Postcard of St Brigid’s Catholic Church, Railway Street, Rosewood, Ipswich, 1990
Photographer: Kathryn Rodgers  Photo:  Picture Ipswich

Rosewood History

St Brigid’s Catholic Church

© Jane Schy 2024

FIRST CHURCH

Rosewood settlers of the Roman Catholic faith attended Mass at Ipswich, sometimes making the journey on foot. The Rev. Father Pere Brunn (born Nismes, France) belonged to the order of St. Augustine, and by 1863 he was ministering to the families at the Seven Mile and Grandchester. The first convent in Ipswich was the devoted work of Father Brunn, and opened in 1865 with accommodation for six nuns. The building was made of of brick with a plastered inside and outside, and faced Elizabeth Street between old St. Marys Church  and the Christian Brothers’ school. It was demolished to make way for the new church you see today, and the material from the old convent was used to make the music rooms behind the convent school.

Father Brunn conducted the first Mass in Rosewood in the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Moran in 1872 . There were about half a dozen Catholic families in the district at that time. Father Brunn left Australia in 1872 and died in New York in 1895. He was succeeded by Father Horan.

Rev. Father Andrew Horan secured 20 good sites for churches in centres outside of Ipswich, and on 14 of those sites he arranged for wooden churches to be built.

Father Horan started celebrating Mass in Rosewood at the home of Mr. James Ryan, at the Rising Sun Hotel, around 1873. This venue continued to be used throughout the years as it passed into the Sloane family’s hands in 1881, and on until the opening of the first church on 2nd August 1885. The building of the church was begun by Mr. Lucas Ulrich of Tallegalla, and finished by Mr. James Madden of Ipswich. It was dedicated by the Right Rev. Dr. Dunne as “St. Brigdet’s” (sic) after the patroness of Ireland and was situated in Railway Street.

As to the building itself, we may add that it is a very substantial one. It is 60ft, long by 28ft. wide, and is composed of hardwood throughout, if we except two little rooms-the vestry and confessional at the chancel. It is elevated on blocks covered with moulded zinc caps, the walls are sheeted with weather-boards, and the hardwood shingle roof is supported by four principals. The flooring is tongued and grooved. There are twenty Gothic sashes, in pairs-five on each side. The doors and windows are painted a purple red, and the rest of the place a light stone-colour. The place was built, by day labours, by Mr. L. Ulrich and mate; but Mr. James Madden, of Ipswich, furnished the plans, and assisted the Rev. A. Horan in the work of supervision.

OPENING OF THE NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT ROSEWOOD (1885)

In December 1892 a new set of timber gates were constructed at the entrance to the churchyard, and in January 1901 some additions and repairs were made. New statues were added, giving the sacred building a beautiful appearance.

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NEW CHURCH

The old Catholic Church  and the new one in the course of construction at Rosewood. (Schulz photo)
Queenslander News Budget, Saturday, 3 July 1909, page16

This photo is a copy of the one above, but it has been edited and digitally enhanced within the limitations of the intuitive and restorative tool used.

Opening of St Brigid’s Catholic Church  Photo: State Library Queensland

On 13th February 1910 a new and larger Roman Catholic Church, “the finest wooden church in the diocese”, was formally opened by His Grace Archbishop Duhig. It was built from the fine timbers found in the Scrub and milled at O’Shea’s sawmill. James Dale was one of the men who helped dig the foundations for the church. The old church was then used as a parish hall for some time.

The new church measured 91ft by 62ft and was erected at a cost of £2400. Seating accommodation was provided for 2,000 people. The gallery measured 30ft. by 36ft and seated 100. There were three altars and coloured lead-light windows, one which hung above and shone light over the main altar, which bore a beautiful figured design. Robert James Murphy, a carpenter from Rosewood, designed the building, and acted as foreman for the Rev. Father Horan, the work being carried out by day labour.

On opening day the Hibernians formed a circle around the building and Archbishop Duhig, assisted by Rev. Fathers Horan, Brady and Wright conducted the opening ceremony. The door of the church was opened with a silver key presented by Mrs Murphy, the wife of the contractor. Although there was accomodation for 2,000, hundreds could not be admitted.

This article appeared in the Queensland Times on 17th November 1909.
The new Roman Catholic Church, St. Brigid’s, has just been completed, and the designer and builder, Mr. Robert Murphy, has courteously supplied the following particulars of the edifice, the dimensions of which are 91ft by 62ft., with a lean-to at the rear of the building of 30ft by 12ft. The main building has three roofs, with gable ends, and is erected upon upwards of 200 blocks, which are embedded in a concrete foundation of 3ft by 18in, every alternate block being strapped with an anchor-bolt.

