BLAYNEY IS A PRETTY FARMING TOWN AND ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE OF ABOUT 3000 PEOPLE WITH AVENUES OF TREES THAT ARE ESPECIALLY ATTRACTIVE IN AUTUMN. IT IS LOCATED IN A PLEASANT VALLEY THIRTY-SEVEN KILOMETRES WEST OF BATHURST. THE VILLAGE, ESTABLISHED ON ITS PRESENT SITE IN 1843, WAS SPURRED ON BY THE ARRIVAL OF THE RAILWAY IN 1874 AND BLAYNEY SOON REPLACED CARCOAR AS THE SERVICE CENTRE TO LOCAL FARMING COMMUNITY. ALTHOUGH MINING CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO BLAYNEY'S GROWTH IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY, BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY IT WAS THE BUTTER FACTORY AND FREEZING WORKS WHICH WERE THE MAIN EMPLOYERS. DURING THE 1990's A CONTAINER TERMINAL AND NEW MINES SUSTAINED BLAYNEY'S DEVELOPMENT.

ORIGINALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE VAST KING'S PLAINS MISSION ESTABLISHED IN 1847, BLAYNEY WAS INCLUDED IN CARCOAR PARISH WHEN IT WAS FORMED IN THE 1850's. THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A STATION CHURCH WAS LAID IN 1877. THREE YEARS LATER THE PERTHVILLE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH OPENED A SCHOOL THAT CONTINUES TODAY. BLAYNEY WAS DETACHED FROM CARCOAR PARISH IN 1931 TAKING WITH IT THE STATIONS AT BROWN'S CREEK AND BARRY. IN 1952 FOREST REEFS AND MILLTHORPE WERE ADDED FROM ORANGE. WITH THE SUPPRESSION OF THE OLD PARISHES OF ROCKLEY (1971) AND CARCOAR (1974) BLAYNEY ALSO GAINED SEVERAL STATIONS AND FORMER STATIONS IN THE AREA. AMONG WHICH WERE NEWBRIDGE AND MOORILDA FROM ROCKLEY AND FROM CARCOAR PARISH LYNDHURST, NEVILLE AND MANDURAMA. THE MODERN PARISH OF BLAYNEY HAS THUS BROUGHT TOGETHER ONCE MORE IN A SINGLE PARISH ONE OF THE GREAT HISTORIC BIRTHPLACES OF THE CATHOLICITY IN BATHURST AND IN AUSTRALIA.

ALTHOUGH THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE FIRST CHURCH OF ST JAMES WAS LAID IN 1877, IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1881 THAT THE BISHOP WAS ABLE TO BLESS AND OPEN THE SUBSTANTIAL BRICK CHURCH. AT THE TIME IT CONSISTED OF THE NAVE AND TOWER ONLY (BELOW LEFT) AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1954 THAT THE CHURCH WAS EXTENDED THROUGH THE ADDITION OF A CHANCEL (BELOW RIGHT). CLOSE INSPECTION OF THE PHOTO AT LEFT REVEALS THE DIFFERENT AGE AND STYLE OF THE BRICKS USED IN THE NAVE AND THE CHANCEL WITH A CLEAR DEMARCATION WHERE THE SACRISTY BEGINS. THE SMALL PORCH ON THE SACRISTY IS A MUCH LATER ADDITION. SINCE 1981 THE OLD CHURCH HAS BEEN USED AS PART OF THE SCHOOL AND IT IS NOW USED AS THE LOCATION OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARY. THE FORMER CHANCEL WAS REFURBISHED AND IS TODAY THE SCHOOL'S CHAPEL.

<< THE 1954 CHANCEL FOUNDATION STONE AND TOWER >>
vv THE CHURCH IN USE AS THE SCHOOL LIBRARY TODAY vv

THE 1970's WAS A TIME OF GREAT FERMENT AND MANY OLDER CHURCHES WERE REORGANISED WHILE OTHERS WERE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES MORE IN TUNE WITH THE NEW LITURGY. WITH BLAYNEY NEEDING A LARGER CHURCH AND INSPIRED BY THIS NEW MOOD THE PARISH TOOK THE UNUSUAL DECISION IN 1981 TO PURCHASE A FORMER PICTURE THEATRE IN THE TOWN CENTRE AND CONVERT THE OLD BUILDING INTO A PARISH CHURCH.

SEEN FROM THE OUTSIDE THE THEATRE APPEARANCE IS CLEARLY EVIDENT EVEN DOWN TO THE AWNING AND ENTRANCE DOORS ALTHOUGH THE ADDITION OF THE LARGE CROSS TO THE FRONT GABLE PROCLAIMS THE BUILDING'S NEW MISSION VERY SUCCESSFULLY. THERE IS A PARTICULARLY INTERESTING PIECE OF ADAPTION IN THE CHURCH BELL WHICH HAS BEEN MOUNTED IN A BRACKET SET ON THE HIGHEST CORNER OF THE ROOF.

THE INTERIOR LAYOUT OF THE OLD CINEMA REFLECTS THE REASON SUCH AN UNUSUAL VENUE WAS CHOSEN FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW PARISH CHURCH. THE DESIGN OF THE THEATRE LENDS ITSELF EASILY TO THE RE-ORIENTATION OF ITS INTERNAL SPACE SO TO GROUP THE CONGREGATIONAL SEATING AROUND A CENTRALLY PLACED SANCTUARY.

