Rosewood History
Age (Brisbane, Qld. : 1892 – 1929), Thursday 22 November 1928, page 14
ROSEWOOD
Its Hospitable People and Its Catholic History
Rosewood has always been a prosperous centre, and Catholics have been particularly well represented in the district. It is a pity that the town, instead of being on a black soil flat, is not built on the hillslopes a mile on the Marburg side of it. The railway, of course, here, as well as in other instances, determined where the town should develop. It did the same at Laidley. Had Rosewood been built on the hillslopes it would have been many times more picturesque than it is, for there is no other locality between Brisbane and Toowoomba with more delightful scenery than that of the green hills looking down on the town of Rosewood. The scenery continues unbroken right to Marburg. Indeed, it becomes increasingly beautiful as one ascends elevation after, elevation, and glides into the fertile valleys between the two towns.
As to its Catholic history, Rosewood has a very fine record for well over 50 years. Excellent Catholic families settled around the town and throughout the district, and they carried on the very best traditions of their fathers. There was a time when most of the land around Rosewood, Rosevale, and Grandchester was owned by Catholic families. Old residents. will recall easily the days of the Duracks, at Rosewood, when Moorlands was a flourishing station. When Mr. Jerry Durack and his family left for Western Australia the property passed into the hands of the late Mr. Keane, who, with his wife and large family, worked it to advantage. Both under the Duracks and the Keanes, Moorlands had a great name for hospitality. It was the scene of many a delightful picnic held by the Catholic Young Men’s Society and the Catholic Girls’ organisations of Ipswich, as well as by the local Catholics and Catechism classes.
In the early days Mass at Rosewood was celebrated in Ryan’s “Rising Sun Hotel.” When the hotel passed into the hands of the Sloan family, which has held it for 50 years, Mass still continued to be celebrated in the Coffee Room, which exists to this day. The “Rising Sun Hotel” is just on the western side of the railway gates, entering the Rosewood Railway Station. For many years it was anentirely one-storey building, but, 20 years or so ago, the Sloan family had extensive two-storey additions made to the place. The hospitality extended to the priest in this hotel for nearly 40 years, certainly deserves, and we feel certain has on the ‘part of the clergy, the most grateful remembrances of their kindness.
As the number of Catholics increased the necessity for a Church became very apparent, and Father Horan set himself the task of building a place of worship for his parishioners in that district! He secured a fine piece of land just at the rear of the main street, and fronting the railway line. On this he erected a church 60ft. long by 25ft. wide! The building was begun by Mr. Lucas Ulrich, of Tallegalla, and finished by Mr. James Madden, of Ipswich. It was constructed of hardwood, with a shingle roof. There was no porch to the building. The altar was placed against the eastern end, and a sacristy and vestry were cut off on the sides of the little sanctuary. The church furniture was of the plainest kind, and remained so for many years. The building was blessed and opened by the late Archbishop Dunne, on the 2nd August, 1885, and was dedicated to God under the title of St. Brigid. Many people asked Father Horan why he built such a large church for Rosewood. His reply was that a larger church would yet be required for the congregation. As a matter of fact, the church was soon filled whenever Mass was celebrated in it, which was about once a month, and Father Horan lived to build the magnificent edifice that is Rosewood’s parish church today. It is, certainly the finest wooden church in the Archdiocese with its nave and aisles, and accommodation for 700 or 800 people.
After the erection of the new church, about 16 years ago, the Old church was converted into a hall; and in that capacity, did very useful service. By this time the late Father Horan had resumed all the land that he had previously let to the Rosewood Agricultural Society. The whole block of church property comprises about 20 acres. At Sunday Mass the grounds presented a wonderful sight with the scores of buggies, sulkies, and other conveyances to be seen there, and a score or two of paddle horses tied up around the fence. The congregation was sometimes disturbed by outbreaks of jealousy among these animals, and, when such happened, the owners generally had to come out to quell the disturbance.
The days of the buggy and sulky, and indeed of the saddle horse, are gone, and now, on a Sunday morning, the grounds in front of the church present a changed scene. Instead of the horse-drawn vehicles one can count a score or two of fine motor cars. But neither the faith nor the spirit of the people has changed. There are still many descendants of the grand old stock of Morans, Farrells, Sloans, Keanes, O’Sheas, O’Sullivans, Lenehans, Howses, Maddens.
While Rosewood was attended from Ipswich, it was always a great pleasure to the priest to go there, mix with the people, and attend to their spiritual needs. Bad roads have always been a trouble, and it was anything but pleasant to walk or drive round, the town after rain, but, with the advent of the Main Roads Board, there is a great hope of improvement. Except for a few miles of road to be constructed, there is a fine highway right from Ipswich to Rosewood today. The town has a reputation for a big volume of solid business. There are some good hotels, and, of late years, some fine villa residences have been erected. The volume of business at the local railway station is very large.
