PARISH OF ST AUGUSTINE

COFFS HARBOUR

FOUNDED

1906

DIOCESE

LISMORE

PARISH CHURCH	STATION CHURCHES	HISTORIC CHURCHES
OTHER BUILDINGS	RELIGIOUS ORDERS	PARISH DIRECTORY

PARISH CHURCH OF ST AUGUSTINE

PARISH	HISTORY	CHURCH

PARISH

COFFS HARBOUR IS A MAJOR COASTAL TOWN NOTED FOR ITS BANANA PLANTATIONS AND ITS FISHING. WITH A POPULATION OF OVER 65 000 IT IS TYPICALLY OCCUPIED BY RETIREES SEEKING THE WARM NORTH OF THE STATE AND BY HOLIDAY-MAKERS EAGER TO ENJOY THEMSELVES. CEDAR-GETTING WAS THE ECONOMIC MAINSTAY IN THE EARLY YEARS AND, AT ITS PEAK, 4.5 MILLION METRES OF TIMBER A YEAR WERE SHIPPED FROM COFFS HARBOUR. GOLD MINING TOOK PLACE BETWEEN 1881 AND 1898 BUT MUCH OF THE GOLD WAS ONLY ON THE SURFACE. THE RAILWAY ARRIVED IN 1915, CAUSED A DECLINE IN SHIPPING BUT AN INCREASE IN TOURISM. THE FIRST BANANAS WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE AREA FROM FIJI IN 1881. COFFS HARBOUR WAS FOR MANY YEARS COMPRISED OF TWO QUITE DISTINCT ENTITIES – THE JETTY AREA AND TOP TOWN HOWEVER MODERN DEVELOPMENT HAS BLENDED THE TWO. TODAY COFFS HARBOUR IS ONE OF THE MAJOR TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN THE STATE OUTSIDE OF SYDNEY.

THE PARISH OF COFFS HARBOUR WAS DETACHED FROM BELLINGEN IN 1906. AT THE TIME ONLY ONE CHURCH EXISTED AT KARANGI IN THE HILLS BEHIND THE COAST. A NEW PARISH CHURCH WAS BUILT AT COFFS HARBOUR IN 1907. ADDITIONAL STATIONS WERE OPENED AT CORAMBA (1927), GLENREAGH AND ULONG (1931), COFFS HARBOUR JETTY (1935), SAWTELL (1951) AND WOOLGOOLGA (1968). CORAMBA-KARANGI WAS FORMED INTO A SEPARATE PARISH FROM 1926 TO 1931 AS WAS SAWTELL AFTER 1983. TODAY COFFS HARBOUR HAS BECOME ONE OF THE PREMIER PARISHES OF THE DIOCESE.

CHURCH OF ST ANTHONY

CHURCH OF ST ANTHONY

PHOTO COURTESY OF
COFFS HARBOUR HISTORICAL MUSEUM

THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN COFFS HARBOUR WAS BUILT IN 1907 BY THE FIRST PARISH PRIEST, FR CHARLES O'GALLAGHER. AT THAT TIME THREE BLOCKS OF LAND HAD ALREADY BEEN BOUGHT AT THE JETTY FOR A NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH AND PRESBYTERY BUT FR O'GALLAGHER CONSIDERED THE SITE UNSUITABLE AND SO ARRANGED THE PURCHASE OF SOME LAND IN TOP TOWN. IT WAS HERE ON THE WEST SIDE OF GORDON STREET (OPPOSITE THE PRESENT CHURCH) THAT A SMALL CHURCH DEDICATED TO ST ANTHONY WAS BUILT.

A MERE THIRTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE CHURCH WAS BUILT DISASTER STRUCK WHEN A FREAK CYCLONE RAVAGED THE TOWN AND DESTROYED ST ANTHONY'S NEARLY KILLING THE PARISH PRIEST WHO HAD LEFT THE BUILDING JUST SCANT MINUTES BEFORE. UNDISMAYED FR O'GALLAGHER WASTED NO TIME IN RE-ERECTING THE BUILDING ON THE SELFSAME SITE IN EARLY JANUARY 1909.

FIRST CHURCH OF ST AUGUSTINE

FIRST CHURCH OF ST AUGUSTINE

THE REBUILT CHURCH WAS COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY 1909 AND IN APPEARANCE WAS UNCHANGED FROM THE OLD ST ANTHONY'S (ABOVE). ALSO AT SOME POINT AROUND THIS TIME, PROBABLY IN APRIL 1909, THE DEDICATION WAS CHANGED TO ST AUGUSTINE'S FOR REASONS THAT ARE UNKNOWN. IN 1915 A SACRISTY WAS ADDED TO THE CHURCH (BELOW LEFT) DURING THE TIME OF FR HANLY WHILE FURTHER EXTENSIONS WERE MADE IN 1938 INCLUDING A BAPTISTRY, CONFESSIONALS, A NEW PORCH AND SANCTUARY (ABOVE AND BELOW RIGHT). FROM THIS POINT THE CHURCH REMAINED ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED IN 1962. WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW CHURCH THE OLD CHURCH BECAME THE PARISH HALL UNTIL IT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1975 TO ENABLE THE SCHOOL TO BE EXTENDED.

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ST AUGUSTINE'S WITH THE NEW SACRISTY ADDDED IN 1915. NEXT	ST AUGUSTINES WITH 1938 EXTENSIONS TAKEN FROM THE HILL. NEXT


TWO PHOTOS OF THE SIMPLE YET ATTRACTIVE INTERIOR OF OLD ST AUGUSTINE'S SHOWING FR JOHN DACEY'S FIRST MASS FOLLOWING HIS ORDINATION IN 1956 (ABOVE LEFT) AND BISHOP FARRELLY CELEBRATING THE LAST MASS IN THE CHURCH ON MAY 6, 1962 (ABOVE RIGHT). SECOND CHURCH OF ST AUGUSTINE

SECOND CHURCH OF ST AUGUSTINE

THE ARRIVAL OF FR THOMAS McEVOY AS THE NEW PARISH PRIEST IN 1958 WAS THE SIGNAL FOR AN AMBITIOUS BUILDING PROGRAM THAT WOULD CULMINATE IN 1962 WITH THE OPENING OF THE MAGNIFICENT NEW ST AUGUSTINE'S WAR MEMORIAL CHURCH.

THE CHURCH WAS DESIGNED BY THE SYDNEY ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OF FOWELL, MANSFIELD AND MACLURCAN AND IS CONSTRUCTED OF LIGHT COLOURED BRICK WITH A TOWER 66' HIGH TOPPED BY A 14' NEON CROSS. THE DESIGN IS OF SOME HISTORICAL INTEREST AS BEING REPRESENTATIVE OF CHANGES THAT WERE ALREADY TAKING PLACE PRIOR TO NEW LITURGY BEING INTRODUCED IN THE LATE 1960's.

THE NEW CHURCH WAS BLESSED AND OPENED BY BISHOP FARRELLY ON 6 MAY 1962 AND LIKE MANY CHURCHES OF ITS TIME PARTIALLY FUNDED BY A GOVERNMENT WAR MEMORIAL GRANT.

