Our history
A History of the Building and Surrounds, by Joan Napper*
| 1826 | Church of England came to the Illawarra with the establishment of a military detachment. Captain Bishop of the 40th Regiment and Charles Throsby Smith were authorised to conduct religious services |
| 1828 | Smith’s barn was used as a church—not only for Anglicans but for all denominations. Father Therry celebrated mass and Rev. Redhall took divine services for Anglicans |
| 1834 | The town of Wollongong was surveyed by Major Mitchell. Charles Throsby Smith had received a 300 acre land grant from Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1820. He gave a 2-acre block on one of the highest rises of his property to the Church of England—including a condition that the church block be approached by a street on each of its four sides. This caused Major Mitchell a good deal of mental anxiety! A plaque in the Northern Porch reads “To the glory of God and in memory of Charles Throsby Smith who gave the land on which these buildings stand.” |
| 1847 | First St Michael’s built in Corrimal Street. This church building was demolished in 1859. |
| 1858 | Bishop Barker laid the foundation stone for the new church building on its present site |
| 1859 | Bishop Barker consecrated the church building in the name of St Michael the Archangel. Psalm 24 was read as being appropriate for the ‘Church on the Hill’:
St Michael’s was designed by Edmund Blacket, Australia’s greatest ecclesiastical architect. He also designed St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney |
| 1877 | Pipe organ installed. Built by Walker & Son, London, which with freight cost 300 pounds. |
| 1884 | Gas lighting replaced kerosene lamps and candles |
| 1887 | Bulli mine exploded. 81 miners died. Special services were held and the interior of St Michael’s was draped in black and the dead march was played on the organ |
| 1893 | Rectory foundation stone laid—completed in 1894. |
| 1902 | Mount Kembla mine disaster. The burial register of St Michael’s records the deaths of men and boys killed on that day. |
| 1908 | Small hall (now church offices) opened |
| 1914 | WWI. During these years St Michael’s bell rang each day at noon to summon people to pray for soldiers and for a “speedy termination of the war” |
| 1919 | A memorial tablet “to the Fallen” erected in church |
| 1926 | Main hall dedicated |
| 1940 | Stone fence erected to honour pioneers |
| 1944 | Laying up of the colours of the 34th Infantry Battalion. These flags are located in the Northern Transept |
| 1946 | St Michael’s Pre-school Kindergarten (the first pre-school in the Wollongong Area) began. Finished in 2005. |
| 1967 | Covered way built, connecting office hall to church building |
| 1968 | Extension of large hall |
| ? | Original baptismal font now located in Northern garden besides the church |
* Joan Napper is the Great, great granddaughter of Charles Throsby Smith. Smith was given a 300 acre land grant by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1820 (now Smiths Hill). The Wollongong township grew up on his land. He is often referred to as “The Father of Wollongong.” He gave 2 acres on the second highest rise of his property to the Anglican Church. Seven generations of his family have attended St Michael’s Cathedral.