1851
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BATHURST
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PARISH OF ST DOMINIC KANDOS |
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FOUNDED 1851 |
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DIOCESE BATHURST |
| PARISH CHURCH | STATION CHURCHES | HISTORIC CHURCHES | OTHER BUILDINGS |
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PARISH CHURCH OF ST DOMINIC |
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| PARISH | CHURCH |
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 | PARISH |
| THE TOWN OF KANDOS ON THE SLOPES OF COOMBER MELON MOUNTAIN OWES ITS EXISTENCE TO THE LIMESTONE QUARRIES THAT FORMED THE BASIS OF THE CEMENT INDUSTRY. FOUNDED IN 1913 AND ALWAYS A WORKING CLASS TOWN IT EXUDES PRACTICALITY AND UNPRETENSIOUSNESS. AS THE PARISH OF RYLSTONE, KANDOS WAS ONE OF THE OLDEST PARISHES IN BATHURST DIOCESE, BEING FOUNDED IN 1851 BUT THE SHIFT IN IMPORTANCE BETWEEN RYLSTONE AND KANDOS DURING THE 1920's LED TO THE PARISH CENTRE BEING MOVED TO THE LATTER. WHILE THESE TWO TOWNS HAVE ALWAYS FORMED THE CORE OF THE PARISH, THE OUTSTATIONS HAVE FLUCTUATED CONSIDERABLY OVER THE 150 YEARS OF THE PARISH'S EXISTENCE. TO THE WEST THESE HAVE INCLUDED THE GOLDFIELD SETTLEMENTS OF ILFORD, PYRAMUL, WINDEYER, HILL END, SALLY'S FLAT, SOFALA AND WATTLE FLAT AND TO THE SOUTH THE SHALE MINING TOWN OF GLEN DAVIS. IN RECENT YEARS THE STATION OF BYLONG TO THE NORTH WAS ALSO ADDED. AS A PARISH CENTRE KANDOS ALSO POSSESSED A SCHOOL AND CONVENT FOUNDED BY THE GOOD SAMARITAN SISTERS. NEXT |
| CHURCH |  |
| THE CHURCH OF ST DOMINIC DATES FROM 1923, AND WAS CONVERTED FROM A SCHOOL BUILDING AS IS OBVIOUS FROM ITS SIMPLE LINES AND SQUARE SASH WINDOWS. A SACRISTY AND VERANDAH WERE LATER ADDED BUT THE ORIGINAL CHIMNEY STILL PROTRUDES FROM THE ROOF. AN ATTEMPT TO SOFTEN THE SURROUNDINGS HAS BEEN MADE BY THE ADDITION OF SEVERAL TREES BUT THE KANDOS CHURCH REMAINS IN ITS ESSENTIALS A "WORKING CLASS" CHURCH. NEXT |
 | THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH ALSO REFLECTS ITS ORIGINS. THERE IS NO DISTINCT SANCTUARY AREA, ONLY A CONVERTED ROOM END. DESPITE THIS, THE SANCTUARY IS NOT WITHOUT INTEREST. A SANDSTONE REREDOS PROVIDES AN ATTRACTIVE SETTING FOR THE TABERNACLE AND THE REMAINS OF THE OLD ALTAR RAILS CAN BE SEEN TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. AN OLD FASHIONED PAINTED CRUCIFIX DOMINATES THE AREA. A LOVELY FEATURE IS THE MODERN STATUE OF ST DOMINIC (SEEN ABOVE) IN ITS NICHE TO THE RIGHT OF THE SANCTUARY. TOP STATION CHURCHES |
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| STATION CHURCHES | ||||
| BYLONG | ILFORD | PYRAMUL | RYLSTONE | SALLY'S FLAT |
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| CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART, BYLONG | |
 | STATION |
| THE LITTLE SETTLEMENT OF BYLONG LIES IN SPLENDID ISOLATION IN THE UPPER BYLONG VALLEY. A SERVICE CENTRE FOR THE SURROUNDING RICH AGRICULTURAL LANDS THE VILLAGE SURVIVES TODAY AS LITTLE MORE THAN AN OUTPOST. BYLONG WAS ORIGINALLY A STATION OF GULGONG UNTIL IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO MUDGEE WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER STATIONS IN THE EARLY 60's. FOLLOWING A REORGANISATION OF PARISH BOUNDARIES IN THE 90's BYLONG WAS TRANSFERRED TO KANDOS. IN 2001 A DECLINING CONGREGATION LED TO THE CHURCH'S CLOSURE. NEXT | |
| CHURCH |  |
| THE WEATHERBOARD CHURCH WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900's IN TYPICAL "GODBOX" STYLE WITH NAVE, PORCH AND SACRISTY. AN INTERESTING FEATURE IS THE DUAL PIPE WATER-COLLECTION SYSTEM AT THE REAR, A REMINDER THAT WATER IS A PRECIOUS RESOURCE HERE. A SMALL HISTORIC CEMETERY IS ALSO LOCATED BEHIND THE CHURCH. TOP STATION CHURCHES NEXT | |
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| CHURCH OF OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, ILFORD | |
 | STATION |
| THE SMALL VILLAGE OF ILFORD LIES ON THE CASTLEREAGH HIGHWAY AT THE TURN-OFF TO KANDOS. GRACED WITH SEVERAL HISTORICAL BUILDINGS, IT IS TODAY JUST A PIT STOP FOR MOTORISTS TRAVELLING THROUGH TO MUDGEE OR LITHGOW. ONE OF THE ORIGINAL STATIONS OF KANDOS IT HAS SERVED THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FOR OVER 100 YEARS. NEXT |
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| BUILT IN 1895 AND SET AMIDST THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH THE SIMPLE LITTLE SANDSTONE CHURCH OF OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, PATRONESS OF AUSTRALIA, GIVES NEW MEANING TO THE TERM "GODBOX" BEING JUST A NAVE ENTIRELY DEVOID OF PORCH, CHANCEL OR SACRISTY. THE BEAUTIFUL LOCALLY CUT SANDSTONE WORK IS A TRIBUTE TO THE STONEMASON'S SKILL WHILE THE PRIDE OF THE CONGREGATION IN THEIR CHURCH IS SHOWN BY THE WELL-MAINTAINED STATE OF THE CHURCH. TOP STATION CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF ST PATRICK, PYRAMUL | |
 | STATION |
| THE TINY SETTLEMENT OF PYRAMUL WAS ONCE A GOLDMINING TOWN WHICH KNEW ITS MOMENT OF GLORY IN THE LATE 1800's. WITH THE END OF THE GOLD THE TOWN DECLINED INTO A SMALL PASTORAL CENTRE. ONE OF THE ORIGINAL STATIONS OF KANDOS IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO MUDGEE IN THE 70's BEFORE BEING RETURNED TO KANDOS AT THE TURN OF THE MILLENIUM. IN ITS HAYDAY FROM 1884 - 1892 IT ALSO POSSESSED A CONVENT AND SCHOOL RUN BY THE JOSEPHITE SISTERS. HAVING SERVED THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FOR OVER 100 YEARS IT WAS CLOSED IN 2005. NEXT |
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| CHURCH |  |
| THE WEATHERBOARD CHURCH OF ST PATRICK HAS CHANGED LITTLE OVER THE CENTURY SINCE ITS CONSTRUCTION IN 1873. A PLAIN LITTLE "GODBOX" WITH A TINY SACRISTY, NO ELECTRICITY OR RUNNING WATER AND AIR-CONDITIONING PROVIDED BY GAPS IN THE BOARDS, IT HAS BEEN KEPT ALIVE SOLEY BY THE FAITH OF ITS CONGREGATION. IN 2005 AS A RESULT OF THE DECLINE IN ITS CONGREGATION ST PATRICK'S WAS FINALLY CLOSED AFTER OVER 100 YEARS OF STEADFAST SERVICE TO THE FAITH. NEXT | |
