners to support the walls.

 

Reduced mining activity and better transport options, caused a shift in population  and the church closed in 1934.  

 

The structure was then purchased by Mr. R H Sweeney, to use the timber portions of the roof on his own homestead.

 

Once the roof timber was removed, the rammed earth wall began to slowly dissolve with each heavy storm, eventually collapsing three of the four sides.

 

All that remains today is the front façade, with its round vent at the top of the gable, and the corner tie rods, which have likely contributed to this section still just standing after 140 years.

 

Well, that’s just one of the photographic gems that we found on our Cootamundra trip. My mate Ray and I will be heading back to that region of the State to see what else we can find very soon.

Until the next time …. stay focused.