St James the Apostle

In 1900 Mr William Gilchrist Watt and his wife Catherine arrived in Hobart from Canada. They purchased a large house in Augusta Road, New Town, and were closely associated with the Church of England. Upon the death of her husband in 1914, Mrs. Watt arranged for a church to be designed after the church of St James the Apostle in Montreal, Canada.

In front of a large assembly the Right Rev. Reginald Stephen, Bishop of Tasmania, assisted by other clergy laid the foundation stone on the 19th February 1916. Mrs. Watt generously donated £1000, but on learning more would be needed to complete the building, she gave a further £500.

Designed in the handsome English Gothic style by architect Mr. Rudolph W. Koch, the contractors were Mr. Stabb and Sons. The building is made of brick with a tile roof, when completed it was expected to be 48ft in length.

For the first thee years St James' was administered under St John's, New Town. In 1919 St James the Apostle Parish was created under Rev. C.W. Wilson, who later became Canon Wilson.

Over the years extensions and additions of a hall and Verger's cottage have been added.