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THE DESIGN OF THE CHURCH IS AN IMPRESSIVE SYNTHESIS OF TRADITIONAL AND MODERN ELEMENTS. ALTHOUGH THE SHAPE FOLLOWS THE ACCEPTED DIVISION OF PARTS INTO NAVE, TWIN TRANSEPTS AND CHANCEL SIGNIFICANT CHANGES POINT TO THE MODERN CONCEPT OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. IN PARTICULAR THE MUCH ENLARGED TRANSEPTS COMBINED WITH A SHALLOW CHANCEL ENABLE THE FORMER TO BE USED AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE NAVE RATHER THAN SEPARATE AREAS OF THE CHURCH. THE STYLE IS A SIMPLIFIED ROMANESQUE WITH A LOW ROOF AND AN OPEN COLONNADED PORCH REMINISCENT OF EARLY ITALIAN CHURCHES. TO THE LEFT OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE IS A CELTIC-STYLE MILLENIUM CROSS IN HONOUR OF THE JUBILEE YEAR. THE ENTRANCE IS DOMINATED BY THE LARGE GABRIEL LOIRE WINDOW.

THE CHURCH WAS BUILT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF GORDON STREET FROM THE ORIGINAL ST AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH BETWEEN THE CONVENT AND THE PRESBYTERY MAKING IT ONE OF THE DOMINATING FEATURES OF THE TOWN.

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THE PIETY SHOP IS LOCATED IN A SEMI-DETACHED BUILDING. >>>> NEXT

THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH SHOWS CLEARLY THE DESIGN'S INTENTION TO PROVIDE ALL ROUND VISIBILITY TO THE ALTAR. THE LARGE TRANSEPTS WERE INTENDED FROM THE OUTSET TO PROVIDE INTEGRATED SEATING WHILE THE SHALLOW CHANCEL ENSURED OPENESS TO THE LAITY (BELOW LEFT).

IN 1996 A MAJOR RE-ORGANISTION WAS UNDERTAKEN (RIGHT & BELOW RIGHT). A NEW ALTAR, AMBO AND FONT WERE INSTALLED AND THE FORMER HIGH ALTAR REPLACED BY A MARBLE STAND FOR THE TABERNACLE. A NEW WOODEN SCREEN WAS INSTALLED TO CREATE A CHAPEL OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.

OF SPECIAL INTEREST IS THE GABRIEL LOIRE GLASS FROM FRANCE, ONE OF THE FEW EXAMPLES OF THIS STYLE OF GLASS IN AUSTRALIA. IT COMPRISES THE LOVELY WEST WINDOW OF THE PATRON SAINT AND THE NARROW BAND IN THE CHANCEL WITH ITS 15 SYMBOLS OF THE PASSION AND HOLY EUCHARIST.

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THE IMPRESSIVE SANCTUARY CRUCIFIX WAS MADE BY FR JOHN CASEY AND IS A COPY OF THE FAMOUS CIMABUE ORIGINAL IN THE BASILICA DI SANTA CROCE IN FLORENCE. NEXT


THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL FORMED FROM THE ORIGINAL GREEN CHIPPELINO AND WHITE CARARA MARBLE RETABLE OF 1962. NEXT


THE CARVED STATUES OF OUR LADY AND THE SACRED HEART WERE MOVED FROM THE SANCTUARY TO THE TWO SIDE ALTARS IN 1996. NEXT


THE SHRINES OF MARY MACKILLOP (LEFT) AND OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP (RIGHT) WERE FORMED FROM THE OLD CONFESSIONALS. NEXT


	TOP STATION CHURCHES

STATION CHURCHES
CORAMBA	GLENREAGH	WOOLGOOLGA

CHURCH OF ST THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS, CORAMBA
	PARISH
	THE HISTORIC MINING VILLAGE OF CORAMBA LIES ON THE BACK ROAD BETWEEN COFFS HARBOUR AND GRAFTON AND IS TODAY A POPULAR LOCAL TOURIST STOP. IN 1921 A MISSION WAS HELD AT CORAMBA AND AS A RESULT IT WAS DECIDED TO PETITIION THE BISHOP FOR THE ERECTION OF A CHURCH. HOWEVER IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1926 THAT LAND COULD BE OBTAINED FROM THE CORAMBA CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY SOCIETY. THE FOUNDATION STONE WAS LAID IN NOVEMBER AND AT THE SAME TIME CORAMBA AND KARANGI WERE FORMED INTO A SEPARATE PARISH, IN PART DUE TO DIFFERENCES WITH FR VAN RIEL, THE PARISH PRIEST. THE BRIEF PERIOD OF INDEPENDANCE ENJOYED BY THE PARISH ENDED IN 1935 WHEN IT WAS REJOINED TO ITS PARENT COFFS HARBOUR. CHURCH

CHURCH
THE WEATHERBOARD CHURCH OF ST THERESE WAS COMPLETED IN 1927 AND BLESSED BY BISHOP CARROLL IN MARCH OF THAT YEAR. IT IS A TYPICAL RURAL DESIGN COMPRISING A NAVE, APSIDAL CHANCEL, SACRISTY, PRIEST'S ROOM AND A LARGE TWIN-DOORED CENTRAL PORCH. NEXT


BECAUSE THE MAIN ROAD RUNS ALONG A NARROW RIDGE THE CHURCH HAD TO BE RAISED ON A LATTICE WORK OF WOODEN SUPPORTS IN ORDER FOR THE ENTRANCE TO BE AT THE SAME LEVEL. THESE SUPPORTS CAN BE SEEN IN THE FRONT AND REAR PICTURES ABOVE. NEXT

THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH HAS BEEN MUCH SIMPLIFIED SINCE ITS OPENING IN 1927. THE OLD ALTAR HAS GONE TO BE REPLACED BY A SIMPLE TABLE. SOME IDEA OF THE ORIGINAL WORK CAN BE GAINED FROM THE TWO SIDE ALTARS WHICH REMAIN. THE INSIDE IS LINED WITH LOCAL DORRIGO PLUM GIVING THE CHURCH A DARKER TEXTURE THAN IS FOUND ELSEWHERE BUT WHICH WAS VERY POPULAR IN THE DISTRICT AS SHOWN BY THE CHURCHES AT GLENREAGH AND ULONG.

THE ROOF IS LOFTY GIVING GOOD VENTILATION, A NECESSITY IN THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS IN AUSTRALIA. THE WINDOWS WERE OF COLOURED GLASS ALTHOUGH MANY HAVE NOW BEEN LOST DUE TO THE WEAR AND TEAR OF TIME. A FEW PANES CAN STILL BE SEEN IN THE SANCTUARY.

THE REMAINDER OF THE FURNISHINGS OF THE CHURCH INCLUDE AN ATTRACTIVE CRUCIFIX AND SEVERAL SACRED IMAGES. THE ORIGINAL ORGAN, NOW INOPERABLE, HAS BEEN MOVED TO COFFS HARBOUR WHERE THE CASING WAS RESTORED.

