1852
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BATHURST
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PARISH OF ST MARY OF THE PRESENTATION MUDGEE |
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FOUNDED 1852 |
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DIOCESE BATHURST |
| PARISH CHURCH | STATION CHURCHES | HISTORIC CHURCHES | OTHER BUILDINGS |
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PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE PRESENTATION |
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| THE ATTRACTIVE TOWN OF MUDGEE OWES ITS PROMINENCE TO THE GOLDRUSHES OF THE 1800's. SURROUNDED BY FORMER GOLDFIELDS IT WAS A LOGICAL SERVICE CENTRE AND MANY HISTORICAL BUILDINGS DATE FROM THOSE DAYS. WITH THE END OF THE GOLDRUSHES MUDGEE DECLINED UNTIL THE POST WAR PERIOD WHEN IT BECAME THE CENTRE OF A MAJOR WINE PRODUCING REGION. TODAY IT IS A STRONG AND VIBRANT COUNTRY TOWN. MUDGEE WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF HARTLEY UNTIL 1852 WHEN IT BECAME A SEPARATE PARISH EXTENDING AS FAR NORTH AS GULGONG, BUT WITH THE CREATION OF GULGONG PARISH IT WAS LIMITED TO THE AREA AROUND THE TOWN INCLUDING HARGRAVES, LUE AND APPLETREE FLAT. DURING THE 1970's THE STATIONS OF WINDEYER AND PYRAMUL WERE TRANSFERRED FROM KANDOS AND WOLLAR, BOTOBOLAR, COOYAL AND BYLONG FROM GULGONG. AROUND 2000, PYRAMUL AND BYLONG WERE TRANSFERRED BACK TO KANDOS. THE SISTERS OF MERCY ESTABLISHED A CONVENT AND SCHOOL IN MUDGEE IN 1874. NEXT |
 | FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH, MUDGEE |  |
| THE FIRST MASS CELEBRATED AT MUDGEE OCCURRED IN 1839, JUST SIX MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST SALE OF TOWN ALLOTMENTS. IN THE EARLY 1840's, A CRUDE SLAB STRUCTURE WITH A BARK ROOF WAS BUILT AS THE FIRST CHURCH FOR THE TOWN. IN 1847 THE NEWLY APPOINTED PARISH PRIEST OF HARTLEY, FATHER McCARTHY, DECIDED THAT MUDGEE WOULD BE A MORE LOGICAL CENTRE THAN HARTLEY AND IN 1851 HE BUILT A PRESBYTERY WHICH FROM 1852 WAS HIS BASE. CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE PRESENTATION, MUDGEE | IN 1873 THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS LAID AND IT WAS OPENED IN 1876. THE SPIRE WAS ADDED IN 1911. BUILT IN LIGHT BROWN SANDSTONE IN TRUE GOTHIC STYLE WITH AISLED NAVE, DISTINCT CHANCEL AND THE BEAUTIFUL DECORATED TOWER, ST MARY'S IS AN ARCHITECTURAL GEM THAT HAS BEEN RECOGNISED BY THE NATIONAL TRUST. | NEXT |
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 | THE MAGNIFICENT INTERIOR WITH ITS DOMINATING CRUCIFIX AND LOVELY MARBLE HIGH ALTAR. UNLIKE MANY OLD CHURCHES THE CHANGES TO THE SANCTUARY HAVE BEEN KEPT TO A MINIMUM WITH JUST A SIMPLE STONE ALTAR AND MATCHING LECTERN INSTALLED IN FRONT OF THE OLD ALTAR. TO THE SIDES CAN BE SEEN THE ARCADED AISLES WITH THEIR PLAIN COLUMNS. THE SPECIAL TREASURE OF THE CHURCH IS THE PAINTED WALLS INCLUDING THE SANCTUARY FIGURES WHICH ARE ALSO PAINTED NOT SCULPTED. NEXT |
| >>>> THE BEAUTIFUL MARBLE HIGH ALTAR FROM THE 1870's. BELOW (L) THE PAINTED ARCADE WALLS AND ONE OF THE MEDALLIONS OF THE SAINTS. (R) ONE OF THE ATTRACTIVE STATIONS OF THE CROSS. TOP STATION CHURCHES |  | |
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| STATION CHURCHES | ||
| BOTOBOLAR | WINDEYER | WOLLAR |
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| CHURCH OF ST MATTHEW, BOTOBOLAR | |
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| THE LITTLE FARMING LOCALITY OF BOTOBOLAR HAS GAINED NEW FAME AS THE HOME OF ONE OF MUDGEE'S MOST WELL-KNOWN WINERIES. ORIGINALLY A PART OF GULGONG BOTOBOLAR WAS TRANSFERRED TO MUDGEE IN THE 70's. NEXT | |