THE BULK OF THE OPEN SPACE IS TAKEN UP BY PEWS BROUGHT FROM THE OLD CHURCH. THE OPEN SANCTUARY ITSELF, WITH PLAIN TABLE ALTAR, CELEBRANT'S CHAIR, AMBO AND MODERN ROOD CROSS, IS SET ALONG THE SIDE WALL AND IS RAISED SLIGHTLY TO ENSURE ALL ROUND VIEWING. LOCATED TO THE LEFT OF THE SANCTUARY IS THE TWO-WAY TABERNACLE AND TO THE RIGHT IS A WOODEN CARVING OF THE CHURCH PATRON, ST JAMES THE GREAT. AMONG THE ITEMS WHICH PROVIDE CONTINUITY WITH THE OLD CHURCH WERE THE LARGE CRUCIFIX, TWO STATUES AND THE SET OF STATIONS. THE TABERNACLE SERVES BOTH THE MAIN BODY AND THE SMALL WEEKDAY CHAPEL WITH ITS OWN VIA CRUCIS AND MODERN STATUARY.

TO THE RIGHT IS A VIEW TOWARDS THE SANCTUARY FROM THE 'NAVE' DISPLAYING THE GENERALLY MINIMALIST APPROACH TO DECORATION THAT IS EVIDENT THROUGHOUT THE CHURCH. AT THE FAR END CAN BE JUST DISCERNED THE TABERNACLE AND THE DOOR TO THE SIDE CHAPEL. ABOVE IS THE MODERN RELIEF-STYLE ROOD CROSS THAT HANGS ON THE WALL AT THE BACK OF THE ALTER. THE FLOWER VASES ADD A TOUCH OF BRIGHT COLOUR.

(LEFT) THE SEVERELY MINIMALIST SANCTUARY AND ITS PLAIN FURNISHINGS. (RIGHT) A CLOSE UP OF THE TABLE ALTAR AND ROOD CROSS.

(<<<<) THE ATTRACTIVE BRONZE TABERNACLE SERVING BOTH CHURCH AND CHAPEL. (>>>>) ONE OF THE STATIONS FROM THE OLD CHURCH.

ALSO FROM THE OLD CHURCH ARE THE STATUE OF OUR LADY (<<<<) THE CRUCIFIX (vvvv) AND THE STATUE OF THE SACRED HEART (>>>>).

A SMALL ROOM OFF THE MAIN BODY OF THE CHURCH WAS SET ASIDE AS THE WEEKDAY CHAPEL (BELOW). IT RETAINS THE MINIMALIST STYLE OF THE CHURCH AND HAS ITS OWN SET OF STATIONS AND TWO MODERN STATUES OF ST MARY AND ST JOSEPH (BELOW). TO THE RIGHT REAR CAN JUST BE SEEN THE TABERNACLE WHICH IS PLACED SO AS TO FACE BOTH INTO THE CHURCH AND INTO THE CHAPEL.

CARCOAR WAS INTENDED TO BE THE MAIN SERVICE CENTRE FOR THE MIDWEST WHEN IT WAS GAZETTED IN 1839 AND HAD GROWN TO THE SECOND LARGEST SETTLEMENT WEST OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS BY 1850. THE TOWN WAS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THE GOLD DISCOVERIES FURTHER WEST HOWEVER AND ALSO BY THE TERMINATION OF THE RAILWAY AT NEARBY BLAYNEY IN 1874. ALTHOUGH THE RAILWAY ARRIVED IN 1888, THE DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE AND BY THEN THE TOWNSHIP WAS IN DECLINE.

IN 1847 A NEW KING'S PLAINS MISSION WAS ESTABLISHED COVERING THE WHOLE AREA FROM BLAYNEY TO THE LACHLAN. JUST 19 YEARS LATER THE PARISH CENTRE WAS FIRMLY SETTLED IN CARCOAR WHICH MADE IT THE THIRD OLDEST IN THE DIOCESE. IT WAS RESPONSIBLE INTER ALIA FOR THE OUTSTATIONS AT MANDURAMA, NEVILLE, BROWNS CREEK, AND LYNDHURST AS WELL AS THOSE DETACHED AS BLAYNEY PARISH IN 1931. AFTER 127 YEARS AS A PARISH CARCOAR WAS THEN AMALGAMATED WITH ITS ONE TIME STATION, BLAYNEY, IN 1974.

WHEN CARCOAR WAS PROCLAIMED A PARISH IT POSSESSED NOT A SINGLE CHURCH. THE FIRST PARISH PRIEST LIVED IN KINGS PLAINS NEAR BLAYNEY AND THE FIRST REFERENCE TO A MASS IN CARCOAR IS HIS REQUEST TO USE THE COURTHOUSE FOR THE PURPOSE IN 1848. IN THE 1860's THOUGHTS TURNED TO BUILDING A DEDICATED PARISH CHURCH AND MR EDWARD GELL WAS DULY ENGAGED TO PREPARE PLANS FOR JUST SUCH A CHURCH.

THE CHURCH WAS BUILT IN THE GOTHIC STYLE WITH STONE RUBBLE WALLS AND FINELY DETAILED PINK GRANITE. SEVERAL INTERESTING ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES ARE OF NOTE INCLUDING TWO SHALLOW DECORATIVE TRANSEPTS, ONE OF WHICH DOUBLES AS A SACRISTY, THE IMPRESSIVE NORTH-WEST PORCH, AND THE LITTLE BELLCOTE SPIRE. OF SPECIAL INTEREST IS A VENTIALATION SYSTEM WHEREBY AIR ENTERS VIA CAVITIES IN THE STONE WALLS AND THE WINDOW SILLS. THE FOUNDATION STONE IS SET HIGH IN THE NORTH WALL.

