Dulverton Community School and Chapel

The initiative for a new community building at Dulverton grew from religious services first introduced by Rev. J. Polkinghorne some seven months prior to May 1889. The project reflected a commendable spirit of cooperation and self-reliance among the local coal miners and their families. Support was evident in the generous donations: books from Mr. Richard Geen, a Bible from Mr. Thomas Bateman, lamps from Mr. M. D. Heatley, and bricks from Messrs. Purdy and Mann.

The result of this community effort was a modest building, opened in May 1889 to serve as a day school, Sunday school, and place of worship. The opening was marked by two services on Sunday, May 5th, led by Rev. Polkinghorne (Wesleyan) and Rev. Pastor Hyde (Baptist). A well-attended tea meeting followed on Wednesday, May 8th, featuring abundant refreshments skillfully prepared by the miners' wives.

Measuring 24 by 14 feet, the structure was still just a shell at its opening, lacking interior linings, a ceiling, ridge boards, and a fireplace. Remarkably, thanks to the community's support—including collections during the services that raised £2 16s 9d—the project was opened completely free of debt, with a small surplus of 5 shillings and 6 pence in its building fund.

Although the original structure has not survived, it stood as a testament to the religious devotion, commitment to education, and spirit of mutual aid that characterised life in this isolated Tasmanian mining community. Its story is tied to the history of Dulverton itself, which, like many such settlements, experienced periods of boom and bust. Ultimately, the railway closed down and the coal seams were exhausted, the people moved to nearby Railton with the opening of the Goliath Cemenet Works. A familiar cycle in mining history where prosperity fades when the resource is gone. The building's brief yet impactful presence reflects the resilience of the families who built a community, even in a place destined to decline.

Alan Dyer’s website provides valuable insights into Dulverton’s coal mining history, including the economic struggles of miners, the impact of railway closures, and the boom-and-bust cycle that shaped the settlement, see links section.