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THE TWO PRETTY CARVED SIDE ALTARS ARE PART OF THE ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS OF THE CHURCH AS THE SANCTUARY CRUCIFIX. NEXT


	TOP STATION CHURCHES GLENREAGH

CHURCH OF ST PAUL, GLENREAGH
	STATION
	GLENREAGH IS A SMALL VILLAGE WHICH, LIKE CORAMBA, IS LOCATED ON THE BACK ROAD BETWEEN COFFS HARBOUR AND GRAFTON. IT WAS AN IMPORTANT RAILWAY JUNCTION BUT TODAY IS A PEACEFUL BACKWATER. FROM THE EARLY 1900's GLENREAGH WAS A STATION OF COFFS HARBOUR AND MASSES WERE SAID IN A NUMBER OF LOCAL HOMES. IN 1927 IT BECAME PART OF CORAMBA-KARANGI PARISH AND IN 1930 FR RYAN (KNOWN AS 'THE BUILDER') BEGAN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A CHURCH THERE. THE CHURCH WAS OPENED IN 1931. IN 1935 GLENREAGH RETURNED TO COFFS HARBOUR ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE PARISH. TODAY THIS PRETTY LITTLE VILLAGE REMAINS AN ACTIVE STATION OF COFFS HARBOUR PARISH. CHURCH

CHURCH
THE LITTLE WEATHERBOARD CHURCH OF ST PAUL WAS THE WORK OF FR RYAN AND WAS COMPLETED IN 1931 AND BLESSED BY BISHOP CARROLL IN MAY OF THAT YEAR. IT WAS BUILT BY IRVING AND SHEPHERD OF NANA GLEN. NEXT



THE CHURCH IS A TYPICAL RURAL DESIGN FOCUSING ON THE ESSENTIALS. IT COMPRISES A NAVE, A CHANCEL, SACRISTY AND PRIEST'S ROOM, CONFESSIONAL AND CENTRAL PORCH. THE CHURCH IS WELL LIT WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF WINDOWS FOR SUCH A SMALL CHURCH. NEXT

LIKE >CORAMBA ST PAUL'S IS LINED WITH DARK DORRIGO PLUM BUT WITH A SMALLER CHANCEL AND SOME OF THE ORNATE WOODWORK OF THE ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS HAS BEEN PRESERVED.

AMONG THE SPECIAL TREATS OF THIS LOVELY LITTLE CHURCH ARE THE CARVED WOODEN ALTAR DONATED BY THOMAS CURRAN IN MEMORY OF HIS PARENTS WITH ITS RETABLE NOW MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE CHANCEL. THE ANTIQUE PICTURES OF THE SACRED HEART AND THE IMMACULATE HEART WERE DONATED BY MARY AND GORDON SCHIPP. THE PEWS WERE THE GIFT OF MR & MRS GEORGE COOPER. THE TWO STATUES OF OUR LADY AND THE SACRED HEART WERE ORIGINALLY IN HOLY FAMILY CHURCH KARANGI BUT THEY WERE MOVED TO GLENREAGH IN THE LATE 1980's.

AN UNUSUAL FEATURE OF THE CHURCH IS THE SMALL CONFESSIONAL ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE NAVE. SUCH CONFESSIONALS ARE RARE IN SMALL RURAL STATION CHURCHES SUCH AS THIS.

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THE ATTRACTIVE CHANCEL (LEFT) WITH THE ORIGINAL ALTAR (ABOVE RIGHT) AND THE FORMER RETABLE AND TABERNACLE (TOP RIGHT). NEXT


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FROM LEFT TO RIGHT - THE CONFESSIONAL, ONE OF THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND A STATUETTE OF OUR LADY IN THE FRONT PORCH. TOP STATION CHURCHES WOOLGOOLGA

CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER, WOOLGOOLGA
	STATION
	FOR MANY YEARS WOOLGOOLGA WAS JUST A SMALL COASTAL VILLAGE BUT WITH THE RAPID GROWTH OF COFFS HARBOUR WOOLGOOLGA HAS GROWN INTO A MAJOR SATELLITE TOWNSHIP. TODAY THE TOWN IS NOTED MAINLY FOR ITS LARGE SIKH PRESENCE AND ITS ACCESS TO SOME OF THE BEST BEACHES ON THE NORTH COAST. WOOLGOOLGA WAS SERVED FROM COFFS HARBOUR FROM THE 1920's ONWARD. ALTHOUGH A CHURCH WAS PROPOSED AT THAT TIME NOTHING EVENTUATED AND LOCALS HAD TO MAKE DO WITH A SERIES OF HALLS. THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE TOWN IN THE POST-WAR PERIOD FINALLY JUSTIFIED A CHURCH IN THE 1968 FOLLOWED BY A SCHOOL IN 1994. CHURCH

CHURCH

ONLY SIX SHORT YEARS SEPARATE THE BUILDING OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH FROM ST AUGUSTINE'S IN COFFS HARBOUR YET IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL DESIGNS THEY REFLECT THE MOMENTOUS CHANGES OCCURRING IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THAT PERIOD. WHILE ST AUGUSTINE'S IS STILL RECOGNISABLY 'TRADITIONAL' DESPITE THE MODERN IDIOM OF ITS CONSTRUCTION ST FRANCIS XAVIER'S IS MOST DEFINITELY A CHILD OF THE LITURGICAL REVOLUTION OF THE LATE 1960's. DESIGNED BY J L TOOMEY OF LISMORE TO CONFORM TO THE SPIRIT OF THE NOVUS ORDO MASS IT IS A PLAIN SQUARE BUILDING ENCLOSING A SINGLE 'WORSHIP SPACE' BRINGING TOGETHER CONGREGATION AND CELEBRANT AROUND THE ALTAR. THE CHURCH WAS CONSTRUCTED OF BRICK WITH A TILED ROOF AND A CENTRAL COPPER SPIRE AND INCLUDED AN UNDERCROFT FOR USE AS A HALL AND MEETING SPACE. ORIGINALLY THE CHURCH HAD GLASS WALLS SURROUNDED BY A VERANDAH BUT THIS WAS ENCLOSED IN 1987 IN ORDER TO ACCOMODATE THE GROWING SIZE OF THE CONGREGATION. NEXT

THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH FOLLOWS THE LITURGICAL IDEAS INTRODUCED DURING THE LATE 1960's IN HAVING NO ARCHITECTURAL SEPARATION OF NAVE AND CHANCEL. INSTEAD THE CHURCH ENCLOSES A UNIFIED SPACE IN WHICH THE CONGREGATION GATHER AROUND THE SANCTUARY WHICH IS MARKED OFF ONLY BY A SLIGHT RAISING OF THE FLOOR LEVEL.

INTERNALLY THE DOMINANT AXES OF THE CHURCH ARE DIAGONAL WITH THE SANCTUARY LOCATED IN ONE OF THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE BUILDING DIRECTLY OPPOSITE THE MAIN ENTRANCE. THE SEATING IS THEN ARRANGED AROUND THIS CENTRAL AXIS PROVIDING OPEN ACCESS TO THE SANCTUARY BY THE WHOLE CONGREGATION. THE ACTION OF THE SACRED MYSTERIES IS THUS INTEGRATED WITH THE CELEBRATION OF THE GOSPEL BY THE PEOPLE.

THE PLAIN WALLS AND TIMBER ROOF REFLECT THE MINIMALISM OF THE TIME WHILE THE LARGE CANDELABRA PROVIDES A DECORATIVE TOUCH TO OFFSET THE PRACTICAL FANS.

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THE PLAIN SANCTUARY ITSELF CONTINUES THE MINIMALIST APPROACH OF THE BUILDING AS A WHOLE WITH ALL DECORATION ESCHEWED IN FAVOUR OF A MORE SEVERE PRACTICALITY.

AT THE REAR OF THE RAISED SANCTUARY IS A WOOD PANELLED FEATURE WALL WITH A STARKLY MODERN CRUCIFIX. THE ALTAR IS OF THE TABLE VARIETY WITH A DECORATIVE CHI-RHO SYMBOL. THE PULPIT-LIKE AMBO IS LOCATED TO THE FAR SIDE WHERE IS PARTAKES OF BOTH THE CONGREGATIONAL AND THE SACRAMENTAL SPACE.

THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IS RESERVED IN AN AUMBERY-LIKE TABERNACLE WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE WALL JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE AMBO AND MARKED BY LAMP MOUNTED ON THE WALL.

TOP STATION CHURCHES

HISTORIC CHURCHES

HISTORIC CHURCHES

HELP PLEASE

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION DOES NOT CLAIM TO BE COMPREHENSIVE. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ANY CHURCHES WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED, OR HAS INFORMATION ABOUT OR HISTORIC PHOTOS OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CHURCHES PLEASE CONTACT ME. I WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU AND ADDING TO THE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE CHURCHES.

COFFS HARBOUR JETTY

KARANGI

ULONG

CHURCH OF MARY IMMACULATE STAR OF THE SEA, COFFS HARBOUR JETTY

THE JETTY WAS ONCE THE BUSY INDUSTRIAL CENTRE OF COFFS HARBOUR BEING DOMINATED BY THE WHARVES AND TRAMLINES OF THE VITAL TIMBER INDUSTRY. LATER IT BECOME A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND A A POPULAR BEACHSIDE SUBURB OF THE MAIN TOWNSHIP.

IT IS ONE OF THE IRONIES OF COFFS HARBOUR PARISH THAT THE JETTY HAD TO WAIT THIRTY YEARS FOR A CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ITS OWN FOR THE ORIGINAL CHURCH SITE HAD IN FACT BEEN LOCATED HERE. IT WAS FR RYAN 'THE BUILDER' WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ERECTION OF THE CHURCH IN 1935 AS THE OLD ST AUGUSTINE'S WAS BECOMING TOO CROWDED. FOR THIRTY YEARS THE CHURCH SERVED THE PEOPLE OF THE JETTY UNTIL A BIGGER PARISH CHURCH IN 1962 LED TO THE STATION'S CLOSURE IN THE 1960's.

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THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE CHURCH OF MARY IMMACULATE STAR OF THE SEA WAS LAID IN DECEMBER 1935 BY WHICH TIME THE CHURCH WAS VIRTUALLY FINISHED. IT WAS IN FACT A RATHER LARGE BUILDING FOR A STATION CHURCH WITH AN APSIDAL CHANCEL, TWIN SACRISTIES AND SIDE CONFESSIONALS.

AFTER THE CLOSURE OF THE STATION IN THE LATE 1960's THE CHURCH, NOW KNOWN AS THE HOOD ST HALL, WAS USED FOR AS A MEETING PLACE FOR PARISH YOUTH GROUPS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. IT WAS MOVED BY FR REINHARD TO THE SITE OF JOHN PAUL COLLEGE IN 1997 AND NEWLY RENOVATED AS THE COLLEGE CHAPEL.

TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES KARANGI

CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY, KARANGI
	STATION
	THE SMALL VILLAGE OF KARANGI LIES IN THE HILLS AT THE BACK OF COFFS HARBOUR AND WAS ONCE A PROSPEROUS LOGGING COMMUNITY. TODAY IT IS A SEMI-RURAL RETREAT. KARANGI IS OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE TO THE HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN COFFS HARBOUR BECAUSE IT WAS HERE THAT THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1904 TWO YEARS BEFORE THE PARISH WAS FORMED. AT THE TIME IT WAS A STATION OF BELLINGEN. IN 1926-1935 IT FORMED A SEPARATE PARISH WITH CORAMBA BUT THEN REVERTED TO A STATION OF COFFS HARBOUR. WITH BETTER TRANSPORT TO COFFS THE STATION WAS CLOSED IN THE 1950's. CHURCH

CHURCH

THE TIMBER CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1903 BY VOLUNTEER LABOUR AND OPENED IN 1904. IT WAS A TYPICAL RURAL CHURCH COMPRISING A SNALL NAVE AND A SACRISTY (ABOVE). IT WAS LOCATED ON WHAT IS NOW THE BACK ROAD TO GRAFTON AMONG THE TREES WHICH WERE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AT THAT TIME. NAMED FOR THE HOLY FAMILY IT WAS DEDICATED IN 1910. IN 1937 THE CHURCH WAS SIGNIFICANTLY ENLARGED WITH A NEW CHANCEL, LARGE SACRISTY AND PORCH (RIGHT).

WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE STATION IN THE LATE 1950's THE CHURCH GRADUALLY FELL INTO DECAY UNTIL THE DECISION WAS TAKEN TO SELL IT IN 1991. THE CHURCH IS NOW A PRIVATE RESIDENCE AND MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL TIMBERWORK HAS BEEN NOW BEEN RESTORED AS NEW.

TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES ULONG

CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, ULONG
	STATION
	ULONG IS A PRETTY RURAL VILLAGE LOCATED ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE FERTILE DORRIGO PLATEAU. ULONG BEGAN AS A STATION OF THE PARISH OF CORAMBA-KARANGI DURING THE TIME OF FR RYAN. IN MAY OF 1931 THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE CHURCH WAS LAID ON THE SAME DAY AS THE OPENING OF ST PAUL'S GLENREAGH. FOR SOME SIXTY YEARS PRIESTS FROM CORAMBA AND LATER COFFS HARBOUR MADE THE TRIP UP THE MOUNTAIN TO SAY MASS BUT BY 1992 A COMBINATION OF DWINDLING NUMBERS AND THE SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS SAW THE STATION CLOSED ALTHOUGH MASS IS STILL SAID IN THE OLD CHURCH FOUR TIMES A YEAR. CHURCH

CHURCH

THE WEATHERBOARD CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY IS THE EXACT TWIN OF ST PAUL'S GLENREAGH WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING SINCE IT WAS BUILT BY IRVING AND SHEPHERD OF NANA GLEN THE BUILDERS OF THE LATTER. THE SOLE DIFFERENCE IS THE PLACEMENT OF THE CONFESSIONAL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE NO DOUBT TO ACCOMODATE THE DIFFERENT SITE.

THE CHURCH CONSISTS OF A NAVE, CHANCEL, SACRISTY, PRIEST'S ROOM, CONFESSIONAL AND PORCH. THE SHARPLY SLOPING SITE HAS RESULTED IN THE CHURCH NEEDING TO BE PLACED ON CONCRETE PILES ON ONE SIDE. THE CHURCH HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF ARCHED WINDOWS FOR SUCH A SMALL RURAL CHURCH.

IN 1992 WHEN THE STATION WAS CLOSED THE CHURCH WAS BOUGHT PRIVATELY AND IS NOW THE ULONG COMMUNITY CHURCH IN WHICH CAPACITY IT STILL HOSTS A QUATERLY MASS.

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THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH WAS STRIPPED FOLLOWING ITS CONVERSION TO THE COMMUNITY CHURCH BUT MUCH OF THE SIMPLE BEAUTY REMAINS, ESPECIALLY IN THE DORRIGO PLUM LINING AND THE BEAUTIFUL CARVED WOODEN ALTAR WITH ITS UNUSUAL RETABLE. THUS WHILE THE CHURCH HAS LOST MUCH OF ITS TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC APPEARANCE IT IS STILL MOST FITTING FOR USE IN CATHOLIC WORSHIP.