THE INTERIOR IS QUITE REPRESENTATIVE OF 19th CENTURY CATHOLIC ART AT ITS FINEST. INTERNALLY THE CHURCH IS MARKED BY NO ARCHITECTURAL DIFFERENTIATION WITH THE SANCTUARY SHOWN BY A RAISED STEP ONLY. AMONG THE FEATURES OF THE SANCTUARY ARE THE LOVELY CARVED WOOD ALTAR WITH ITS PAINTED AND GILDED FIGURES OF THE SAINTS, A POWERFUL CRUCIFIX, STATUES OF OUR LADY AND THE SACRED HEART AND THE 1873 SANCTUARY LAMP. A PORTABLE TABLE ALTAR WAS INSTALLED IN THE 1970's FOR THE
CELEBRATION OF THE NOVUS ORDO MISSAE.

THE CHURCH IS BLESSED WITH A COMPLETE SET OF VICTORIAN STAINED GLASS WINDOWS GIVEN AS MEMORIALS TO THE PIONEERS OF THE DISTRICT. THESE WINDOWS, TOTALLING THIRTEEN IN ALL, SHOW VARIOUS SAINTS AND ARE REPRESENTATIONAL IN THE STYLE THAT WAS POPULAR IN CHURCHES OF THAT AGE. THESE WINDOWS DO NONETHELESS INDICATE SOMETHING OF THE PEOPLE'S LOVE FOR THE CHURCH AS THEY INVOLVE A CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO THE SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE TRUE TREASURES OF THE CHURCH IS THE ORIGINAL PAINTED WOODEN ALTAR WITH ITS GILDED FIGURES OF THE SAINTS.

TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC STATUARY IN THE SANCTUARY - OUR LADY (<<<), THE CRUCIFIX (VVV) AND THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS (>>>).

THE MAGNIFICENT STAINED GLASS WINDOWS COMPRISE THREE SETS - THE FIRST CONSISTS OF SIX WINDOWS IN THE SOUTH WALL (BELOW), THE SECOND CONSISTS OF TWO WINDOWS IN THE WEST WALL WHICH ARE DISTINCT FROM THE OTHERS (BELOW ON THE FAR LEFT) AND FINALLY FIVE WINDOWS MATCHING THOSE ON THE SOUTH IN THE NORTH WALL (BELOW). THE SANCTUARY LAMP IS SEEN BELOW CENTRE.

(<<<) THE BEAUTY OF THE GILDED STATIONS, (VV) THE UNIQUE KIRKLAND ORGAN (VV) AND (>>>) THE COMMEMORATIVE HOLY WATER STOUP.

AMONG THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE NAVE ARE THE GILDED STATIONS, THE LOVELY ROSE WINDOW AND THE 1880's HAND PUMPED ORGAN MANUFACTURED IN LONDON AND DELIVERED DIRECT TO CARCOAR. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY EXTANT KIRKLAND ORGAN IN AUSTRALIA.

IN THE YEAR 1874 THE GULLY SWAMP AND BLACK HILLS GOLDFIELD IN THE AREA OF TODAY'S VILLAGE OF MANDURAMA WAS PROCLAIMED AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF MINES THAT WERE OPERATED IN THE DISTRICT FROM THE 1870's TO THE EARLY YEARS OF THE 20th CENTURY. IN SPITE OF THIS EARLY SUCCESS THE MINES SOON PETERED OUT AND MANDURAMA BECAME A SMALL RURAL SERVICE DEPOT SERVING THE RICH FARMLANDS OF THE LOCALITY.

FOR MANY YEARS PRIOR TO THE CHURCH BEING ERECTED A PRIEST WOULD VISIT FROM CARCOAR AND SAY MASS IN THE MANDURAMA SCHOOL OF ARTS WITH AN OCCASIONAL MASS BEING SAID AT BURNT YARDS. NONETHELESS IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1935 THAT A CHURCH WAS BEGUN, AND A MAGNIFICENT EDIFICE IT WOULD INDEED HAVE BEEN HAD IT BEEN FINISHED. AS IT IS THE CHURCH IS STILL AN IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURE. FOLLOWING THE CLOSING OF CARCOAR PARISH IN 1974 MANDURAMA BECAME AND CONTINUES TODAY TO BE AN INVOLVED STATION OF BLAYNEY PARISH.

THE CHURCH, GENERALLY IF INCORRECTLY KNOWN AS ST LAWRENCE'S, WAS THE RESULT OF A GIFT OF LAND AND MONEY FROM MR R J FAGAN WHO IS COMMEMORATED BY A WINDOW IN THE NAVE AND WAS COMPLETED IN MID 1936.

THE CHURCH AS IT WAS CONCEIVED BY THE PEOPLE OF MANDURAMA AND THEN DESIGNED BY SCOTT, GREEN & SCOTT OF SYDNEY WAS INTENDED TO BE A MAGNIFICENT TESTAMENT TO THE FAITH OF THE LOCAL CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, A CHURCH OF ALMOST CATHEDRAL-LIKE PROPORTIONS MORE SUITED TO A COUNTY SEAT THAN A SMALL SERVICE CENTRE (ABOVE RIGHT). SADLY FOR POSTERITY THE VISION WAS ONLY PARTLY REALISED. AS WAS THEN THE CASE IT WAS TO BE BUILT IN STAGES AND THE NAVE, NARTHEX AND BELLTOWER WERE DULY FINISHED IN 1936. A SMALL CHANCEL WAS ADDED PENDING THE COMPLETION OF THE TRANSEPTS AND PERMANENT CHANCEL. DUE TO THE DECLINING FORTUNES OF THE VILLAGE COMPOUNDED BY THE DEPRESSION AND WAR IT IS THIS 1936 CHURCH WHICH REMAINS TODAY'S PLACE OF WORSHIP. THE DESIGN IS MOST UNUSUAL WITH A HIGH NAVE EXTENDING FORWARD IN A NARROW NARTHEX WITH A SLIM FINGER-LIKE BELLTOWER IN THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE TWO. THE TEMPORARY CHANCEL WAS MADE WIDE ENOUGH TO INCLUDE A SMALL SACRISTY.