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| THE BEAUTIFUL SANDSTONE CHURCH OF ST MATTHEW WAS BUILT IN 1900 TO SERVE THE FARMS AROUND BOTOBOLAR. TODAY IT SITS IN SPLENDID ISOLATION ABOUT 9KM ALONG THE BOTOBOLAR ROAD. A SIMPLE NAVE WITH THREE LANCET WINDOWS ON EACH SIDE AND A PORCH CONSTITUTE THE CHURCH. OF INTEREST ARE THE LOVELY CARVED STONE CROSSES ON THE GABLE PEAKS OF THE NAVE AND PORCH. AS IN MANY RURAL CHURCHES A WATER TANK STANDS AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH. THE FOUNDATION STONE WAS LAID BY THE FUTURE BISHOP, JOHN DUNNE, WHILE HE WAS STILL VICAR-GENERAL NEXT |
 | FROM THE BACK THE CLEAN AND SPARE LINES ARE SEEN TO FULL ADVANTAGE. OF INTEREST IS THE MINIATURE TREFOIL WINDOW WHICH PROVIDES A DECORATIVE TOUCH TO THE SANCTUARY. ST MATTHEW'S IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE LITTLE RURAL CHURCHES THAT SPRANG UP AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF ST KILLIAN, WINDEYER | |
 | THE VILLAGE OF WINDEYER WAS PART OF THE GOLDRUSHES THAT TOOK PLACE ALL ROUND MUDGEE IN THE 1800's. WHEN THE GOLD RAN OUT WINDEYER DECLINED INTO A SERVICE CENTRE FOR THE SURROUNDING FARMS. TODAY IT HAS DEVELOPED A SMALL TOURIST INDUSTRY TO SUSTAIN IT. WINDEYER WAS ORIGINALLY A STATION OF KANDOS BUT WAS TRANSFERRED TO MUDGEE IN THE EARLY 70's ALONG WITH PYRAMUL.WHEN THE LATTER WAS RETURNED TO KANDOS, WINDEYER STAYED WITH MUDGEE. |
| THE PRETTY LITTLE BRICK CHURCH WAS BUILT IN THE 1950's AND REFLECTS THE MODERNISED GOTHIC IN VOGUE AT THE TIME. A BASIC NAVE AND SACRISTY CONSTRUCTED IN STRAIGHT LINES WITH MOCK BUTRESSES AND AN OPEN PORCH, IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH OF RURAL CATHOLICISM IN THE MID 20th CENTURY. AN HISTORIC CEMETERY IS LOCATED IN THE CHURCH YARD. NEXT | |
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| CHURCH OF ST LAURENCE O'TOOLE, WOLLAR | |
 | THE VILLAGE OF WOLLAR LIES IN THE RICH AGRICULTURAL LAND EAST OF GULGONG. ONCE A SUBSTANTIAL SETTLEMENT IT IS NOW A QUIET RURAL LOCALITY. ORIGINALLY A PART OF GULGONG, WOLLAR WAS TRANSFERRED IN THE EARLY 70's TO MUDGEE AND HAS REMAINED A PART OF THE PARISH EVER SINCE. THE PRETTY STONE CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1904. THE BUILDER J.S. NUTT WAS ALSO THE BUILDER OF COOLAH CHURCH. BUILT OF SANDSTONE AND SET IN A LOVELY TREE-FILLED GARDEN THE CHURCH IS VERY BASIC IN DESIGN, JUST A NAVE AND A SACRISTY BUT AN EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ADD TO THIS THROUGH SMALL DECORATIVE DETAILS, PRIMARILY THE LOVELY TWO-LIGHT EAST WINDOW AND THE MATCHING VENTS IN EACH END. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES |
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| HISTORIC CHURCHES | ||||||
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| APPLETREE FLAT | COOYAL | HARGRAVES | LUE | MUDGEE SOUTH | STONEY CREEK | |
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| CHURCH OF ST JAMES, APPLETREE FLAT | |
 | APPLETREE FLAT IS A SMALL LOCALITY SOUTH OF MUDGEE WHICH TODAY IS THE CENTRE OF A NEW WINE GROWING DISTRICT. AN ORIGINAL STATION OF MUDGEE IT WAS CLOSED DURING THE REORGANISATION OF PARISHES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 70's. IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1939 THAT APPLETREE FLAT HAD ITS OWN DEDICATED MASS CENTRE. PRIOR TO THAT MASS HAD BEEN CELEBRATED IN A PRIVATE HOME AND LATER IN THE LOCAL HALL. THE CHURCH WAS NAMED IN HONOUR OF FR JAMES DUNPHY WHO DROWNED IN THE FLOODED CUDGEGONG ON THE WAY TO A BAPTISM. NEXT |
| THE CHURCH CONSISTED OF A SMALL GALVANISED IRON NAVE, SACRISTY AND PORCH WITH PLAIN GLASS WINDOWS CAPABLE OF HOLDING 50 PEOPLE. AN INTERESTING FEATURE WAS THE TOILET ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE CHURCH. THE LITTLE CHURCH SERVED THE LOCAL CATHOLICS FOR SOME 30 YEARS BEFORE IT WAS CLOSED IN 1970 ALONG WITH THE STATION. IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY SOLD AND MOVED TO A PROPERTY NEAR MULLAMUDDY CREEK WHERE TODAY IT LOOKS MUCH AS IT DID WHEN IN USE APART FROM SOME CHANGES TO THE PORCH CARRIED OUT WHEN IT WAS CONVERTED INTO A BED & BREAKFAST. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES NEXT | |