 | OF SPECIAL INTERST IS THE CHURCHYARD WITH ITS HISTORIC CEMETERY IN WHICH MANY OF THE EARLY GOLDSEEKERS ARE BURIED. ALTHOUGH THE CHURCH HS CLOSED THE CEMETERY REMAINS AS A TESTAMENT TO THOSE WHOSE FAITH BUILT AND KEPT ALIVE THE LITTLE CHURCH. TOP STATION CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF ST MALACHY, RYLSTONE | |
 | STATION |
| THE TOWNSHIP OF RYLSTONE JUST 9KM FROM KANDOS WAS THE ORIGINAL SERVICE CENTRE FOR THE RICH AGRICULTURAL LANDS OF THE CUDGEGONG VALLEY. THE TOWN WAS FOUNDED IN THE LATE 1840's AND IS FULL OF BEAUTIFUL HISTORICAL BUILDINGS. WITH THE GROWTH OF KANDOS RYLSTONE GRADUALLY DECLINED IN IMPORTANCE BUT REMAINS AN ATTRACTIVE RURAL RETREAT. RYLSTONE WAS THE ORIGINAL PARISH CENTRE FROM 1851 TO THE 1920's WHEN IT WAS SHIFTED TO KANDOS AFTER WHICH IT BECAME A MASS STATION - A STATUS IT HAS MAINTAINED EVER SINCE. NEXT | |
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| THE BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC STONE CHURCH OF ST MALACHY'S DATES FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PARISH AND HAS SERVED THE PEOPLE OF RYLSTONE FOR OVER A CENTURY AND A HALF. BUILT IN AN INTERESTING ROMANESQUE STYLE, WITH NAVE AND DISTINCT CHANCEL, NARROW LANCET WINDOWS AND A SACRISTY AND SIDE PORCH, THE MAIN FEATURE OF INTERST IS THE SQUARE SIDE TOWER CAPPED WITH A PYRAMIDAL STEEPLE. THIS TOWER APPEARS QUITE TALL FROM THE SOUTH SIDE BUT IS IN FACT LITTLE HIGHER THAN THE NAVE ROOF. A SECOND INTERESTING FEATURE IS THE SINGLE ATTIC STYLE WINDOW ABOVE THE SUPPORTING BUTRESS ON THE NORTH SIDE. TOP STATION CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF ST BRIGID, SALLY'S FLAT | |
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| THE TINY LOCALITY OF SALLY'S FLAT LIES SOME 12KM FROM HILL END AND WAS ONE OF THE MANY GOLDFIELDS LYING BETWEEN SOFALA AND MUDGEE. TODAY IT IS A QUIET RURAL BACKWATER. SALLY'S FLAT WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL STATIONS OF KANDOS BUT WAS TRANSFERRED TO BATHURST IN THE 70's BEFORE RETURNING TO KANDOS AT THE TURN OF THE MILLENIUM. NEXT | |
| FIRST CHURCH OF ST BRIGID, SALLY'S FLAT |  |
| UNTIL 1997 THE LOCALITY WAS SERVED BY A SMALL WEATHERBOARD CHURCH. IN THAT YEAR IT WAS DECIDED TO DEMOLISH THE CENTURY OLD CHURCH AND REPLACE IT WITH THE PRESENT DEMOUNTABLE BUILDING. | |
| SECOND CHURCH OF ST BRIGID, SALLY'S FLAT |  |
| THE NEW CHURCH IS A CONVERTED DEMOUTABLE FORMING A SIMPLE SQUARE WITH AN INDENTED PORCH AND A METAL CROSS OVER THE FRONT ROOF TO INDICATE ITS PURPOSE. THE INTERIOR CONTAINS THE FURNISHINGS OF THE ORIGINAL CHURCH - THE ALTAR, CRUCIFIX AND THE STATUES OF OUR LADY AND THE SACRED HEART. IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT IN TIME A NEW CHURCH, MORE FITTING TO HOUSE THE BODY OF CHRIST WILL BE BUILT. BEHIND THE CHURCH IS AN EXTENSIVE AND HISTORIC CEMETERY. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES |
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| HISTORIC CHURCHES | |||
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| GLEN DAVIS | HILL END | SOFALA | |
