The Foundation -1918-2018
Story by Nell Ries
The First 50 Years
1898 was the year that building commenced on the first wooden church at Rosalie. It was built on land sold to the church by Mary Amelia Mayne in 1897. At this time, it
was part of Red Hill parish and was known as the Church of the Holy Rosary. This name appeared not to be widely used but remained in Archdiocesan records until 1915, when it was formally changed to Sacred Heart.
While 2018 was the Centenary celebration of Sacred Heart’s brick church, there has been a church on the site for 120 years. The first church stood approximately where the current church stands on Given Terrace, but with the entrance to the road. It was in use as a church for less than 10 years because of the sustained growth in the area.
The Church
First Church
- 5th June 1898: foundation stone laid for the ‘Church of the Holy Rosary’;
- Faced Given Terrace;
- Approximately aligned to the space occupied by the present church;
- Blessed and opened on 11th December 1898;
- Pine chamfer boards for the walls + timber floor + iron roof;
- 30’wide x 56′ in length;
- Building cost f500;
- ln 1908 this building was used as church and school;
Second Church
- l0th March L9O7:foundation stone laid;
- 23’d June 1097: blessed and opened;
- Constructed with timber: iron bark and pine;
- Gothic arched building + rose window;
- Measured 40′ x 50′ at a cost of f 1,000
- Designed by J F Burley and built by M Ferguson;
- 1910 a new Choir Gallery was added;
- 1912 a new altar installed;
Third Church: Sacred Heart Church
- 17th June 1917: foundation stone laid;
- 15th June 1918: blessed and opened;
- Quotation: to cost f8,000;
- Brick construction: 50′ x 72′ in length / aligned North-South;
- Designed by George M H Addison: [Who designed the Brisbane Exhibition Building (Old Museum – (lndo-Saracenic / Victorian Romanesque or Federation) and the
Albert Street Methodist Church (Gothic Revival)] - Building constructed by F J Corbett;
- Design described as ‘Byzantine / Romanesque;
- Altar constructed in wood and elevated by 5 steps;
- The gallery over the entrance featured three
sections: sisters, choir and public; - Pipe Organ: 1884 by Walker and Sons, London for St Mark’s Anglican Church, Warwick, where it was installed by W H Paling / single manual and pedal /sold by Whitehouse, Brisbane to Sacred Heart Parish, Rosalie and installed in the
gallery in 1925 / in L976 the organ was moved to the right side of the ‘sanctuary’ by Bert Jarrett who also undertook a restoration in 1982 lthe organ remains essentially as designed and built by Walker / the pedal Bourdon 15′ and the Open Diapason 8′ are unenclosed, with all other ranks enclosed in a swell box.
Tell us your Story!
Are you an old boy or former staff member of Marist College, Rosalie? We would like to hear from you. Telephone Jim Griffith on 0419 715 697 or email your name, address, and the year you finished at the College to info@rosalieoldboys.com.au