The interior of the church is very beautiful. The massive roof is supported upon 16 pillars 8 by 8, and 11ft high with Gothic arches between, of 5 by 5 beechwood, with heavy cap-mould under the swaps, above which are turned bannisters. A gallery, 30ft by 24ft, for the choir has been fitted with music desks, and is reached by a beautiful staircase, and fronted by banister rails of stained and varnished beech. The walls are lined in three panels, the lower panel of upright boards, 3t 6in high, and painted brown, the centre panel of diagonal boarding, and the upper panel upright boards painted a pale-green: all boards 4 by 1, v-jointed, being specially designed by Mr. Murphy: they were obtained from Mr. James O’Shea’s Rosewood sawmill.

The whole building is ceiled with stamped metal Wanderlich ceiling, the panels of which are painted a pretty pale-green, with a border of grey, and the mouldings white, the curtain-board, 3ft deep, is picked out in green, grey, and cream, which makes a very effective finish. The ceiling is provided with 48 ventilators. Splendid ventilation has been provided by the beautiful Gothic windows and doors. The windows in front of the building are 12 by 8, and the side-windows 11ft 6in by 5ft, fitted with stained glass, each set of windows being hung with a patent worm-screw, with twin steel rods and brackets, bearings composed of gun-metal and brass, so that the set of windows may be opened together.

The window for the altar is 12ft by 8in, and is to be fitted with three stained glass figures of saints. The estimated cost for this beautiful window alone is £60. The building is floored with 4 by 1 hardwood, and has seating accommodation for 1,000 people. The seats, made on the premises, have been fitted with book-rests and patent kneelers. The communion rails round the altar are of stained beech, beautifully varnished.

The building, which has a most imposing appearance, and is, indeed, the largest wooden building of its kind in Queensland, if not in the Commonwealth, has six porches Gothic-shaped, and beautifully finished, and six dormer windows on the roof, which is also furnished with lightning conductors, as well as three ventilators along the main ridge.The doors are furnished with patent fastenings, supplied by Messrs. Barbat and Co., of your city. The plumbing has all been done by Mr. J. Cuthbert, and the painting by Mr. Kerr, also of your city.(George A. Kerr £143.10s) The whole of the timber has been supplied by Mr. James O’Shea, and the iron-work by Messrs. Elder and Roach.

A belfry 28ft high is erected at the rear of the building, the bell for which was generously donated by the late Mr. Peter O’Reilly. The sacred building has very wisely been enclosed in a fence of K-wire, in side which it is proposed to plant trees. Mr. Robert Murphy, who has been employed on the work for the last nine months, may well be proud of the handsome structure which will long stand as a monument of his skilful work, and is, indeed, a building of which the whole district, as well as our Roman Catholic friends, may feel proud. It is a tribute to the energy and influence of the Rev. Father Horan, who has personally sueperintended the building of this veritable “cathedral in wood,” sparing neither time nor money in this connection.

The bazaar, in aid of the funds of the Church, is to be opened on Tuesday, and it is hoped that it will meet with the success it deserves. November 15.

The photos below are taken from the Queenslander News Budget (Brisbane, Qld. : 1908 – 1918; 1920) Saturday, 19 February 1910 page 3

Traditional timber exteriors of the time were often finished with an oil stain instead of paint. Painters would mix natural earth oxides (for colour) with boiled linseed oil and turpentine, giving them an earthy brown look. The brew soaked into the timber and protected the wood and allowed the wood grain affect.

NEW CHURCH AT ROSEWOOD (1910)            ROSEWOOD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Rev. A. Horan at Rosewood. Debt on St Brigid’s Church – August 1911

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PRESBYTERY

In August 1915, Rosewood became a separate parish from Ipswich, and included Walloon, Grandchester, and Marburg. The Rev. Father Timothy Kelleher of Toowoomba was appointed as priest to the new parish. This necessitated the building of a presbytery to accomodate Rosewood’s first resident priest.

Father Kelleher, accompanied by Fathers Phillip R. Corrigan and Father Maurice Lane from St Mary’s parish in Ipswich, arrived at Rosewood on the 11 a.m. train on 11th August. The first celebration in the church by the new parish priest was Mass on Sunday, August 22nd.

Father Kelleher was welcomed by his future parishioners at a dinner and reception in the Farmers’ Hall on the night of Monday 23rd August. He made special reference to the homes in the various centres, where for years the priests had been accommodated when on their missions, and every kindness shown them, viz., Mrs. Sloane (Rosewood), the Misses Cronin (Walloon), Mrs. Kelleher (Marburg), Mrs. Carney (Grandchester), Mrs. Meehan (Calvert), Mrs. M. Murphy, and Mrs. O’Neill (Mt. Walker), Mrs. H. Ahearn (Rosevale) and Mrs. J. Reddy (Moorang).