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| CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, COOYAL (STONEY CREEK) | |
| COOYAL IS A SMALL RURAL SETTLEMENT BETWEEN WOLLAR AND MUDGEE. AN EARLY STATION OF GULGONG LYING BETWEEN THE SETTLEMENTS OF COOYAL AND STONEY CREEK, IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO MUDGEE DURING THE REORGANISATION OF THE EARLY 70's. ORIGINALLY THE STATION WAS KNOWN AS STONEY CREEK BUT WITH THE TRANSFER IT WAS RENAMED COOYAL AS IT WAS CLOSER TO THAT VILLAGE. IT WAS CLOSED DURING THE EARLY 90's. | |
 | BUILT IN 1888 AND COMPLETED IN 1957, THE ATTRACTIVE BRICK CHURCH, CONSISTING OF A NAVE, PORCH AND SACRISTY, WAS DEDICATED TO THE BAPTIST BUT HAS CONFUSINGLY BEEN CALLED ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST AT VARIOUS TIMES. IT WAS CLOSED IN THE 90's AND SOLD AND TODAY IT IS A PRIVATE HOME. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF ST MARY, HARGRAVES | |
| THE SMALL GOLDMINING LOCALITY OF HARGRAVES LIES ON THE HILL END ROAD ABOUT 30KM FROM MUDGEE. ONCE A BUSTLING LITTLE SETTLEMENT TODAY IT IS A QUIET RURAL BACKWATER. ALWAYS A STATION OF MUDGEE, IT SUFFERED FROM THE DECLINE OF BOTH POPULATION AND CONGREGATIONS IN THE LATE 20th CENTURY AND WAS CLOSED AROUND 2000. | |
 | OVER 100 YEARS OLD, THE TINY GALVANISED IRON AND WOOD CHURCH CONSISTS OF A SIMPLE NAVE AND PORCH, WITH A REAR SACRISTY. A SIGN OF THE LOVE OF THE LOCAL CATHOLICS FOR THEIR LITTLE CHURCH HOWEVER ARE THE PRETTY STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES, LUE | |
 | LUE IS A SMALL VILLAGE ON THE RYLSTONE ROAD. ONCE AN ACTIVE RURAL COMMUNITY TODAY IT IS A SLEEPY SETTLEMENT OF LESS THAN 100 PEOPLE. AN EARLY STATION OF MUDGEE IT WAS CLOSED IN 1996 FOLLOWING A DECLINE IN THE CONGREGATION. AN EARLIER CHURCH EXISTED PRIOR TO 1934 BUT WAS REPLACED BY THE PRESENT CHURCH IN THAT YEAR. A LOVELY BRICK CHURCH WITH A VERY SUBSTANTIAL APPEARANCE CONSISTING OF A NAVE, SEPARATE CHANCEL, PORCH AND SACRISTY WITH A BELLCOTE, SOMEWHAT UNUSUALLY CAPPING THE CHANCEL GABLE. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF ST MARTIN, MUDGEE SOUTH | |
 | DURING THE POST-WAR PERIOD WITH RISING POPULATIONS AND VOCATIONS A NUMBER OF CHAPELS OF EASE WERE BUILT IN THE LARGER TOWNS. MUDGEE SOUTH WAS ONE SUCH CHAPEL. OPENED IN THE 50's IT SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR SOME 20 YEARS BEFORE BEING CLOSED DOWN IN RESPONSE TO DECLINING CONGREGATIONS AND THE LOSS OF PRIESTS. THE BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY USED AS A WESLEYAN CHURCH AT LUE BEFORE BEING PURCHASED BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND MOVED TO MUDGEE. IT WAS A SIMPLE GALVANISED IRON 'GODBOX' COMPRISING A NAVE, PORCH AND SACRISTY. AFTER THE STATION WAS CLOSED IT WAS SOLD TO THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD. LATER IT WAS RELOCATED TO THE MUDGEE MUSEUM. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS |
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| OTHER BUILDINGS | |
| MUDGEE MERCY CONVENT | |
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| CONVENT OF ST MATTHEW, MUDGEE | |
 | THE SISTERS OF MERCY ARRIVED IN MUDGEE IN 1874 AND OPENED THE FIRST CONVENT, A LARGE BRICK HOUSE IN THAT YEAR. THE PRESENT CONVENT WAS BUILT IN 1880 AND IS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME TODAY APART FROM SOME ADDITIONS MADE DURING THE YEARS TO ACCOMODATE THE GROWING NUMBER OF SISTERS AND BOARDERS. THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM THE CONVENT IN 1979 DUE TO A DECLINE IN NUMBERS. TODAY THE CONVENT IS USED BY THE PARISH SCHOOL. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES |
