All Saints Memorial Church, Tamrookum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints Memorial Church, Tamrookum |
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Tamrookum All Saints Anglican Church, 2005
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| Location | Tamrookum Church Road, Tamrookum, Scenic Rim Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1914 - 1919 (World War I) |
| Built | 1915 |
| Architect | Robin Dods |
| Official name: All Saints Memorial Church | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600030 |
| Significant period | 1915 (fabric) |
| Significant components | plaque, trees/plantings, fence/wall - perimeter, graveyard, garden - ornamental/flower, furniture/fittings, gate - entrance, stained glass window/s |
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All Saints Memorial Church is a special Anglican church located in Tamrookum, Queensland, Australia. It is a heritage-listed building, meaning it's protected for its historical importance. The famous architect Robin Dods designed it, and it was built in 1915. This church is a beautiful example of early 20th-century architecture and holds many stories from the past.
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History of All Saints Memorial Church
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This church was built in 1915 as a memorial to Robert Martin Collins (1843–1913). He was an important local figure. The Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, St Clair Donaldson, officially opened the church on August 31, 1915.
The land where the church stands was first settled by John Campbell. Later, in 1872, William Barker bought the land. In 1878, John Collins, a well-known farmer from Mundoolun, bought the property. His oldest son, Robert Martin Collins, moved there in 1879 after he got married.
Robert Martin Collins and his brothers owned many large farms across Queensland and the Northern Territory. He helped start the North Australian Pastoral Company. He was also a politician from 1896 to 1913. He played a big part in creating Lamington National Park, which opened in 1915.
Robert Martin Collins chose the spot for the church and his family's graves just before he passed away. The church was built for his family by William Bywater of Brisbane. It cost about £2,098. Most of the building materials, like sand, gravel, stone, and timber, came from the Tamrookum property itself. Only the wood for the pews and the altar screen was brought from elsewhere.
Many special items were given to the church as gifts. These include the beautifully carved altar screen, altar rails, and communion items. The stained glass windows are very unique. They were designed by an English church architect, Sir Richard Lorimer, and made by Una Adamson.
The main entrance gates, a flagpole, and a sundial came from the old Tamrookum homestead. The homestead was taken down when Arabella Collins, Robert's wife, died. Some of the old farm buildings still remain.
In the 1950s, electricity likely replaced gas for lighting the church. The original roof, made of split wood shingles, was changed to tiles in 1964. In 1967, a plaque was added. It was a gift from the Queensland Women's Historical Association and tells a short history of the church.
The church grounds have two burial areas. The older area holds graves for farm workers, family friends, and local people. The other area is for the Collins family. Robert Martin Collins was the first person buried there. Some older graves include Susan Goodwin (1895), a servant, and Grenville Arthur Kingsley (1898), a friend of Robert Martin Collins. There are also graves for Constable George Doyle and Albert Dahlke, who died in 1902.
In the older burial area, there are also unmarked graves for some non-European workers and local Aboriginal people who worked for the Collins family. A memorial stone from 1991, naming the descendants of William and Emily Williams, is near the Tamrookum Memorial Hall.
All Saints Memorial Church is one of the few privately owned Anglican churches left in Queensland. Others include timber chapels at Yandilla and Cressbrook Homestead, and the stone St John the Evangelist Church at Mundoolun. Both St John's and All Saints are memorial churches. Also, both Cressbrook and All Saints were designed by Robin Dods.
What the Church Looks Like
This single-story timber church sits on a hill. It offers great views of the countryside. The church is surrounded by well-kept gardens with old trees and flowers, and a cemetery. You enter the site through a large timber gateway with double wooden gates.
The building has a traditional Latin cross shape. It has a strong hardwood frame on a concrete base. The outside walls are made of oiled hardwood weatherboards. The church uses large timber pieces for its structure, but also has delicate details. The roof is steep and covered with concrete tiles. It has a main roof over the central part (the nave and chancel) and smaller roofs over the side sections (transepts) and two entry porches.
These entry porches are on the north and south sides of the church. They connect to the transepts by narrow verandahs. Two more entrances, also from the verandah, lead into the transepts. The verandah posts and railings are made of strong, simple timbers. A wavy timber beam runs below the top of the verandah posts, supported by angled brackets. The decorative timber on the verandahs and roof ends is painted white. This creates a strong contrast with the dark walls and plain roof.
At the western end, the roof extends over the verandah, making the walls look low. This effect is highlighted by the low-set timber windows on the north, south, and west sides. On the eastern end, the roof steps back. Stained glass windows are placed high on the eastern wall, making that wall appear tall compared to the roof.
At the entry porches, steps cut into the concrete base lead to double timber doors. These doors open into a small entry area called a vestibule. This vestibule is part of the nave (the main seating area). It is separated from the nave by a decorative timber screen. Other timber screens also mark the entrances from the transepts into the nave.
The inside of the church has its original timber pews. The walls are lined with unpainted cedar wood. The floor is made of colored concrete. The ceiling is sloped and lined with timber. It is supported by timber trusses, which are a mix of queen and king post designs. The lowest part of the trusses is a heavy tie beam, supported by timber brackets on the walls.
The church interior is softly lit. Light comes through the small casement windows, which have diamond-patterned green glass. The only natural light from above shines through the stained glass windows behind the altar. The altar and its screen are at the back of the chancel (the area around the altar). They are on a slightly raised floor, behind a decorative timber rail. Rooms in the transepts hold old rainwater tanks.
North of the church is a fenced area for the Collins family tombstones. The most noticeable one is a cross on a pedestal in the center. This is for Robert Martin Collins and his close family. The fence is wire mesh on a pipe frame, with gates under arched trellises. The burial area for locals and friends has four rows of graves. These are in the lawn next to the western edge of the grounds. All the monuments are in good condition.
The church grounds are surrounded by a timber post and rail fence. A caretaker's cottage and other small buildings are located just outside the fence to the east. The church building and its grounds are very well maintained.
Why All Saints Memorial Church is Important
All Saints Memorial Church was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized for its special value.
- Shows Queensland's History: The church and its cemetery have special structures that help us understand Queensland's past.
- Rare and Unique: It's a rare example of a privately owned church. The gardens and the way the church is placed on the hill make it a landmark.
- Great Design: It's an important work by the famous Australian architect Robin Dods. It shows his skill in designing with timber and his unique style.
- Beautiful to Look At: The church's design is very well done. The materials are high quality, and the craftsmanship is excellent. This makes it a truly beautiful place. The stained glass windows, made by R Lorimer and U Adamson, also add to its beauty.
- Creative Achievement: The church shows a high level of creative and technical skill from the time it was built.
- Connected to Important People: All Saints Memorial Church is very important because of its strong connection to the Collins family and Robert Martin Collins.
Images for kids
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Tamrookum All Saints Anglican Church, 2005
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