Rosewood continued as part of the Ipswich parish until 1915, when the late Father Kelleher was appointed its pastor. ‘The newly-formed parish included Walloon, on the Ipswich side, Grandchester on the Laidley side, Mt. Walker, Rosevale, and Marburg; For the first 12 months of his pastorate Father Kelleher resided with the Sloan family at their hotel, until the new-Presbytery, which is the present Convent, was completed. This was opened by His Grace the Archbishop on Sunday, 30th April, 1916. The building cost £1504, and the amount collected at the opening was £700. On the death of Rev. Father Enright in 1920, Father Kelleher was appointed to the charge of the Parish of Wynnum, and the Rev. Father M. McKenna was appointed to succeed him in Rosewood. In July, 1920, the Archbishop visited the parish, and, with Father McKenna, went to the various centres. He took occasion to advocate the erection of a Convent and School. This was taken up enthusiastically, as Rosewood had been for 20 years desiring the blessing of a Catholic School. Rev. Father McKenna worked energetically, and had the hearty co-operation of his people. The old church was converted into the beautiful parish school that it is at present. Father McKenna vacated the presbytery in order that it might be converted into a convent, and had a new presbytery built on another portion of the grounds. The Sisters of Mercy came to the parish at the beginning of the year 1922, and, on Sunday, the 29th of January, the convent was dedicated. The six years’ work of the Sisters has indeed been fruitful, and the older generation of the Catholic community might well envy the children of today, who have the privilege of receiving their education in a Catholic school. During the pastorate of Father McKenna he not only introduced the Sisters, built the school and presbytery, but he enlarged and practically rebuilt the church at Walloon.
On the appointment of Father McKenna to the important charge of the Parish of Toowoomba, in 1927, Rev. Father O’Rourke, parish priest of Mitchell, was transferred to Rosewood. Under his charge the parish has continued to flourish. Every part of it is regularly attended, as Father O’Rourke, like his predecessors, celebrates Mass in two different centres every Sunday. The children who cannot attend school have Catechism classes in their own churches, and frequently, on Sunday morning, the Sisters go out to instruct them where Mass is celebrated. The late Father Horarn had provided all the centres outside with churches on very fine sites. Grandchester, Marburg, Rosevale, and Walloon each has its church. At Mt. Walker, Mass is still celebrated in a private house, alternately at. Mr. Malachy Murphy’s and Mr. Mat Ryan’s.
The people out in the country are as excellent in the practice of their faith as any Catholics in any other part of Queensland. It is ia great delight to visit those country homes, to move amongst the Murphys, the Ryans, the O’Neils, the Quirks, the Coynes, the Coveneys, the Callaghans, and others. They are of a fine Irish Catholic stock with faith as strong as their fathers.
The Archbishop Administers The Sacrament of Confirmation.
The good fortune of the present generation of children at Rosewood was emphasised on Sunday last, when His Grace the Archbishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 39 boys and 48 girls, drawn from various parts of the parish. The Archbishop arrived by car on Saturday forenoon, examined the candidates, and gave them an instruction. He congratulated them and their teachers on their knowledge of the Christian Doctrine. In the afternoon the children again assembled in the church at 3 o’clock for their instruction and to make their Confessions in preparation for the reception of the Sacraments next morning. On Sunday morning all the candidates attended the 8o’clock Mass, which was celebrated by His Grace the Archbishop, and received Holy Communion. Subsequently the children were entertained by the Catholic Ladies’ Committee at a sumptuous breakfast served in the school-room. After the 10 o’clock Mass, which was celebrated by the Rev. Father O’Rourke, the Archbishop, assisted by Right Rev. Monsignor Byrne and Father O’Rourke, administered the Sacrament of Confirmation. Before doing so, His. Grace gave a further instruction impressing upon the children the importance of the step they were that day taking. All having been confirmed, His Grace addressed to them words of sound advice. He exhorted them to be assiduous in attendance at Mass, and in the reception of the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion. He impressed upon them their obligations to God, their parents, their home, and their country. Turning to the parents, the Archbishop entreated them to hold on to the land and not encourage their children to go to the cities. He said that when he was a curate in Ipswich, 30 years ago, most of the land from Rosewood to Rose-vale was owned by. Catholics. He was afraid that was not the case now. Germans and Italians were giving them a great lesson in industry and perseverance. He begged of them to conserve their homes and their interests in the country, and not sell their holdings except they felt absolutely certain that, by doing so, they were bettering themselves and their children. He thanked sincerely Father O’Rourke and the Sisters of Mercy for their splendid work. He mentioned that it was the
Silver Jubilee of the H.A.C.B. Society, the establishment of which in Rosewood he well remembered. He hoped the Society would continue to flourish.
At His Grace’s request Monsignor Byrne then addressed, the people and children, impressing upon them the necessity for.cultivation and preservation of their Catholic life, because in all circumstances their religion should be and would be their great stand-by.