THE LOVELY WOODEN ALTAR TABLE IS BACKED BY THE RETABLE CARVED IN THE SHAPE OF A POINTED ARCH REFLECTING THE WINDOWS TO EITHER SIDE. THE TABERNACLE, MARKED BY THE MONOGRAM IHS, IS STILL IN PLACE AND IS SURMOUNTED BY A CANOPY ORIGINALLY HOLDING THE ALTAR CRUCIFIX. TOPPING THE CANOPY ARE A SERIES OF CROSSES - THREE IN FRONT AND THREE AT THE BACK - SIGNIFYING THE THREE CROSSES OF CALVARY. THE OLD CONFESSIONAL IS TO THE LEFT OF THE NARROW CHANCEL.

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TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS

OTHER BUILDINGS
UNTIL THE POPULATION BOOM OF THE LATE 20th CENTURY COFFS HARBOUR POSSESSED THE TYPICAL ARRAY OF CATHOLIC STRUCTURES. THE FIRST BUILDING OF THE NEW PARISH WAS THE PRESBYTERY OF 1907. IN 1913 THIS BECAME THE CONVENT OF ST BRIGID WHEN THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN ARRIVED. IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1916 THAT A HOUSE FOR A SECOND PRESBYTERY WAS PURCHASED ON THE SAME SITE AS THE PRESENT PRESBYTERY BUILT IN 1942. IN 1919 THE FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING FOR ST AUGUSTINE'S CONVENT SCHOOL WAS ERECTED FOLLOWED BY MANY EXTENSIONS OVER THE CENTURY. IN 1962 A NEW BRICK CONVENT WAS BUILT. IN 1972 THE SCHOOL AND CONVENT WERE TAKEN OVER BY THE GRAFTON SISTERS OF MERCY. AFTER THEY WITHDREW THE CONVENT, RENAMED THE CURRAN CENTRE AFTER A FORMER PARISH PRIEST, BECAME THE PARISH CENTRE. WITH THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE POPULATION AFTER 1970 THE PARISH BRANCHED OUT INTO AGED CARE AS WELL AS EXPANDING ITS EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH. A NEW HIGH SCHOOL, JOHN PAUL COLLEGE, WAS BUILT IN 1983 AND A NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL, ST FRANCIS XAVIER'S, AT WOOLGOOLGA IN 1994. THE SISTERS OF MERCY ALSO OPENED A CONVENT IN WOOLGOOLGA. IN 1971 THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY CONSTRUCTED THE AGED CARE FACILITY OF OZANAM VILLA AND THIS WAS FOLLOWED IN 1978 BY THE MICK CUNNINGHAM HOME OPENED BY SOUTHERN CROSS HOMES. IN 1982 THE PARISH OPENED ST AUGUSTINE'S NURSING HOME AND IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE VILLA MONICA SELF-CARE UNITS. 1990 SAW THE CONSTRUCTION OF ST JOSEPH'S HOSTEL AND FINALLY IN 1992 A FURTHER SET OF SELF-CARE UNITS WAS BUILT AT CASEY COURT. THE COFFS HARBOUR CATHOLIC CLUB WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1968. THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN COFFS HARBOUR RUNNING A RETAIL STORE AND FROM 1992 PROVIDING FOR SEVERAL YEARS A NIGHT PATROL AND A CENTRE FOR HOMELESS MEN, GALILEE HOUSE. THE ACTIVE WOOLGOOLGA CONFERENCE ALSO MAINTAINS A RETAIL OUTLET.
COFFS HARBOUR PRESBYTERIES	COFFS HARBOUR CURRAN CENTRE	COFFS HARBOUR JOHN PAUL COLLEGE	COFFS HARBOUR OZANAM VILLA	COFFS HARBOUR MICK CUNNINGHAM HOME
COFFS HARBOUR ST AUGUSTINE'S HOME	COFFS HARBOUR VILLA MONICA	COFFS HARBOUR ST JOSEPH'S HOSTEL	COFFS HARBOUR CASEY COURT	COFFS HARBOUR CATHOLIC CLUB
	COFFS HARBOUR GALILEE HOUSE	COFFS HARBOUR ST VINCENT DE PAUL	WOOLGOOLGA ST VINCENT DE PAUL

PRESBYTERIES, COFFS HARBOUR
	WHEN FR O'GALLAGHER ARRIVED IN HIS NEWLY CREATED PARISH IN 1906 HE FOUND NEITHER CHURCH NOR PRESBYTERY. HE IMMEDITELY SET ABOUT RECTIFYING BOTH DEFECTS. THE FIRST TO BE COMPLETED WAS THE PRESBYTERY (BELOW LEFT) BUILT ACROSS FROM THE CHURCH ON THE SITE OF THE PRESENT PARISH CARPARK. HIS SUCCESSORS, FRS KIELY AND GRIFFEN, CHOSE NOT TO LIVE IN IT HOWEVER AND THE LAST NAMED GRANTED THE BUILDING TO THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN AS THEIR NEW CONVENT IN 1913. FR HANLY RE=ESTABLISHED THE PRESBYTERY IN 1916 WHEN HE PURCHASED A COTTAGE ON THE CORNER OF GORDON AND BONVILLE STREETS. THIS PRESBYTERY WAS TO REMAIN IN USE UNTIL 1942. IN 1941 FR RYAN DECIDED TO PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A LARGE NEW PRESBYTERY TO PLANS BY AUSTIN McKAY, WHO DESIGNED SOME OF THE FINEST CHURCHES IN THE DIOCESE. OPENED IN 1942 IT IS STILL IN USE TODAY (BELOW RIGHT). IN 1972 AND 2005 MAJOR EXTENSIONS RESULTED IN A DOUBLING IN SIZE OF THE PRESBYTERY (LEFT). NEXT


TOP OTHER BUILDINGS CURRAN CENTRE

CURRAN CENTRE, COFFS HARBOUR

UNTIL 1981 THE PARISH OFFICE WAS LOCATED IN THE PRESBYTERY. WITH THE OPENING OF ST AUGUSTINE'S NURSING HOME A NEW PARISH OFFICE WAS OPENED ON THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE NURSING HOME. BY THE LATE 1990's HOWEVER THERE WAS A NEED FOR A LARGER OFFICE AND AT THE SAME TIME RENOVATIONS AND EXTENSIONS BEGAN AT THE NURSING HOME. LOOKING AROUND FOR A SUITABLE NEW LOCATION FR REINHARD BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SISTERS OF MERCY, THREE OF WHOM NOW LIVED IN A CONVENT INTENDED FOR FOUR TIMES THAT NUMBER. IN 1997 THE PARISH AGREED TO PROVIDE ACCOMODATION FOR THE SISTERS WITHIN THE PARISH LEAVING THE CONVENT VACANT. PLANS WERE THEN DRAWN UP TO EXTEND AND RENOVATE THE BUILDING TO MAKE IT SUITABLE AS A PARISH OFFICE, MEETING, RESOURCE AND COUNSELLING CENTRE. NAMED FOR A FORMER PARISH PRIEST FR CURRAN THE CENTRE WAS OPENED IN 1998.

