General News
17 June, 2026
Major work on historic hall agenda
A MAJOR fundraising drive has been launched to refurbish Wedderburn’s oldest surviving church building.
A MAJOR fundraising drive has been launched to refurbish Wedderburn’s oldest surviving church building.
The Church of Christ aims to have funds to pay for work on the 1872 brick building in Reef Street ahead of a special work team arriving in spring.
Church member Susie Lockhart said plans for refurbishment of what is now the Sunday School building included a new roof and kitchen, an improved entry, air conditioning unit and replacement of the floor and window frames.
“The focus for all of these projects is community-centred. The desire is to upgrade church buildings and facilities so that the Church of Christ can continue its well-established tradition of supporting and engaging with a wide cross-section of our local community, in various ways each week,” she said.
“It is also our vision that once these urgent works are completed that we work together to build a larger hall, as the current Sunday church congregation and Friday Youth Group is already out of space in the Sunday School Hall.”
The Church of Christ established in Wedderburn in 1864. meeting in the old assembly hall before opening its Reef Street building in 1872 that was used for worship until a new church was built in 1903.
Korong Shire had offered “the growing church an acre of ground, free, for future development”, the church’s 150th anniversary book recalls.
“The church could not accept anything from worldly sources. W Winter brought the present site for 10 pounds.”
The original building was again used as a church following a December 1994 fire in the church building. Fire had started in the organ and burnt through floorboards.
Long-time church member Ruth Hall recalls that the now-Sunday School building had been slated for demolition more than 20 years ago. “That didn’t happen and now we have the oldest surviving church building in Wedderburn,” she said.
Susie said: “For 162 years, the Church of Christ has played a vital role in the life of the wider Wedderburn community. It has always provided a warm welcome to both locals and newcomers alike. But time catches up with all of us and the Church of Christ buildings are no exception. It is recognised that both the church itself and, especially the Sunday School building, are in need of significant refurbishment.
“The Church of Christ mobile mission maintenance organisation will spend a fortnight over spring on the work. We’re now calling for donations to help make this possible.”
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