THE CHURCH INTERIOR IS AS UNIQUE AS THE EXTERIOR. THE SEPARATION OF THE NAVE AND THE TEMPORARY CHANCEL IS QUICKLY APPARENT AND THE SOARING CEILING HIGH ABOVE CREATES A SENSE OF VAST SPACE IN SUCH A RESTRICTED BUILDING. THE NAVE REFLECTS THE CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY OF A PRE VATICAN II AGE MARKED BY IMPRESSIVE STATUES OF THE SACRED HEART AND OUR LADY TO LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE CHANCEL AND A VERY ATTRACTIVE SET OF STATIONS LINING THE WALLS. THE CHANCEL ITSELF IS DOMINATED BY AN UNUSUALLY POSITIONED STATUE OF THE CHURCH PATRON SAINT, ST LAURENCE O'TOOLE, ABOVE THE ALTAR AND THE LOVELY WOODEN ALTAR PIECE WHICH IS STILL IN PLACE. A SIMPLE TABLE ALTAR HAS BEEN INSTALLED FOR THE VERSUS POPULAM CELEBRATION. A PARTICULARLY WONDERFUL PIECE OF FURNISHING IS THE PIPE ORGAN AT THE FRONT LEFT OF THE NAVE. THE TRULY FINE GROUP OF STAINED GLASS WINDOWS WERE INSTALLED DURING THE 1960's BY THE PARISH PRIEST OF THAT TIME, FR WISELY.

ONE QUESTION INVARIABLY POSED IS ABOUT THE CRUCIFIX HIGH IN THE GABLE. THIS ITEM WAS ORIGINALLY OVER THE ALTAR BUT WAS MOVED WHEN FATHER WISELY INSTALLED THE STATUE OF THE CHURCH PATRON. BELOW IS THE WHITE PAINTED WOODEN ALTAR PIECE WITH MEDAILLONS REPRESENTING THE SACRED HEART (LEFT), THE AGNUS DEI (CENTRE) AND THE IMMACULATE HEART (RIGHT).

THREE MAGNIFICENT DEVOTIONAL STATUES - THE SACRED HEART (LEFT), ST LAURENCE O'TOOLE, PATRON (CENTRE) AND OUR LADY (RIGHT).

THE WINDOWS BEGINNING FROM THE SOUTH-EAST CORNER AND PROCEEDING AROUND THE CHURCH REPRESENT ST JOSEPH, ST PETER, ST REGINALD, ST MARGARET OF SCOTLAND, ST RAPHAEL, ST ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY, AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN. THE UNUSUAL CHOICE OF SAINT REGINALD AND SAINT ELIZABETH ARE EXPLAINED BY THEIR BEING ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF REGINALD AND ELIZABETH FAGAN.

THE WONDERFULLY PRESERVED PIPE ORGAN (RIGHT) IN THE CHURCH WAS PRESENTED BY A MISS MAY STEER WHO WAS ONE OF THE MANY LADIES WHO ASSISTED DEVOTEDLY IN THE CARE OF THE CHURCH OVER THE 73 YEARS IT HAS SERVED THE VILLAGE.

MANDURAMA HAS A MOST EXCELLENT SET OF GILT-FRAMED STATIONS OF THE CROSS (BELOW) WHICH WERE DONATED TO THE CHURCH BY BISHOP NORTON HIMSELF. HE ALSO GAVE THE BELL AND BENCHES ALONG WITH £100. AT FAR LEFT IS THE STATUE OF ST JOSEPH AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH.

THE STORY OF MILLTHORPE DATES BACK TO THE MID 1800’S WHEN THE AREA GREW AS A RICH FARMING CENTRE WITH MANY PROFITABLE ORCHARDS ESTABLISHED AT THIS TIME. LOCAL AGRICULTURE REACHED ITS PEAK DURING THE 1870’S WHEN THE RAILWAY ARRIVED AND MILLTHORPE WAS A BUSTLING SERVICE TOWN. AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR THE TOWN DECLINED HOWEVER AND TODAY MILLTHORPE IS A QUIET RURAL SERVICE CENTRE WITH A NEW AND GROWING TOURIST INDUSTRY.

MILLTHORPE BEGAN AS AN OUTSTATION OF ORANGE IN THE LATE 1800's AND THE CHURCH OF ST CANICE WAS BUILT IN 1903. IN 1922 THE PERTHVILLE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH ESTABLISHED A SMALL CONVENT AND OPENED A SCHOOL THUS PROVIDING A STANDING CATHOLIC PRESENCE IN THE TOWN THAT WOULD LAST FOR CLOSE ON FIFTY YEARS. IN 1952 MILLTHORPE ALONG WITH FOREST REEFS WAS TRANSFERRED OVER TO BLAYNEY PARISH WHERE IT HAS STAYED FOR THE LAST FIFTY-SIX YEARS.