ROSEWOOD’S ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME TO FATHER KELLEHER

In early October 1915, the tender of Mr. Rodgers of £1140, for the erection of a presbytery to the Roman Catholic Church at Rosewood, was accepted, and he commenced the work immediately.

New Presbytery.
Whilst other places are complaining of industrial slackness it is worthy of note that the local building trade is exceptionally brisk. In Matthew Street the beautiful new presbytery is being erected to the order of the Rev. Father Kelleher at a cost of nearly £1200. A start has already been made with the new building, and six men are now busily engaged thereon. The trenches are dug for a foundation of large sleeper logs, upon which the blocks of the house will be bedded. It was originally proposed to have concrete foundations, but these were abandoned in favour of sleepers. The building will be of wood, standing on 7ft. blocks. It will contain a large dining room (20 x 16), connected with a 5ft. hall, with fret archway, and also with a small inglenook on side verandah screened by sliding glass doors. 

Commodious and Convenient.
There is a large sitting room, three commodious bedrooms, which have communication with the 10ft. verandahs by large French-light doors. An office adjoins the first bedroom, in which is an oscillating bed, enabling same to be used either on the verandah or in the room itself. The bathroom is convenient to the bedrooms. The large back verandah is glassed in with sliding sashes, and connects with the verandah on the eastern side, the corner portion of which, some 10×12 feet, is screened off with glass folding doors to form a lounge. 

There is also a sleeping-out porch with sliding casement sashes, connected witb the main bedroom. This has a flat roof covered with malthoid, while the main roof is to be covered throughout with Marseilles tiles. 

Completed in January.
The ceilings will be of flbro-cement panelled out with silky oak linings. The front door and sidelights are glazed with selected leaded lights, while other exposed windows are done with tinted arctic glass. The kitchen is large and convenient, with storeroom, servery, and housekeeper’s room attached; the laundry, with copper, etc., is beneath the kitchen. The under part of the house will be screened with lattice. It is expected that the building will be completed in January, and judging from the plans it will be a building worthy of the parish and an addition to the town and district, well in keeping with its progress and future prospects. [Catholic Advocate (Brisbane, Qld.), Thursday, 4 November 1915, page 25]

Father Kelleher stayed at Rising Sun Hotel until the new Presbytery was built. It was opened and blessed on Sunday, 30th April 1916 by Archbishop Duhig.

Blessing and Opening by Archbishop Duhig

THE NEW PRESBYTERY – A GENEROUS PEOPLE

St. Brigid’s Presbytery (1916) then Convent (1922)  (Photo taken 1930. Courtesy of Anthony Price)

A back/side view of the convent in much later years before it was sold (c.2014) and moved to become a private residence.

I remember the early convent when it was just a home for the Sisters of Mercy nuns who taught at the school. Then in the late fifties there was an extension to the building to make accomodation available for female boarders. – Greg Brown (July 2026)

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SECOND PRESBYTERY AND CONVENT SCHOOL

At the start of August 1921, the construction of a second presbytery and a new convent school began by Mr. Matthias Dwyer, the contractor. The building that was first used as a church, and then as a public hall, was dismantled and moved backwards in line with the present church. With additions (covered verandahs and staircases), and several modifications, it was re-erected and repurposed as a school.

The new Presbytery 1922

The new Convent School c.1928 (Courtesy of Anthony Price)

St Brigid’s Convent, Church and School. c.1928  (Photo courtesy of Anthony Price)

The new school, together with the building erected for the use of the parish priest, adds materially to the attractiveness of the church grounds, the former residence of the priest had been altered, and is now being occupied by the Sisters of Mercy.

The school house is an imposing structure and consists of one large room 80 feet long by 40 feet wide-sufficient space to accomodate 80 children. In addition, there had been provided two comfortable retiring rooms for the use of the Sisters. The roof is of gable design, and the building had spacious verandahs, 10 feet wide, on two sides. The value of ventilation has not been overlooked, provision for an ample supply of fresh air having been made. 

The alterations to the convent are not many, the main improvement being the enclosing of the verandahs. The church has been renovated, and painted a brown colour. The suppresses verandahs are the first things that strike one on visiting the new presbytery. This building contains 10 commodious rooms and two bathrooms. The front room is perhaps the best fitted, and has fibro cement ceilings, with mock beams, and stained three-ply walls. The building is 100 feet long and 40 feet wide. Amongst the improvements to the installation of a septic tank. Altogether the work reflects much credit on the contractor Mr. M. Dwyer.

The total cost of the additions was £879. The school furniture had cost £187, a further £105 was accounted for in the painting of the church, £140 for fences and additions to the presbytery were another £94. The sums brought the parish debt to £920.