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	VARIOUS VIEWS OF THE REFURBISHED CURRAN CENTRE. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS JOHN PAUL COLLEGE

JOHN PAUL COLLEGE, COFFS HARBOUR

IN 1971 WHEN THE SECONDARY SECTION OF ST AUGUSTINE'S sCHOOL CLOSED IT SEEMED THAT CATHOLIC SECONDARY EDUCATION IN COFFS HARBOUR HAD COME TO AN END JUST AS THE GREAT POPULATION BOOM WAS BEGINNING. DESPITE HEAVY COMMITMENTS ELSEWHERE FR CASEY NEVER GAVE UP HOPE OF OPENING A NEW HIGH SCHOOL AND FINALLY IN 1978 HE OBTAINED LAND ON THE FUTURE 'LINK ROAD' BETWEEN COFFS HARBOUR AND SAWTELL. THREE YEARS LATER THE PARISH RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE COMMONWEALTH SCHOOLS COMMISSION AND BUILDING OF THE NEW SCHOOL TO BE CALLED JOHN PAUL COLLEGE BEGAN. THE BISHOP AND FR CASEY MADE EFFORTS TO OBTAIN RELIGIOUS TO RUN THE SCHOOL BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. ACCORDINGLY JOHN PAUL COLLEGE WAS TO BE A LAY-STAFFED SCHOOL FROM ITS BEGINNING. THE FIRST STAGE OF THE SCHOOL WAS COMPLETED IN 1983 AND THE SECOND IN 1986. A MULTI-FUNCTION CENTRE WAS COMPLETED IN 1987 AND INCLUDED A 150-SEAT CHAPEL DEDICATED TO THE FIRST PATRON OF THE PARISH, ST ANTHONY. IN 1997 THE CHAPEL WAS REPLACED BY THE OLD JETTY CHURCH WHICH WAS MOVED TO THE COLLEGE AND REDEDICATED AS THE STELLA MARIS CHAPEL. IN 2006 AN AMBITIOUS RENOVATION PROGRAM COMMENCED TO INCLUDE A PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE. NEXT

STELLA MARIS CHAPEL

STELLA MARIS CHAPEL

BY 1997 THE FORMER JETTY CHURCH ON HOOD STREET WAS IN A RUNDOWN CONDITION. RATHER THEN DEMOLISH THE BUILDING FR REINHARD HAD IT TRANSPORTED TO THE COLLEGE WHERE IT WAS RENOVATED AS A SCHOOL CHAPEL. ON AUGUST 30 1997 THE BUILDING WAS BLESSED BY BISHOP SATTERTHWAITE AND DEDICATED AS STELLA MARIS CHAPEL IN HONOUR OF THE OLD CHURCH. THIS IMPRESSIVE WEATHERBOARD CHURCH HAS THUS BEEN GIVEN A NEW LEASE OF LIFE IN THE SERVICE OF OUR LORD. IT REPLACED THE FORMER CHAPEL OF ST ANTHONY BUILT WITHIN THE MULTI-FUNCTION CENTRE IN 1986.

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AT THE TIME OF ITS MOVE TO THE COLLEGE THE FORMER CHURCH HAD BEEN IN USE FOR MANY YEARS AS A HALL AND HAD CONSEQUENTLY BEEN STRIPPED OF ITS INTERIOR DECORATION. THIS PROVIDED A TABULA RASA ON WHICH TO BEGIN THE REFURBISHMENT OF THE NEW CHAPEL.

IN ACCORD WITH THE TIMES THE CHAPEL WAS REFURNISHED IN KEEPING WITH LITURGICAL IDEAS THAT HAD DEVELOPED FROM THE 1970's ONWARDS. THOUGH THE STYLE IS BASICALLY MINIMALIST THIS IS MORE A REFLECTION OF ITS NEW STATUS AS THE SCHOOL CHAPEL (RIGHT).

THE PLAIN TABLE ALTAR DECORATED WITH THE AGNUS DEI DOMINATES THE CHANCEL WHILE THE TABERNACLE IS ELEVATED ON THE OLD ALTAR STEPS. TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT OF THE CHANCEL ARE THE STATUES OF OUR LADY AND THE SACRED HEART. THE PASCHAL CANDLE STAND IS DECORATED WITH RIBBONS IN THE COLOURS OF THE SCHOOL. THE BARE WALLS ARE ADORNED BY A MODERN SET OF STATIONS OF THE CROSS.

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	THE STATUES OF OUR LADY (<<<<) AND THE SACRED HEART (>>>>). ABOVE IS THE THIRD OF THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS OZANAM VILLA SCHOOL WEBSITE

OZANAM VILLA, COFFS HARBOUR

IN 1969 THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL RECOGNISED THE NEED FOR AGED CARE FOR THE INCREASING NUMBER OF ELDERLY IN THE TOWN. A SPECIAL WORKS CONFERENCE WAS DULY FORMED AND IN 1971 THEY BUILT A 40-BED HOSTEL NAMED OZANAM VILLA ON NIMBIN PLACE AS THE FIRST CATHOLIC AGED CARE UNIT IN COFFS HARBOUR.

DEMAND SOON OUTSTRIPPED SUPPLY AND TWO OLD COTTAGES ON GORDON STREET WERE ADDED IN 1977 (LATER TO BECOME CASEY COURT). IN 1979 AN ACTIVITIES HALL AND OFFICE (BELOW LEFT) WERE BUILT TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH MICK CUNNINGHAM HOME. THE UNIT ALSO INCLUDES A DINING HALL AND A LITTLE CHAPEL.

IN 1986 CONTROL OF THE FACILITY WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE PARISH UNDER THE CATHOLIC COMMITTEE FOR THE CARE OF THE AGED AND THEN IN 2004 MANAGEMENT OF THE VILLA WAS ASSUMED BY CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE.

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CHAPEL

CHAPEL

THE VILLA CONTAINS A LOVELY LITTLE CHAPEL FOR THE USE OF THE RESIDENTS. ESTABLISHED IN A ROOM CLOSE TO THE MAIN ENTRANCE IT IS UNUSUALLY DESIGNED TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SPACE AVAILABLE. THE SANCTUARY IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE MAIN ENTRANCE RAMP AND IS THE HEART OF THE CHAPEL. WITHIN THIS CONFINED SPACE EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO BEAUTIFY THE WORSHIP OF GOD EVEN TO THE LOVELY SET OF STAINED GLASS WINDOWS.

THE MAIN BODY OF THE CHAPEL IS GIVEN OVER TO SEATING BUT INCLUDES A SET OF UNUSUAL MODERN STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND SEVERAL STATUES. THE CHAPEL IS OPEN FOR RESIDENTS TO USE FOR PRIVATE PRAYER AND INCLUDES THE RESERVATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. THE CHAPEL IS ALL-IN-ALL A FITTING ADDITION TO A FACILITY ESTABLISHED BY THE CHURCH.

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THE NARROW SANCTUARY WITH ITS LIMITED SPACE FOCUSES ON THE ESSENTIALS - A BLOCKY ALTAR DECORATED WITH THE HOST AND CHALICE, A SIMPLE LECTERN, A CHAIR FOR THE PRIEST AND AN AUMBREY-STYLE TABERNACLE. CRUCIFIXES ARE LOCATED ABOVE THE DOOR AND ON THE ALTAR AND A SANCTUARY LAMP AND THE ICON OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR ON THE WALL (LEFT).

THE MOST ATTRACTIVE FEATURE OF THE CHAPEL ARE THE THREE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS IN THE SANCTUARY WALL REPRESENTING THE SACRED HEART, ST VINCENT AND OUR LADY. THESE BEAUTIFUL MINIATURES ADD THE FINAL TOUCH NEEDED TO DECLARE THIS TO BE A SPACE SET ASIDE FOR THE PERMANENT WORSHIP OF GOD.