THE PRETTY LITTLE CHURCH OF ST CANICE WAS ERECTED IN 1903. IT IS A PLAIN BRICK STRUCTURE IN THE RURAL GOTHIC STYLE COMPRISING NAVE, CHANCEL, SACRISTY AND SOUTH-WEST PORCH SURROUNDED BY MATURE PINE TREES. ONE ASPECT OF INTEREST IS THE POSITIONING OF THE CHURCH TO ONE SIDE OF THE TOWN'S GENERAL CEMETERY WITH THE ANGLICAN CHURCH SET ON THE OTHER. THE STYLE OF THE CHURCH IS GENERALLY TYPICAL OF ITS TIME WITH MINIMAL EXTERIOR DECORATIVE EFFECTS APART FROM THE USUAL GABLE CROSSES AND MOCK BUTTRESSES. SADLY THE GLASS FROM THE TWO CENTRAL LANCETS OF THE WEST END WERE REMOVED SOME YEARS AGO AND THE EMPTY FRAMES EXCEPT FOR A SMALL SQUARE SPACE AT THE BASE OF EACH CEMENTED IN AS CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN FROM THE INSIDE. VARIOUS RURAL REMINDERS CAN BE OBSERVED AROUND THE CHURCH INCLUDING A TYPICAL RAINWATER COLLECTION TANK ESSENTIAL IN A DRY CONTINENT AND ASSORTED LIVESTOCK NEXT DOOR.

THE CHURCH INTERIOR WAS RE-ORDERED IN LINE WITH THE TIMES DURING THE 1980's BUT IT WAS ACHIEVED SYMPATHETICALLY. THOUGH THE OLD ALTAR HAS GONE THE CRUCIFIX AND STATUES WERE RETAINED GIVING A GENUINELY CATHOLIC FEEL TO THE CHURCH. AMONG THOSE ITEMS WHICH WERE RETAINED ARE THE LOVELY EARLY 20th CENTURY POLISHED WOOD LECTERN, THE PUMP ORGAN, THE ALTAR CROSS AND THE ORIGINAL BOX-STYLE TABERNACLE.

DURING 2003 THE ONE HUNDRED YEAR OLD CHURCH WAS RENOVATED AND PAINTED FOR THE CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE CHURCH. AS A RESULT OF THIS THE ATTRACTIVE BANDING AROUND THE WALLS HAS BEEN RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL SPLENDOUR. AN INTERESTING FEATURE IS THE CONFESSIONAL DOOR LOCATED NEXT TO THE ORGAN PROVIDING AN ACCESS TO A SMALL BOOTH FOR THE PENITENT WHILE THE PRIEST SAT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SCREEN IN THE SACRISTY. THERE IS TRULY A SENSE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

THE RE-ORDERED SANCTUARY (RIGHT) WAS STRIPPED BARE BUT HAS NONETHELESS A SPARSE ELEGANCE ALL OF ITS OWN. THE CRUCIFIX DOMINATES THE CHANCEL SPACE WITH THE ORIGINAL TABERNACLE FROM THE HIGH ALTAR SURMOUNTED BY THE OLD BRASS ALTAR CROSS BELOW IT. ASIDE FROM A CELEBRANT'S CHAIR AND THE CREDENCE TABLES IN THE CORNER THE ONLY OTHER FURNISHING IS THE ATTRACTIVELY CARVED ALTAR (BELOW). THE FLOWER VASES MOUNTED ON THE WALLS ADD A WELCOME SPLASH OF BRIGHT COLOUR AGAINST THE CREAM AND GREEN SHADES OF THE WALLS.

(<<<<) THE TABERNACLE FROM THE ORIGINAL ALTAR, (vv) THE SANCTUARY CRUCIFIX (vv) AND (>>>>) THE HISTORICAL WOODEN LECTERN.

(<<<) THE STATUE OF ST JOSEPH, (VV) THE OLD PUMP ORGAN AND THE CONFESSIONAL ENTRANCE (vv) AND THE STATUE OF OUR LADY (>>>).

(<<<<) ST THERESE OF LISIEUX, (VV) THE ATTRACTIVELY RESTORED WALL BANDING (VV) AND ONE OF THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS (>>>>).

BARRY (OR BARRIE) WAS ONCE KNOWN AS THE VILLAGE OF FIVE ISLANDS WHICH DEVELOPED DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE 1800's WITH STORES, SCHOOL, CHURCHES, AND AN INFLUX OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS. TODAY ALL THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS, EXCEPT FOR ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH AND THE COMMUNITY CENTRE, HAVE CLOSED AND THE VILLAGE HAS DECLINED INTO A QUIET RURAL BACKWATER.

BARRY STARTED AS A STATION OF CARCOAR. A LITTLE STATION CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1931 BY WHICH TIME IT HAD PASSED TO BLAYNEY. IT LATER PASSED BACK TO CARCOAR BEFORE BEING CLOSED DOWN DURING THE EARLY 70's.

THE SMALL GALVANISED IRON CHURCH OF ST THERESE OF LISIEUX ERECTED IN 1931 WAS VERY MUCH A CHURCH OF THE DEPRESSION YEARS AND NATURALLY REFLECTS THE TIME BEING CONSTRUCTED WITH ONLY THE MOST BASIC MATERIALS. IT NONETHELESS REVEALS THE STRONG FAITH OF THE PEOPLE IN THEIR DESIRE TO HAVE THEIR OWN HOUSE OF GOD NO MATTER HOW SIMPLE. FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE STATION THE CHURCH WAS SOLD AND IT IS NOW A PRIVATE RESIDENCE.

