Plan to save historic Aboriginal church at La Perouse
PLANS have been submitted to save one of the most significant early churches in Sydney.
Southern Courier
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PLANS have been submitted to save one of the most significant early churches in Sydney.
The La Perouse Mission Church, which dates back to the late 1800s, has fallen into a state of disrepair having last been used more than a decade ago.
The La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council has submitted a proposal to return it to its former glory and make it available for weddings, funerals and other community events.
“It is the gateway to the La Perouse community and at the moment it doesn’t give a very good first impression,” land council CEO Chris Ingrey said. “We’re focused on restoring the church so it can be used again.”
The church, the mother church of the United Aborigines Mission, from which the mission spread to all parts of Australia, was originally built at Frenchman’s Beach in 1894.
It was moved to its present location at the corner of Elaroo Ave and Adina Ave, La Perouse, in 1929-30.
The church, which has heritage protected status, also has strong associations with two significant female missionary figures: Queen Emma Timbery and Retta Long.
Retta Long was the church’s first and highly successful resident missionary and was an important figure of state significance in Aboriginal missionary.
She left the La Perouse Mission Church to found one of the largest missionary societies that worked exclusively for the Aboriginal people.
Queen Emma Timbery was the matriarch of the La Perouse community who lived on the reserve.
She was one of the earliest Aboriginal converts to be involved in mission work.
There are Aboriginal rock engravings on the site that were created to mark the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932.
The church’s heritage listing states this is of great significance as the engravings demonstrate Aboriginal engagement with European historical processes and events of state significance.
On the grassed area by the church there is a sandstone outcrop with two further engravings.
One is of a large kangaroo and the second is of a human figure holding a boomerang.
The proposal includes stabilising and repairing the church, removing the adjoining residential quarters and replacing it with outdoor decking to provide an overflow for weddings and other events. A community hall will then be constructed next to the church.
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