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	THE STATUES OF OUR LADY (>>>>) AND THE SACRED HEART (<<<<). ABOVE IS THE FIRST OF THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS MICK CUNNINGHAM HOME

MICK CUNNINGHAM HOME, COFFS HARBOUR

THE SUCCESS OF OZANAM VILLA LED TO THE DECISION BY SOUTHERN CROSS HOMES TO PURCHASE LAND ADJACENT TO THE VILLA FOR THE BUILDING OF ANOTHER AGED CARE HOSTEL. IN 1978 THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY DULY CONSTRUCTED THE HOSTEL NAMED THE MICK CUNNINGHAM HOME ON BEHALF OF SOUTHERN CROSS HOMES. IN 1979 AN ACTIVITIES HALL TO BE JOINTLY USED BY THE FACILITIES WAS ALSO BUILT.

IN 1982 THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL OBTAINED THE SOUTHERN CROSS INTEREST IN THE HOME AND THUS THE ENTIRE 99-BED COMPLEX, GENERALLY KNOWN SIMPLY AS OZANAM VILLA, CAME UNDER THEIR CONTROL. FROM 1986 THE COMPLEX WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE CATHOLIC COMMITTEE FOR THE CARE OF THE AGED FOR THE PARISH AND IN 2004 THE DAILY MANAGEMENT WAS ASSUMED BY CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE.

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TOP OTHER BUILDINGS SAINT AUGUSTINE NURSING HOME

ST AUGUSTINE'S NURSING HOME, COFFS HARBOUR

FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF OZANAM VILLA THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL QUICKLY REALISED THE NEED FOR A STAGE 3 AGED CARE FACILITY FOR THE ELDERLY UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES. IN 1980 TWO BLOCKS OF LAND WERE OBTAINED IN BONVILLE STREET AND IN 1982 ST AUGUSTINE'S NURSING HOME BUILT BY JOM NOLAN CONSTRUCTION WAS OFFICIALLY BLESSED BY BISHOP SATHERTHWAITE.

THE 40-BED NURSING HOME WAS RUN FOR THE PARISH BY THE CATHOLIC COMMITTEE FOR THE CARE OF THE AGED. IN 1997 ST AUGUSTINE'S HOME WAS EXTENSIVELY RENOVATED AND EXPANDED TO ENSURE A FULL RANGE OF AGED CARE IN COFFS HARBOUR.

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TOP OTHER BUILDINGS VILLA MONICA

VILLA MONICA, COFFS HARBOUR

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CATHOLIC COMMITTEE FOR THE CARE OF THE AGED HAD EMPOWERED IT TO BUILD AND ADMINISTER SELF-CARE ACCOMODATION ON BEHALF OF THE PARISH. A FIRST VENTURE IN THIS DIRECTION HAD BEEN THE BUILDING OF THE VILLA MARIA UNITS IN TOORMINA WHICH WERE LATER TAKEN OVER BY SAWTELL PARISH.

IN AUGUST 1983 THE PARISH THEN UNDERTOOK THE CONSTRUCTION OF EIGHT NEW SELF-CARE UNITS IN VALLEY STREET NEAR OZANAM VILLA. THE UNITS WERE NAMED VILLA MONICA IN HONOUR OF ST AUGUSTINE'S MOTHER.

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ST JOSEPH'S HOSTEL

ST JOSEPH'S HOSTEL, COFFS HARBOUR

THE GROWING DEMAND FOR AGED CARE FACILITIES HAD BEEN FORSEEN BY THE CATHOLIC COMMITTEE FOR THE CARE OF THE AGED AND SO IN 1983 THEY BOUGHT TWO COTTAGES IN AZALEA AVENUE FOR THIS PURPOSE FOLLOWED BY TWO MORE IN 1984. A GOVERNMENT GRANT IN 1990 ENABLED THE COMMITTEE TO BEGIN BUILDING AND IN 1991 NAZARETH HOME, LATER ST JOSEPH'S HOSTEL, WAS OPENED.

BUILT AS A 40-BED HOSTEL AND LOCATED IN A QUIET SIDE STREET ST JOSEPH'S WAS EXTENDED IN 1997 TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BEDS. THE FACILITY INCORPORATES SEVERAL COMMUNAL FACILITIES AND A SMALL AND MOST ATTRACTIVE CHAPEL.

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CHAPEL

CHAPEL

THE ATTRACTIVE LITTLE CHAPEL IS LOCATED JUST INSIDE THE ENTRANCE HALLWAY IN A SMALL SIDE-ROOM. IN A COLOUR SCHEME OF PALE PASTELS AND WITH FULL LENGTH GLASS PANELLING ALONG BOTH WALLS THE CHAPEL PRESENTS A BRIGHT AND AIRY AMBIENCE DESPITE THE VERY CRAMPED NATURE OF THE SITE (LEFT).

THE CHAPEL IS UNUSUAL IN THAT THE ALTAR IS PLACED AGAINST THE WALL, IN THIS CASE MORE A CONCESSION TO SPACE THAN TO TRADITION. OTHERWISE IT IS A TYPICAL CATHOLIC CHAPEL WITH A CARVED WOODEN CRUCIFIX, STATUES OF OUR LADY AND THE SACRED HEART AND AN AUMBREY-STYLE TABERNACLE. OF INTEREST ARE THE VERY MODERN CERAMIC STATIONS OF THE CROSS ALONG THE LINTEL OF THE ROOM. THE SEATING AS IS TO BE EXPECTED IN SUCH A FACILITY IS DESIGNED PRIMARILY FOR COMFORT.

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THE CHAPEL SANCTUARY.

TOP OTHER BUILDINGS CASEY COURT

CASEY COURT, COFFS HARBOUR

IN 1977 OZANAM VILLA HAD ACQUIRED TWO COTTAGES ON GORDON STREET AS ADDITIONAL ACCOMODATION. BY 1990 THEY HAD COME TO THE END OF THEIR ECONOMIC LIFE AND SO THE SITE WAS OFFERED FOR DEVELOPMENT AS NEW SELF-CARE UNITS. ELEVEN UNITS WERE BUILT DURING 1992 BY LUBANS CONSTRUCTION AND THE COMPLEX NAMED FOR A FORMER PARISH PRIEST, FR ANTHONY CASEY, WHO HAD BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROMOTING AGED CARE AS A PARISH CONCERN AND IN GETTING THE INITIAL VENTURES OFF THE GROUND. THIS LATEST VENTURE IN AGED CARE IS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO THE VISION OF A FAR-SIGHTED PRIEST.

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CATHOLIC CLUB

COFFS HARBOUR CATHOLIC RECREATION AND SPORTING CLUB COFFS HARBOUR

THE COFFS HARBOUR CATHOLIC RECREATION AND SPORTING CLUB BEGAN WITH A MEETING IN 1968 TO PURSUE THE POSSIBILITY OF A VENUE FOR FOR SOCIAL GATHERINGS. THE MEETING DECIDED TO TO SEEK SUITABLE PREMISES FOR A LICENSED CLUB AND A SITE WAS OBTAINED IN WEST HIGH STREET WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXPANDED THROUGH OTHER PURCHASES. THE EXISTING DOMESTIC DWELLING ON THE SITE WAS CONVERTED INTO THE CLUBHOUSE (BELOW LEFT)AND BOWLING GREENS AND BOCCE AND TENNIS COURTS CONSTRUCTED. IN 1974 THE CLUBHOUSE WAS EXPANDED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MAIN BAR AREA. THEN IN 1976 THE CLUBHOUSE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE CLUB WAS REBUILT AND HAS SINCE UNDERGONE STEADY EXPANSION TO REACH ITS PRESENT STATE. NEXT

TOP OTHER BUILDINGS ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, COFFS HARBOUR

GALILEE HOUSE, COFFS HARBOUR

DURING 1992 ELLEN ROACH, PRESIDENT OF THE ST PHILOMENA'S CONFERENCE OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, OPENED A CRISIS ACCOMODATION CENTRE FOR HOMELESS MEN IN ALBANY STREET, COFFS HARBOUR. THE CENTRE (LEFT) WAS NAMED GALILEE HOUSE AND WAS MANAGED BY ELLEN ROACH FOR THE CONFERENCE.

GALILEE HOUSE OPERATED FOR SEVERAL YEARS DURING THE 1990's PROVIDING A MUCH NEEDED SERVICE IN THE TOWN WHICH WAS BY THEN EXPERIENCING THE DOWNSIDE OF BECOMING A CITY. THE CENTRE EVENTUALLY CEASED OPERATION AROUND 1999 AND THE BUILDING WAS THEN BOUGHT BY THE UNITING CHURCH'S TED NOFFS FOUNDATION WHO USE IT AS A YOUTH ACCOMODATION CENTRE.

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ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, COFFS HARBOUR

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, COFFS HARBOUR

THE COFFS HARBOUR CONFERENCE OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY BEGAN IN 1931 OPERATING OUT OF VOLUNTEERS HOMES. DURING 1960 THEY OBTAINED THEIR FIRST COMMERCIAL PREMISES BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL A LATER THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO BUY THEIR OWN PROPERTY ON MOONEE STREET. THREE YEARS LATER THEY MOVED AGAIN TO NEW PREMISES AT 123 HIGH STREET. AS THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SOCIETY HAVE EXPANDED SO HAS THE NEED FOR LARGER PREMISES. TODAY THE SOCIETY OPERATES FROM A MODERN COMMERCIAL SITE IN SCARBA STREET (LEFT). OVER THE YEARS SEVERAL CONFERENCES HAVE WORKED IN COFFS HARBOUR MAKING IT ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE AREAS OF THE SOCIETY.

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ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, WOOLGOOLGA

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, WOOLGOOLGA

THE SEPARATE ST FRANCIS XAVIER CONFERENCE OF THE SOCIETY WAS FORMED IN WOOLGOOLGA IN 1980. INITIALLY THE CONFERENCE RENTED PREMISES IN NIGHTINGALE STREET BUT WERE LATER ABLE TO PURCHASE THE PRESENT SHOP IN MARKET STREET AT THE REAR OF THE TOWN SHOPPING CENTRE (LEFT). IT IS A SIMPLE ATTRACTIVE COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE THAT FITS WELL WITH THE SURROUNDING RETAIL OUTLETS. THE CONFERENCE OPERATES THIS SHOP FOR THE TOWN MAKING IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS THAN TRAVELLING TO COFFS HARBOUR. THE WOOLGOOLGA CONFERENCE IS AN ACTIVE BRANCH OF THE SOCIETY WITH MANY LONG-TIME MEMBERS STILL DOING THE WORK OF THE SOCIETY'S APOSTOLATE.

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RELIGIOUS ORDERS PARISH DIRECTORY

RELIGIOUS ORDERS
SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN	SISTERS OF ST MERCY GRAFTON CONGREGATION

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
ST AUGUSTINE'S SCHOOL COFFS HARBOUR	ST FRANCIS XAVIER'S SCHOOL WOOLGOOLGA

PARISH DIRECTORY
PARISH CHURCH 12 GORDON STREET COFFS HARBOUR 2450 POST: PO BOX 2450 COFFS HARBOUR 2450 PHONE: (02) 6652 5714 FAX: (02) 6651 2897 EMAIL: coffsadmin@lismore.catholic.org.au WEBSITE: www.coffscatholic.com	SCHOOLS PRIMARY SCHOOLS ST AUGUSTINE'S PRIMARY SCHOOL GORDON STREET COFFS HARBOUR 2450 POST: PO BOX 399 COFFS HARBOUR 2450 PHONE: (02) 6652 1204 FAX: (02) 6651 3230 EMAIL: sapcoffs@lism.catholic.edu.au WEB SITE: sapcoffs.lism.catholic.edu.au ST FRANCIS XAVIER PRIMARY SCHOOL QUEEN STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456 POST: PO BOX 450 WOOLGOOLGA 2456 PHONE: (02) 6654 1981 FAX: (02) 6654 1286 EMAIL: sfxpwool@lism.catholic.edu.au WEBSITE: www.woolp.lism.catholic.edu.au SECONDARY SCHOOLS JOHN PAUL COLLEGE HOGBIN DRIVE COFFS HARBOUR 2450 POST: PO BOX 1334 COFFS HARBOUR 2450 PHONE: (02) 6653 3155 FAX: (02) 6658 1954 EMAIL: jpccoffs@lism.catholic.edu.au WEB SITE: www.cofhs.lism.catholic.edu.au
STATION CHURCHES ST THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS CORAMBA CORAMBA ST PAUL GLENREAGH GLENREAGH ST FRANCIS XAVIER WOOLGOOLGA CORNER OF HASTINGS AND SCARBOROUGH STREETS WOOLGOOLGA
AGED CARE SERVICES MICK CUNNINGHAM HOME 9 NIMBIN PLACE COFFS HARBOUR 2450 POST: PO BOX 2450 COFFS HARBOUR 2450 PHONE: (02) 6652 2366 FAX: (02) 6652 3119 OZANAM VILLA 9 NIMBIN PLACE COFFS HARBOUR 2450 POST: PO BOX 2450 COFFS HARBOUR 2450 PHONE: (02) 6652 2366 FAX: (02) 6652 3119 ST JOSEPH'S HOSTEL AZALEA AVENUE COFFS HARBOUR 2450 PHONE: (02) 6651 2870 ST AUGUSTINE'S NURSING HOME 6-10 BONVILLE STREET COFFS HARBOUR 2450 PHONE: (02) 6652 5086 FAX: (02) 6651 2897 VILLA MONICA NIMBIN PLACE COFFS HARBOUR 2450 POST: PO BOX 2450 COFFS HARBOUR 2450 PHONE: (02) 6652 5714 CASEY COURT GORDON STREET COFFS HARBOUR 2450 POST: PO BOX 2450 COFFS HARBOUR 2450 PHONE: (02) 6652 5714	WELFARE SERVICES ST VINCENT DE PAUL 6 SCARBA STREET COFFS HARBOUR PHONE: (02) 6652 3003 FAX: (02) 6652 7961 WOOLGOOLGA 15 MARKET STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456 PHONE: (02) 6654 1762 FAX: (02) 6654 1762
	OTHER SERVICES CATHOLIC RECREATION AND SPORTING CLUB 61a HIGH STREET COFFS HARBOUR 2450 PHONE: (02) 6652 1477 FAX: (02) 6651 3735 WEBSITE: ww.coffsharbourcatholicclub.com.au

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

MUCH OF THE INFORMATION AND SOME PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE WERE OBTAINED FROM THE BOOK CATHOLIC PARISH COFFS HARBOUR 1906-2006 PRODUCED BY ST AUGUSTINE'S PARISH IN 2007. IT IS HERE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ROSEMARY DOHERTY WHO RESEARCHED THE ABOVE BOOK AND PROVIDED MUCH VALUABLE INPUT.

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