BROWNS CREEK WAS ONE OF MANY MINING SETTLEMENTS THAT SPRANG UP AROUND THE BATHURST DISTRICT DURING THE GOLD FEVER OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY. LIKE MANY SUCH SETTLEMENTS IT QUICKLY PASSED AWAY ONCE THE GOLD RAN OUT. TODAY BROWNS CREEK IS NOTHING MORE THAN A FEW SCATTERED DWELLINGS AND PASTORAL HOLDINGS WHICH ARE STRUNG OUT ALONG BROWNS CREEK ROAD.

BROWNS CREEK WAS ORIGINALLY A STATION OF CARCOAR PARISH DATING BACK TO THE LATER 19th CENTURY. A SIMPLE WOODEN CHURCH WAS CONSTRUCTED SOMETIME PRIOR TO 1880 AND DEDICATED TO ST JOHN THE BAPTIST TO CATER TO THE MINERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE STATION WAS TRANSFERRED TO BLAYNEY ON THE FORMATION OF THE NEW PARISH IN 1931. DURING THE LATE 1950's THE CHURCH WAS CLOSED DOWN. THE CHURCH WAS THEN MOVED TO AND USED BY ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL IN BLAYNEY UNTIL IT WAS EVENTUALLY DEMOLISHED.

THE TINY SETTLEMENT OF FOREST REEFS WEST OF MILLTHORPE WAS A GOLDMINING TOWN WHICH ONCE BOASTED SIX HOTELS. TODAY LITTLE IS LEFT OF THE TOWNSHIP EXCEPT FOR A HOTEL AND SOME HOUSES.

FOREST REEFS WAS A PART OF ORANGE DATING BACK TO THE 1880's BUT IN 1952 IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO BLAYNEY. THERE WAS ALWAYS A STRONG IRISH ELEMENT PRESENT WHICH MAY ACCOUNT FOR THE DEDICATION. THERE WAS ALSO A SCHOOL AT FOREST REEFS RUN BY THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH FROM 1882 TO 1963. IN THE MID 60's DECLINING NUMBERS LED TO THE ONCE THRIVING STATION'S BEING CLOSED.

THE VERY SUBSTANTIAL CHURCH OF ST PATRICK WAS CONSTRUCTED OF BRICK WITH A CEMENT FACADE IN THE LATER DECADES OF THE 19th CENTURY. IT IS IN THE TYPICAL 'CHURCH STYLE' OF THE TIME BEST CALLED A SIMPLIFIED GOTHIC. FOLLOWING THE STATION'S CLOSURE THE CHURCH WAS SOLD TOGETHER WITH THE CONVENT AND IS TODAY USED AS A BARN.

THESE PHOTOS SHOW THE SUBSTANTIAL NATURE OF ST PATRICK'S, REFLECTIVE OF THE WEALTH THAT FLOWED FROM THE GOLD OF THE DISTRICT AND THE STRONG FAITH OF THE LARGELY IRISH MINERS.

AS THE CLOSEST CENTRE TO THE RICH LYNDHURST GOLDFIELDS, ALSO KNOWN AS JUNCTION REEFS, THE TOWN PROSPERED DURING THE LATE 1800's AND AT ONE STAGE BOASTED THREE BANKS, THREE GENERAL STORES, A CINEMA, A PUB, A PHOTOGRAPHER, FARRIER, BAKER, FRUIT SHOP, BUTCHER, THREE GARAGES, A RAILWAY STATION, A MEMORIAL HALL AND A SHOWGROUND. THE DECLINE IN THE GOLD WAS INEVITABLY FOLLOWED BY THE DECLINE IN POPULATION AND TODAY LYNDHURST IS JUST A PITSTOP ALONG THE MID-WESTERN HIGHWAY.

A LONG-TIME STATION OF CARCOAR LYNDHURST'S CHURCH WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1891. A LESS IMPOSING BUILDING THAN MANY BUILT IN THE GOLDRUSH DAYS, THE CHURCH AS SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND IN THE OLD PHOTO BELOW LEFT WAS JUST A SIMPLE WOODEN HALL WITH POINTED WINDOWS TO GIVE A CHURCHY 'FEEL' TO IT. DURING THE 1950's THE CHURCH RECIEVED A FACELIFT AND WAS CEMENT RENDERED AND A PORCH AND MOCK BUTTRESSES ADDED. LYNDHURST WAS TRANSFERRED WITH CARCOAR TO BLAYNEY IN THE 1970's, BUT THE DECLINE IN CONGREGATIONAL NUMBERS AND THE PROXIMITY OF MANDURAMA OBVIATED THE NEED FOR A SEPARATE STATION AND IT WAS CLOSED. THE CHURCH WAS SOLD IN 1979 AND HAS SINCE BEEN CONVERTED INTO A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. DESPITE EXTENSIVE ALTERATIONS THE BASIC OUTLINE OF THE CHURCH IS STILL VISIBLE THROUGH THE SURROUNDING TREES. OF MOST INTEREST IS A SIMPLE LITTLE BRICK WORK CROSS ON THE GABLE AND THE ATTRACTIVE BRICKWORK OF THE ARCH MARKING THE ENTRANCE DOOR BOTH BEING STILL VISIBLE.

