1874
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MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
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PARISH OF ST ANNE MERRIWA |
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FOUNDED 1874 |
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DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
| PARISH CHURCH | STATION CHURCHES | HISTORIC CHURCHES | OTHER BUILDINGS |
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PARISH CHURCH OF ST ANNE |
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| PARISH | CHURCH |
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| PARISH | |
| THE SMALL RURAL TOWN OF MERRIWA IS LOCATED AT THE WESTERN EXTREMITY OF THE UPPER HUNTER DISTRICT, ALONGSIDE THE MERRIWA RIVER. THE TOWNSITE WAS SURVEYED IN 1839 WITH THE STREETS BEING NAMED AFTER EARLY SETTLERS WHO WERE ATTRACTED BY THE QUALITY OF THE PASTURAGE. MERRIWA SERVED A FLOURISHING DISTRICT WHICH WAS LOCATED ON A ROUTE THROUGH THE LIVERPOOL RANGE TO THE LIVERPOOL PLAINS. WHEN THE RAILWAY WAS BUILT TO THE EAST IN THE 1870S THE POPULARITY OF THE ROUTE DECLINED. TODAY MERRIWA IS THE SERVICE CENTRE OF A VAST MIXED FARMING AREA. ALTHOUGH A CATHOLIC PRESENCE WAS ESTABLISHED VERY EARLY IN MERRIWA IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1874 THAT IT BACAME A PARISH. ORIGINALLY EXTENDING OVER THE RANGE TO INCLUDE THE AREA AS FAR AS GUNNEDAH, IT GRADUALLY SHRANK TO COVER THE UPPER WESTERN HUNTER WITH THE PARISH CHURCH AND A STATION AT CASSILIS. NEXT |
| CHURCH | |
| ALTHOUGH AN EARLIER CHURCH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN BUILT IN 1858 THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS COMMENCED IN 1879 AND COMPLETED IN 1881 TO A DESIGN BY J W PENDER WITH EXTENSIONS ADDED IN 1938. CONSTRUCTED IN SANDSTONE IN GOTHIC STYLE WITH AN APSIDAL EAST END AND TWIN SACRISTIES THE CHURCH IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF AUSTRALIAN COLONIAL CHURCH ARCHITECTURE. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST ARE THE LOVELY CARVED STONE CROSSES OVER THE SACRISTIES, THE WEST END AND THE PORCH. THE SMALL ROSE WINDOW IN THE WESTERN GABLE AND THE CARVED TYPANUM OVER THE PORCH DOOR ARE ALSO WORTHY OF NOTE. TOP STATION CHURCHES | |
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| STATION CHURCHES |
| CASSILIS |
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| CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH, CASSILIS | ||
 | CASSILIS IS A PLEASANT LITTLE VILLAGE OF A HUNDRED PEOPLE LOCATED JUST OFF THE GOLDEN HIGHWAY ON THE MUNMURRA RIVER. CASSILIS BEGAN IN THE 1830's AND LATER BECAME A STOPOVER FOR WEST BOUND COACHES. IT WAS GAZETTED AS A TOWN AND NAMED CASSILIS IN 1869. A STATION WAS ESTABLISHED AT CASSILIS DURING THE 1800's AS ATTESTED BY THE HISTORIC CEMETERY WHOSE OLDEST HEADSTONE DATES BACK TO 1876. THE WEATHERBOARD CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH WAS BUILT IN 1894 AND IS AN IMPRESSIVE BUILDING FOR SUCH A SMALL VILLAGE AND WHICH REFLECTS THE EARLIER IMPORTANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP. THE CHURCH COMPRISES A NAVE, PORCH, APSIDAL CHANCEL AND SACRISTY AND IS SET ON A SLIGHT RISE OVERLOOKING THE VILLAGE. OF SPECIAL NOTE ARE THE ATTRACTIVE LANCET WINDOWS. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES | |
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| HISTORIC CHURCHES | |
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| OTHER BUILDINGS |
| MERRIWA JOSEPHITE CONVENT |
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| CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH, MERRIWA | |
 | FOUR JOSEPHITE SISTERS OF LOCHINVAR ARRIVED IN MERRIWA IN 1885 TO ESTABLISH ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL. THE ORIGINAL CONVENT, A SMALL WOODEN BUILDING, WAS REPLACED IN 1918 WITH THIS LOVELY SANDSTONE BUILDING BUILT IN TRADITIONAL AUSTRALIAN COLONIAL STYLE. TODAY IT FORMS PART OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS |
