St Joseph's Catholic Church

Statement of Significance

These two church buildings have aesthetic, historic and social significance. They reflect the growth of a new parish over two decades. The new church is an example of what can be achieved when a community group works together to achieve an ambitious goal.

Physical Description

The early St Joseph's Church was built in the early 1970s. The building is a rectangular structure with a gently pitched gabled roof. The front facade, facing Rudall Ave, is symmetrical, with a central doorway set in a painted panelled section, with windows on either side of the door. Aluminium screen doors complete the entrance. At the opposite end are the living quarters for the resident Parish Priest.
The new St Joseph's Church is a modern building, with sweeping curved lines. It is an example of the Late Twentieth-Century Ecclesiastical Style of architecture. A feature of this style is the emphasis on vertical elements as seen in the upward sweep of the curved wall and the narrow vertically proportioned windows.

History

On the original town plan for Newman there were to be two churches, Anglican and Catholic, but the proposed sites were used for other priorities. The Catholic Church used the dry canteen in the construction camp for their services. The first Catholic baptism in Newman was in October 1969. Within the next few years a church was planned. The first St Joseph's Church was an adapted house design, being a long rectangular structure with the Presbytery at one end and the inner walls at the other end removed to form a hall. This served the Catholic community in Newman until a new church was built in 1977-78 with much fiindraising and the help of a great deal of voluntary labour. The new St Joseph's was blessed and dedicated on 12 April 1978 by the Most Rev Francis Xavier Thomas in his sixteenth year as Bishop of Geraldton. The Parish Priest at the time was Fr B Ahern.
The current Parish Priest is Fr Stephen Giles MHM of the Millhill Missionaries (1997). The parish is part of the Geraldton Diocese and is formed by about sixty families. There are two weekend services held each week.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.