MOORILDA, A TINY HAMLET TO THE SOUTH OF BLAYNEY ONCE KNOWN AS TEAPOT SWAMP, IS TODAY A FARMING LOCALITY MOST FAMOUS FOR THE GLENGOWAN ANGUS STUD. IT WAS ONCE HOWEVER A SUBSTANTIAL GOLDMINING TOWN THAT BOASTED A LARGE POPULATION. AS WITH MANY SUCH LOCALITIES THERE IS LITTLE TODAY TO RECALL ITS GLORY DAYS.

A STATION OF ROCKLEY WITH A CHURCH JUST TWO YEARS YOUNGER THAN ROCKLEY ITSELF, IT WAS CLOSED DURING THE 60's. TODAY THE HAMLET FALLS WITHIN BLAYNEY PARISH. THE BEAUTIFUL STONE CHURCH OF ST BRIGID WAS BUILT IN 1872 TO A DESIGN BY EDWARD GELL, THE UNOFFICIAL 'OFFICIAL' ARCHITECT OF THE DIOCESE. IN DESIGN IT IS A SIMPLE NAVE WITH AN OPEN SOUTH-WEST PORCH AND A LARGE SACRISTY. THIS LATTER IS UNUSUALLY LARGE WITH A BUILT-IN CHIMNEY AND WAS CLEARLY USED AS AN OVERNIGHT RESIDENCE BY THE PRIEST WHO WOULD TRAVEL DOWN THE NIGHT BEFORE TO CELEBRATE EARLY MASS BEFORE TRAVELLING ON TO THE NEXT MASS STATION.

SIDE (<<) AND REAR (>>) VIEWS OF THE CHURCH SHOWING THE LARGE SACRISTY CUM PRIEST'S FLAT AND THE LOVELY LOCAL STONE WORK.

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HISTORIC CHURCHES

NEVILLE

NEVILLE IS A SMALL SETTLEMENT OF ABOUT 100 PEOPLE LOCATED 16 KILOMETRES SOUTH-EAST OF MANDURAMA. THE AREA STARTED TO DEVELOP IN THE 1850's AND A SCHOOL HAD EMERGED BY 1858. THE VILLAGE WAS PROCLAIMED AS MACQUARIE IN 1885 BUT BECAME KNOWN AS MOUNT MACQUARIE UNTIL THE NAME 'NEVILLE' WAS ADOPTED IN 1888. IN COMMON WITH MANY OTHER RURAL SETTLEMENTS AROUND THE BATHURST DISTRICT IT HAS SUFFERED A MAJOR POPULATION DECLINE IN RECENT YEARS AND TODAY IT IS A HISTORIC LITTLE RURAL HAMLET SET AMID ATTRACTIVE PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS.

NEVILLE WAS A STATION OF CARCOAR FROM THE LATE 1800's UNTIL 1970 AND TODAY FALLS WITHIN THE AREA OF BLAYNEY PARISH. ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME CONFUSION OVER THE DATE OF THE LITTLE WEATHERBOARD CHURCH IT WAS CERTAINLY BLESSED BY BISHOP BYRNE IN 1897. FOR SOME YEARS IT WAS CLOSED BUT RE-OPENED IN 1931 AND SERVED THE VILLAGE UNTIL 1970. A SIMPLE 'GOD-BOX' IT WAS TYPICAL OF MANY RURAL STATIONS OF THE TIME. AFTER A RATIONALISATION OF STATIONS IT WAS CLOSED AND SOLD. IT WAS THEN MOVED TO A PRIVATE PROPERTY AND LATER DEMOLISHED.

NEWBRIDGE DEVELOPED AROUND THE RAILWAY LINE AND STATION BUILT IN 1876. THE STATION WAS CALLED 'BACK CREEK' UNTIL THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO NEWBRIDGE IN 1878. THE NAME MAY HAVE DERIVED FROM AN OVERHEAD BRIDGE AT THE STATION OR FROM NEWBRIDGE IN IRELAND, DUE TO THE NUMBERS OF IRISH SETTLERS.

IT WAS LARGELY DUE TO THE IRISH SETTLERS THAT A STATION OF ROCKLEY PARISH WAS SOON ESTABLISHED, PROBABLY SOMETIME IN THE LATE 1880's. A CONVENT SCHOOL WAS OPENED IN 1900 AND A SUBSTANTIAL NEW STONE CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1919. IN THE 60's BOTH SUFFERED FROM THE RATIONALISATION OF RURAL STATIONS AND WERE CLOSED. THE ENTIRE COMPLEX WAS SOLD OFF AND THE HERITAGE-LISTED BUILDINGS ARE NOW A PRIVATELY OWNED HOME.

LITTLE IS KNOWN OF THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEWBRIDGE BUT IT WOULD SEEM LIKELY THAT A CHURCH EXISTED AT LEAST FROM THE LATE 1880's. CERTAINLY THERE WAS A CHURCH THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH ARRIVED IN 1900. THE FATE OF THIS CHURCH IS UNKNOWN.

THE BEAUTIFULLY PROPORTIONED BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1919 AND OPENED BY BISHOP HAYDEN IN THE SAME YEAR. IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF RURAL CHURCH ARCHITECTURE IN AUSTRALIA. CONSTRUCTED IN SIMPLIFIED GOTHIC WITH DELICATE WINDOW TRACERY AND IDEAL PROPORTIONS IT IS TOPPED BY STONE CROSSES AND A LOVELY LITTLE BELL-COTE. AN INTERESTING FEATURE IS THE EXTERNAL CONFESSIONAL TO THE RIGHT OF THE ENTRANCE. ALTHOUGH PRIVATELY OWNED, THE CHURCH HAS BEEN CAREFULLY MAINTAINED IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM.

