St Mary Magdalene's Church

In the year 1815, Reverend John Youl received episcopal ordination at the hands of Bishop Chester, marking the beginning of a significant ecclesiastical journey. Soon after, Earl Bathurst entrusted him with the charge of the fledgling settlement at Port Dalrymple, in Van Diemen's Land, appointing him as the district's first chaplain.

In December 1818, Rev. Youl made his initial visit to the parish, during which he solemnized the marriages of forty couples and administered the sacrament of baptism to sixty-seven children. Despite this early engagement, it was not until July 1821 that he formally took up residence in Port Dalrymple. Upon his arrival, he swiftly set about founding a school and devoted himself to the religious instruction of the local inhabitants, including the convict population, cementing his role as a spiritual and moral guide in the remote settlement.

In January of 1839, a notice appeared in the Launceston Advertiser, announcing to the public a forthcoming meeting of the Committee of Subscribers to the Episcopalian Church in George Town. By October 1840, the Societies for Promoting Christian Knowledge reported significant progress in these efforts: a blacksmith's shop had been repurposed as a church for the growing community, and the construction of a dedicated house for the parish was nearing completion. These developments marked a pivotal moment in the establishment of organized religious life in George Town.

Lieutenant Friend's report detailed the allocation of funds collected for the construction of an Anglican Church in George Town. As of December 1840 the total expenditure amounted to £329-12-10, this reflected the community's investment in establishing a place of worship for the region. A small brick church was built in Anne Street, the current location of the church today.

Between March 1839 and June 1840, convicts were made available by the government to assist in the construction of the Anglican Church at George Town. Their labor played a crucial role in the physical realization of the church during this period.

In January 1844 it was announced in the Examiner newspaper :

... A church is built, which might soon be rendered comfortable under the auspices of an active and zealous minister. A new house or parsonage is erected, and only wants a tenant. We trust the bishop will no longer delay nominating an efficient pastor to the episcopalians here ...

In the 1850s, the lofty spire designed by Lieutenant Friend was declared structurally unsound. As a result, it was replaced with a smaller, more secure structure, ensuring the continued safety and stability of the church. This church was finally licensed in April 1856.

In 1884 this church was demolished to make way for a new wooden church.

See also 1520 & 1521