Hillwood Uniting Church

The Hillwood Uniting Church, a part of the Launceston North community, has a history marked by a notable land dispute in 1931. The land upon which the church was constructed had originally been granted to four residents of Hillwood and one from Mount Direction, who were designated as Trustees of the Methodist Church. This arrangement was made in strict accordance with the Wesleyan Methodist Model Deed of 1888 and the Methodist Church Act of 1902, intended exclusively for religious purposes and no other.

Mr. George Tyson, a local Trustee and builder by trade, took charge of the church's construction, with financial support coming from both donations and the labor of Hillwood's residents. The church, distinguished by its Gothic-style windows and doorway, and crowned with a red-pitched roof, was formally opened on Sunday, 20th March 1932, with a service conducted by Rev. W.H. Leembruggen of Launceston. Although modest in size, the church was described as a neat, comely, and well-proportioned structure, standing proudly along the banks of the Tamar River.

In 1977, the ownership of the church transferred to the Uniting Church of Australia under a parliamentary act, resolving any previous disputes regarding the land’s ownership that might have arisen under the earlier Deed and Act. However, by 1999, the Anglican Church was using the building, and negotiations dating back to 1992 about the transfer of the church’s title had become public knowledge, much to the surprise of the Hillwood Trustees and community. In April of that year, Nancy W. Donnelly wrote a letter requesting that both the land and church be returned as a gift to the people of Hillwood.

This church is now a private residence.