THE INTERIORIS A PALE GHOST OF ITS FORMER GLORY NOW STRIPPED OF ITS DEVOTIONAL FURNISHINGS. NONETHELESS THE BEAUTIFUL EAST WINDOW WITH ITS IMAGE OF OUR LORD OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT REMAINS INTACT ALONG WITH THE CARVED ALTAR RAILS.

THE CHURCH HAS A LOVELY SET OF WINDOWS EACH DEPICTING A DIFFERENT SACRED SYMBOL DRAWN FROM TRADITIONAL ICONOGRAPHY.

(<<) THE INTEGRATED CONFESSIONAL, (vv) THE UNUSUAL 'CHOIR LOFT' AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH AND ONE OF THE NAVE WINDOWS (>>).

THE PRESENT PARISH OF BLAYNEY COVERS MUCH OF THE AREA OF THE OLD KING'S PLAINS MISSION. AS SUCH IT HAS A RICH CATHOLIC HISTORY WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE MANY HISTORICAL REMAINS OF THAT CATHOLIC PAST. THE FIRST PRIEST RESIDED AT KING'S PLAINS ITSELF ALTHOUGH NO TRACE OF HIS PRESBYTERY SURVIVES. FOR MOST OF THESE EARLY YEARS THE PRIESTS LIVED IN THE SADDLE SO VAST WAS THEIR CHARGE. WHEN THE PARISH OF CARCOAR WAS FORMALLY ESTABLISHED IN 1866 CARCOAR THE PRIEST LIVED IN AN OLD COTTAGE PRIOR TO MOVING 'UP THE HILL' TO THE MAGNIFICENT HERITAGE LISTED SECOND PRESBYTERY. IN 1931 WHEN BLAYNEY BECAME A PARISH IN ITS OWN RIGHT A PRESBYTERY WAS ALSO NEEDED THERE THOUGH IT TOOK SOME YEARS FOR A SUITABLE PROPERTY TO BE OBTAINED. THE MOST NOTABLE ASPECT OF THE BLAYNEY-CARCOAR AREA WAS THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT FULFILLED BISHOP MATTHEW QUINN'S EDUCATIONAL LEGACY. THE PERTHVILLE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH OPENED CONVENTS AND SCHOOLS AT BLAYNEY (1880), FOREST REEFS (1882), NEWBRIDGE (1900) AND MILLTHORPE (1922) WHILE THE BATHURST SISTERS OF MERCY MAINTAINED A CONVENT AND SCHOOL IN CARCOAR FROM 1873. SADLY ALL BUT ONE OF THESE INSTITUTIONS HAS NOW CLOSED ALTHOUGH THE CONVENT AND SCHOOL IN CARCOAR HAVE GAINED A NEW LEASE OF LIFE AS THE SHALOM DIOCESAN HOUSE OF PRAYER. IN 1957 ST JOSEPH'S HALL WAS OPENED AS A SCHOOL AND A PARISH FACILITY. THE LOCAL ST VINCENT DE PAUL CONFERENCE OPERATES A VINNIES OUTLET IN BLAYNEY.

DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF WHAT WAS TO BECOME THE PARISH OF CARCOAR MOST PRIESTS SPENT THEIR LIVES TRAVELLING FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND A PRESBYTERY WAS A LUXURY THAT COULD RARELY BE ENJOYED. WHEN FATHER PHILLIP RYAN WAS APPOINTED THE PARISH PRIEST OF CARCOAR IN 1866 HOWEVER HE SET ABOUT ESTABLISHING A PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN CARCOAR. INITIALLY HE SETTLED HIMSELF IN A SMALL COTTAGE DOWN THE HILL FROM THE SITE OF THE FUTURE CHURCH. ELEVEN YEARS LATER FATHER RYAN COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LOVELY LATE VICTORIAN PRESBYTERY ON THE HILL. DESIGNED BY EDWARD GELL, WHO ALSO DESIGNED THE CHURCH, AS A LARGE SINGLE-STORIED BUILDING WITH AN UNUSUAL 'BROKEN PYRAMID' ROOF SURROUNDED BY WROUGHT IRON LACEWORK, IT WAS THE HOME OF CARCOAR PRIESTS TILL 1973. THE BUILDING WAS SOLD IN 1979 AND IS TODAY A PRIVATE HOME.

ON 29 MAY 1957 BISHOP NORTON BLESSED AND OPENED THE BRICK ST JOSEPH'S HALL IN HILL ST. NAMED FOR THE PATRON OF THE SCHOOL IT HAS BEEN USED AS BOTH A PARISH AND A SCHOOL HALL. A SIMPLE BUILDING WHICH EMPHASISES ITS FUNCIONALITY RATHER THAN DECORATION IT HAS BEEN A VITAL PARISH ASSET FOR FIFTY YEARS.

INFORMATION AND HISTORICAL PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE WERE OBTAINED FROM THE BLAYNEY SHIRE LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORY GROUP AND THE CARCOAR HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THE HELP OF BOTH IS GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED. PUBLICATIONS USED IN PREPARING THIS PAGE INCLUDE NOTES FOR A WALKING TOUR OF CARCOAR BY CHRIS DENT, CARCOAR : A SHORT HISTORY AND THE HISTORY OF CARCOAR 1815-1881 BY WATSON STEELE FOR CARCOAR AND MANDURAMA AND ITS NEIGHBOURS BY THELMA TREASURE FOR MANDURAMA AND NEVILLE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK FR PAT O'REGAN FOR HIS SUPPORT AND HELP.