Davey Street Congregational Church

The Davey Street Congregational Church in Hobart stands as a lasting monument to Henry Hopkins (1787–1870), a wealthy settler, philanthropist, and key figure in Tasmania’s Congregational and anti-transportation movements. Hopkins and his wife Sarah arrived in Van Diemen’s Land in 1822 and played a pivotal role in establishing Congregationalism in southern Tasmania.

In 1836, a group of Congregationalists, including Hopkins, formally constituted a church and appointed Rev. John Nisbet as pastor. They initially met in Berea Chapel, then moved to a chapel in Lower Collins Street, built and funded by Hopkins in 1837. As the congregation grew, Rev. George Clarke succeeded Nisbet in 1852, and plans were made for a larger church.

In 1856, Hopkins laid the foundation stone for a new church on Davey Street, opposite St David’s Cemetery. Designed by Charles Tiffin and William Davidson, the church was built by James Petty using freestone from Risdon and opened in August 1857. It was one of the earliest examples of Victorian Free Gothic architecture in Tasmania.

Key architectural features include:

• A square tower with shallow buttresses, fine stone copings, and a 95-foot octagonal spire

• A six-bay nave with buttressed piers, lancet windows, and open timbered roof

• No pews, only open cedar benches for 700 people

• A recessed altar with stained-glass windows and a carved cedar pulpit

• Two-storey meeting rooms at the rear and chip stone paving around the building

• The church was a major community hub. In 1883, a Sunday School was opened nearby, serving over 400 pupils. In 1973, the church merged with the - Memorial Church to form the Hobart Congregational Church, and the building was later used by Colony 47 as a youth centre.

The church ceased religious services in the early 21st century and was sold in 2012. It now serves as a music and performing arts venue, preserving its legacy as a place of faith, philanthropy, and community.