1869
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MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
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PARISH OF ST JOSEPH MURRURUNDI |
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FOUNDED 1869 |
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DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
| PARISH CHURCH | HISTORIC CHURCHES | OTHER BUILDINGS |
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PARISH CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH |
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| MURRURUNDI IS A SMALL RURAL TOWN OF ABOUT 1000 PEOPLE SITUATED AT THE EXTREME NORTHERN EDGE OF THE HUNTER VSLLEY. IT IS LOCATED BY THE PAGES RIVER AT THE FOOT OF THE LIVERPOOL RANGES WITH MOUNTAINS LOOM IMPRESSIVELY OVERHEAD. THE GOVERNMENT LAID OUT THE TOWNSHIP IN 1840 BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE THE RAILWAY ARRIVED IN 1872 THAT MURRURUNDI BECAME ACTIVE AND PROSPEROUS AS A RAIL CENTRE WITH A REPAIR SHOP AND BARRACKS WHILE THE TRACK TO THE NORTH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. MURRURUNDI BECAME A MUNICIPALITY IN 1890 WITH THE TOWN'S POPULATION PEAKING AROUND 1914 DURING THE BRIEF OIL SHALE MINING BOOM. SINCE THAT TIME IT HAS SETTLED BACK INTO BEING A SERVICE AND TRANSPORT CENTRE. TODAY IT IS SUSTAINED BY QUALITY SHEEP, BEEF AND HORSE STUDS AND BY BOTH CROP AND MEAT PRODUCTION.
THOMAS HAYDON, A DEVOUT IRISH CATHOLIC, WAS ONE OF THE MEN WHO HELPED ESTABLISH THE SETTLEMENT AROUND MURRURUNDI. AS EARLY AS 1840 HE SET ASIDE LAND IN "HIS" VILLAGE (NOW THE COMMERICAL CENTRE OF THE TOWN) FOR A CHURCH. IN 1869 MURRURUNDI BECAME THE FIRST OF THE UPPER HUNTER PARISHES TO BE ESTABLISHED, PREDATING BOTH MUSWELLBROOK AND SCONE. MURRURUNDI DEVELOPED AS A VIBRANT CATHOLIC COMMUNITY WITH THE SISTERS OF MERCY ESTABLISHING A CONVENT AND SCHOOL. BY THE LATE 20th CENTURY HOWEVER, DECLINING CONGREGATIONS AND A SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS LED TO IT BEING PLACED UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PARISH OF SCONE. TODAY SADLY THE ONCE BUSY CATHOLIC COMPLEX SITS QUIET AND ALL BUT DESERTED EXCEPT FOR THE CELEBRATION OF SUNDAY MASS. NEXT |
| FIRST CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH, MURRURUNDI |  |
| THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN MURRURUNDI WAS A SMALL WOODEN CHAPEL BUILT IN 1841 ON THE LAND DONATED BY THOMAS HAYDON. IT WAS LATER DEMOLISHED WHEN THE NEW CHURCH WAS COMPLETE. | |
| SECOND CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH, MURRURUNDI | |
| THOMAS HAYDON ALSO OVERSAW THE LAYING OF THE FOUNDATIONS IN 1855 OF THE NEW ST JOSEPH'S, COMPLETED IN 1860. CONSTRUCTED OF LOCAL SANDSTONE BLOCKS IN SIMPLIFIED GOTHIC, THE CHURCH HAS REMAINED SUBSTANTIALLY UNCHANGED FOR 150 YEARS. COMPRISING AN AISLESS NAVE, CHANCEL AND SACRISTIES IT IS FUNCTIONAL IN THE EXTREME. NEXT |
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| THE CLEAN, ELEGANT LINES OF THE CHURCH ARE EVIDENT IMMEDIATELY. THE SOLE DECORATIVE EFFECTS ARE THE ROOF CROSSES ON EACH GABLE AND THE ATTRACTIVE BARGEBOARDS ON THE EASTERN AND SACRISTY GABLES. A THREE-LIGHT LANCET PIERCES THE EAST END AS WAS COMMON AT THE TIME AND IS MIRRORED IN THE NOTHERN OF THE TWO SACRISTIES. A CONCESSION TO THE HEAT OF HIGH SUMMER IN THE TOWN ARE THE FOUR ROOF VENTILATION OPENINGS. A CONCRETE PORCH WAS ADDED LATER. OUTSIDE THE CHURCH IS THE FREE-STANDING BELLTOWER. THE BELL HAS BEEN REMOVED AND PLACED IN A SMALLER STRUCTURE CLOSER TO THE CHURCH. NEXT | |
 | BEHIND THE CHURCH IS THE HISTORIC GRAVEYARD CONTAINING THE GRAVES OF MANY AREA PIONEERS. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES |
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| HISTORIC CHURCHES | |
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| OTHER BUILDINGS |
| MURRURUNDI MERCY CONVENT |
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| MERCY CONVENT, MURRURUNDI | |
 | THE SINGLETON CONGREGATION OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY ARRIVED IN MURRURUNDI IN 1879, ONLY THEIR SECOND FOUNDATION, AND THEY REMAINED UNTIL 1970 WHEN CONVENT AND SCHOOL WERE CLOSED. THE CONVENT WAS BUILT IN 1880 AND IS A LOVELY EXAMPLE OF COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE WITH ITS VERANDAHS, SHUTTERED WINDOWS AND IRON LACEWORK. IN 1975 IT WAS RENAMED MURRURUNDI HOUSE AND TODAY IS USED AS A EDUCATION CENTRE. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS HISTORIC CHURCHES |
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