Surf Coast man Peter Bell wants to see disused country churches saved from development

A Surf Coast man has called on the community to help save disused regional churches from redevelopment, fearing some of the region’s history will soon be lost forever.

A Surf Coast man has called on the community to help save disused regional churches from redevelopment.

Peter Bell told the Geelong Advertiser he thought the sale of the former St Peter’s Catholic Church on the Princes Highway at Mount Moriac, which has been in private ownership since 2017, was losing part of the town’s history.

“I’m concerned we’re losing small country churches,” he said.

“A lot of these churches are old, very historic and part of our culture.”

The old St Peter’s Catholic Church on the Princes Highway

The historic structure was originally built in 1883 and later restored through community fundraising efforts when it was damaged in a storm.

The former place of worship sold for $605,000 when it was first auctioned off by the Catholic Church in 2017.

Mr Bell pointed to growing populations and the need for places of worship in the future.

“As Geelong grows and expands, Moriac could one day be ten times the size it is now,” he said.

“What if they want a church or a place of worship?”

Inside the old church.

Mr Bell called on interested community members, groups or philanthropists to consider purchasing the church and setting it up in a trust.

“We could use it as a multi-denominational space,” he said.

“Different groups could use it on an alternating roster and we could save the space for future generations.”

The site will be auctioned on February 6.

Anyone interested should contact Mr Bell with their phone number at [e-mail]

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Originally published as Surf Coast man Peter Bell wants to see disused country churches saved from development