St Cecilia's Catholic Church & school

The property on which the church stands was purchased by the Catholic Church in January 1913 at a cost of £1450. Local Catholic residents had petitioned for the establishment of a new church in the area. Population growth in Hamilton, spurred by the opening in 1899 of the new tram-line to the city, had created and increased demand for places of worship.  The property that was eventually selected already contained a large house which was retained. A new church was constructed and opened in April 1914. This was designed by architect Thomas Ramsay Hall and built by D. W. Tipler at cost of £1550. 

Hall was the son of John Hall and youngest brother of Francis Hall of Hall and Dods Architects, and one of the most successful Brisbane architects of the early twentieth century. Hall worked at Hall and Dods between 1903 and 1907, but soon had his own successful practice. He later went into partnership with George G. Prentice. Other significant buildings designed by Hall include: the Sandgate Town Hall (1911), Brisbane City Hall, (1925-30), and the Tattersall’s club (1926).

The first minister at the new church was Father John Gowen. The pre-existing house, originally named Huron served for a few years as Gowen’s presbytery until a new one was constructed and opened in 1917. By then Huron had been taken over by the Sisters of Mercy for use as a convent. Currently, the house is in use by the Divine Word Mission.

The attractive Parish School adjacent to the church was opened in January 1917. The current use of the school is not known. A bell tower exists on the College Road side of the property.

 

A brick addition to the church porch was constructed in 1956. Other additions included a toilet block in 1970. At the present time, the church continues to serve the local Catholic community as a focus of religious worship.

1. Brisbane City Council Water Supply and Sewerage Detail Plans with Contours

2. O'Leary, Rev J. 1914, A Catholic Miscellany: Containing Items of Interest to Queenslanders, Irishmen and Irish Australians, J. O’Leary, St James' Presbytery, Coorparoo

3. O'Leary, Rev J. 1919, Catholic Progress: Archdiocese of Brisbane 1912-1919,J. O'Leary, St James' Presbytery, Coorparoo

4. Donald Watson and Judith McKay, Queensland Architects of the Nineteenth Century, South Brisbane: Queensland Museum, 1994