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THIRD PRESBYTERY

About 5 p.m. on Friday, 20th February 1948, the Roman Catholic presbytery was gutted by fire. The relieving Parish Priest of three months, Rev. Father A. Hunter, lost all his personal belongings apart from the clothes he wore. His car was moved to safety by residents when the garage appeared in danger of catching fire. Earlier in the afternoon Father Hunter and Mr. Thomas Lenehan had been burning off stubbles of grass surrounding the Presbytery. About 5 p.m. they were standing talking when Lenehan noticed smoke coming from the presbytery. A few seconds later it was a raging inferno. As there was no town water supply at Rosewood, the onlookers were powerless to fight the fire.

A new Roman Catholic presbytery was erected to replace the one destroyed by fire, and was solemnly opened and blessed by Archbishop Duhig on Sunday 10th July 1949.

Giving details at the opening of the new presbytery, Father Tracey said the new building was not quite finished because of the lack of materials and the coal strike. “Although Rosewood coal miners are the only law abiding ones in the land, we have to suffer for the sins of others,” said Father Tracey.

The new St. Brigid’s Presbytery was built and furnished at a cost of nearly £4,200, and repairs and painting to the church and other buildings on the church grounds, at an aggregate cost of £6,127/19/5.

Father Tracey said that the debit balance on the presbytery and other renovation work was £1,191/17/3. After his Grace had addressed the gathering, donations were called for, and several hundred pounds were received during the afternoon.

The presbytery and the church – January 2026

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St. Brigid’s Catholic Church 2015

This magnificent church is said to be the largest wooden church in Australia, and arguably, the most beautiful. St Kilian’s Catholic Church in Bendigo could possibly challenge that statement for size.

St Brigid’s Church houses two stained glass windows by R. S. Exton and Co., (a Toowoomba firm) and scroll work above the altar, containing the words O memorial mortis domini (In memory of the Lord’s death) which has been attributed to William Bustard. These were added just before the jubilee celebrations in 1935. William Bustard was born in England in 1894 and moved to Australia in 1921. He was a painter, printmaker, stained-glass artist, illustrator, and poster designer.

Parish Priests: Rev. Father Timothy Kelleher 1915-1920; Father McKenna 1920-1927; Rev P. J. O’Rourke 1927-1947; Rev. Fr. Anthony Treacey 1948-1959; Father M. J. O’Connell.

St Brigid’s Church was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21st October 1992.

The Sisters of Mercy stayed until 2011.

First and Last Weddings at St. Brigid’s Catholic Church

Rosewood, Its Hospitable People and Its Catholic History

Rosewood Catholics Celebrate Great Progress In Half Century    (Jubilee 1935)

Here are links to some lovely photographs of St Brigid’s which are still in copyright.
St Brigid’s Catholic Church, Rosewood, 1973  Photographer: Richard Stringer (State Library Qld)

Interior of St Brigid’s Catholic Church, Rosewood, Ipswich, 2010. Picture Ipswich

More information on Wikipedia

RELOCATION

Although the church building had been slowly leaning for many years, it was deemed unsafe in 2020. Plans to straighten and restore the church began to be formulated. Ultimately it was decided to move the church, and raise the money to achieve it.

Three buildings had to be repositioned.

1.  In late March 2026, preparations began to move the presbytery to the north east corner of the school grounds in Matthew Street. It was in place at its new location on 1st April, next door to the original old presbytery, which is now a private residence.

2. After 116 years, on the 7th and 8th July, the beautiful old church, St Brigid’s, was moved in its entirety onto the former site of the presbytery. It was a daunting task, and I was left a little awestruck watching it for a few hours each day. After many weeks of preparations, a meticulously planned operation was painstakingly executed over 2 days by David Wright House Removers. The church was supported by interconnected RSJ beams which slid along boards coated by Sunlight soap, moving about a metre, then resetting and moving another metre, and so on. On the first day the building was moved sideways 18 metres. Barnes Auto recovery trucks assisted with the winching process. The church landed, in tact, on its new position, by 2p.m on Wednesday afternoon 8th July. It sits supported by box cribbing (an arrangement of horizontal timbers in stacks of rectangles/squares) waiting to be stumped. (9th July 2026)

3. The Rosewood Parish Centre (first Church 1885-1910; Parish Hall 1910 -1921; Convent School 1922-late 1990’s; Parish Centre) was moved onto the former site of St Brigid’s Church on Wednesday 19th August 2026. The work was done by David Wright House Removals.

Presbytery Move Part 1  Ipswich Catholic Community (2026)

Presbytery Move Part 2  Ipswich Catholic Community

St Brigid’s Church Move Ipswich Catholic Community (7th & 8th July 2026)

Moving The Parish Centre  St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School (19th August 2026)