UNITING CHURCH
58/60 PATERSON ST
TENNANT CREEK NT 0860
PHOTOS: J MARLOW & E FUSCALDO
58/60 PATERSON ST
TENNANT CREEK NT 0860
PHOTOS: J MARLOW & E FUSCALDO
The Uniting Church at 58-60 Paterson Street in Tennant Creek is one of the most remarkable buildings in the NT Modern catalogue, not for the complexity of its design but for the extraordinary story of its construction.
Building commenced in late July 1965 under the direction of Fred Soars, an engineer with Peko Mines who designed the building and provided overall supervisory work in his spare time.
Except for the bricklaying and electrical work, the entire building was constructed by voluntary labour drawn from Tennant Creek and from communities across eastern Australia, with individuals travelling from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia specifically to contribute their time and skills. The total cost of the completed building and fittings was $12,500.
Two individuals deserve particular recognition. George Parmenter, a retired carpenter from Ballina in New South Wales, arrived in Tennant Creek in April 1966 and stayed through to November, working in a voluntary capacity and forming much of the building with his own hands. Bill Russell of Wagga Wagga came in September 1965 with the express intention of giving his spare time to the project, and remained faithful to that commitment throughout. Because Parmenter was unable to stay for the official opening, it was Russell who declared the building open.
The church was officially opened on Saturday 10 December 1966. The dedication was carried out by the Chairman of the Board of the United Church in North Australia and the Territories, the Reverend C Venton Hayman. The Resident Minister was Reverend John O'Reilly.
The interior fittings reflect both the generosity of the broader Methodist community and the character of Tennant Creek itself. The communion table is topped with marble gifted by United Uranium NL of Moline NT, and laid upon it are drill cores from Peko Mines, Geopeko and Australian Development NL, embedding the town's mining identity into the heart of the church. The organ was originally placed in the John Flynn Memorial Church in Alice Springs as a gift of Scotch College Melbourne, and transferred to Tennant Creek with the Flynn church's consent. Seating was donated by Methodist congregations and individuals from Lockhart, Ringwood, Benalla, Balmoral, Concord, East Maitland and elsewhere across Australia.
The building became part of the Uniting Church in Australia when that denomination was formed nationally in 1977.
Further information including photographs taken during construction can be found here.
Heritage Status: Not Listed.
Building commenced in late July 1965 under the direction of Fred Soars, an engineer with Peko Mines who designed the building and provided overall supervisory work in his spare time.
Except for the bricklaying and electrical work, the entire building was constructed by voluntary labour drawn from Tennant Creek and from communities across eastern Australia, with individuals travelling from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia specifically to contribute their time and skills. The total cost of the completed building and fittings was $12,500.
Two individuals deserve particular recognition. George Parmenter, a retired carpenter from Ballina in New South Wales, arrived in Tennant Creek in April 1966 and stayed through to November, working in a voluntary capacity and forming much of the building with his own hands. Bill Russell of Wagga Wagga came in September 1965 with the express intention of giving his spare time to the project, and remained faithful to that commitment throughout. Because Parmenter was unable to stay for the official opening, it was Russell who declared the building open.
The church was officially opened on Saturday 10 December 1966. The dedication was carried out by the Chairman of the Board of the United Church in North Australia and the Territories, the Reverend C Venton Hayman. The Resident Minister was Reverend John O'Reilly.
The interior fittings reflect both the generosity of the broader Methodist community and the character of Tennant Creek itself. The communion table is topped with marble gifted by United Uranium NL of Moline NT, and laid upon it are drill cores from Peko Mines, Geopeko and Australian Development NL, embedding the town's mining identity into the heart of the church. The organ was originally placed in the John Flynn Memorial Church in Alice Springs as a gift of Scotch College Melbourne, and transferred to Tennant Creek with the Flynn church's consent. Seating was donated by Methodist congregations and individuals from Lockhart, Ringwood, Benalla, Balmoral, Concord, East Maitland and elsewhere across Australia.
The building became part of the Uniting Church in Australia when that denomination was formed nationally in 1977.
Further information including photographs taken during construction can be found here.
Heritage Status: Not Listed.