St Mary's

On the 9th June 1848, a significant ecclesiastical event unfolded in the pastoral landscape of Hagley, Tasmania. The inaugural Anglican church, an emblem of religious expansion in the colonial context, was inaugurated under the auspices of the Bishop of Tasmania. Positioned on a generous allotment of 10 acres, a benefaction from Reverend R.R. Davies through the Lyttleton Estate, and an additional 10 acres bestowed by Sir Richard Dry Esquire, designated for educational pursuits, the church heralded a nexus of spiritual and educational endeavors.

Transitioning into 1856, Hagley achieved the esteemed designation of a Parish, heretofore under the jurisdiction of Westbury. It was during this epoch that Sir Richard Dry, in a testament to his patronage, proffered a substantial stipend of £1,000 for the Rector and contributed towards the construction costs for a new ecclesiastical edifice.

The architectural vision for the new church was entrusted to the eminent London architect, Mr. R.C. Carpenter, albeit subsequently tailored by Mr. Henry Hunter to accommodate the exigencies of Tasmanian climatic conditions. The esteemed firm of Messrs. Roe Brothers of Hagley clinched the contract for the church's construction.

The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone transpired in December 1861, attended by a retinue of clergy, including the venerable Lord Bishop Rt. Rev. Francis Nixon and the munificent Sir Richard Dry. Noteworthy is the provenance of the construction materials; bluestone, sourced merely a stone's throw from the site, and freestone, ferried from Kangaroo Point, proximate to Bellerive.

A watershed moment unfolded less than a year hence, on the 25th of November 1862, when the church, St. Mary's, was inaugurated by Governor Colonel T. Gore Browne.

The ecclesiastical narrative continued to unfurl, culminating in December 1932, with the addition of a tower, spire, and vestry to St. Mary's. In a commemorative address delivered by Bishop Dr. R.S. Hay, the culmination of this construction phase was hailed as a pivotal juncture in the congregation's ecclesiastical journey.

that one could not enter such a building without feeling of awe, reverence and thanksgiving for those who gone before and had made possible the wonderful heritage which the people of the parish possessed.

In the annals of ecclesiastical history, the trajectory of this splendid and imposing church took a significant turn in the mid-2018 epoch. An unexpected chapter unfolded as the church found itself listed for sale within the Anglican hierarchy. Yet, through concerted advocacy efforts, buoyed by impassioned lobbying, the church's fate underwent a remarkable reversal. By late 2018, the church was extricated from the listing, thereby averting a potential disposition that would have altered its storied legacy.