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| CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY, GLEN DAVIS |
| THE TOWN OF GLEN DAVIS WAS FOUNDED IN 1938 TO EXPLOIT THE OILSHALE MINES OF THE CAPERTEE VALLEY. AT ITS HEIGHT IT HAD A POPULATION OF 2500 AND ALL THE REQUISITE SERVICES. THE VENTURE HOWEVER PROVED A FAILURE AND IN 1952 THE TOWN CLOSED AND TODAY ONLY CRUMBLING RUINS REMAIN. WITH THE RAPID POPULATION GROWTH OF THE TOWN A STATION CHURCH WAS QUICKLY ESTABLISHED FROM KANDOS WITH A CHURCH BEING BUILT IN THE LATE 30's TO MEET THE NEEDS OF LOCAL CATHOLICS. IT SERVED THE COMMUNITY TILL THE CLOSURE OF THE TOWN IN 1952. IT WAS LATER DEMOLISHED AND NO TRACE REMAINS OF IT. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART, HILL END | |
 | THE HISTORIC GOLDMING TOWN OF HILL END WAS ONCE THE RICHEST FIELD IN NSW WITH A POPULATION OF 8000. BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY IT WAS DOWN TO 500 AND BY THE LATE 1900's IT HAD FALLEN TO 100, ALL SURVIVING ON THE TOURIST TRADE. HILL END BECAME A STATION OF KANDOS IN THE 1870's AND A WATTLE AND DAUB CHURCH WAS BUILT THERE. BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY A BIGGER CHURCH WAS BEING SOUGHT AT ABOUT THE TIME THE METHODISTS WERE LOOKING TO SELL THEIRS AND SO THE 1872 BRICK CHURCH WAS PURCHASED, A SACRISTY ADDED AND THE CHURCH DEDICATED TO THE SACRED HEART. IT SERVED THE LOCAL CATHOLICS UNTIL 1964 WHEN THE DECLINE IN POPULATION OBVIATED THE NEED FOR THE CHURCH. IT WAS LATER SOLD AND TODAY IS USED AS AN ART GALLERY. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF THE HOLY ROSARY, SOFALA |
| SOFALA WAS ONE OF THE EARLIEST GOLDRUSH TOWNS. IN 1851 IT HAD A POPULATION OF 10000 BUT BY 1855 IT WAS DOWN TO 500. GOLDMINING CONTINUED UNTIL 1948 AFTER WHICH THE VILLAGE DECLINED TO ABOUT 80 PEOPLE. TODAY THE VILLAGE SURVIVES AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION. SOFALA WAS AN ORIGINAL STATION OF KANDOS FROM ITS FOUNDATION IN 1851. BY 1866 THERE WAS A WEATHERBOARD CHURCH DEDICATED TO THE HOLY ROSARY TO SERVE THE LOCAL CATHOLICS AND THIS CHURCH CONTINUED IN USE FOR A CENTURY. DURING THE LATE 60's THE DECLINING CONGREGATION REDUCED THE NEED FOR THE CHURCH AND IT WAS CLOSED. ITS PRESENT FATE IS UNKNOWN. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS |
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| OTHER BUILDINGS |
| KANDOS GOOD SAMARITAN CONVENT |
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| GOOD SAMARITAN CONVENT, KANDOS | |
| A SCHOOL HAD BEEN OPENED AS EARLY AS THE 1920's AND TO STAFF IT THE GOOD SAMARITAN SISTERS ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER. IN 1930 THE ATTRACTIVE SPANISH MISSION STYLE CONVENT WAS BUILT USING BRICKS FROM THE OLD KILNS. WITH THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE SISTERS IT WAS CONVERTED INTO THE PRESBYTERY IN WHICH CAPACITY IT SERVES TODAY. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS |  |
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