Mount Read Church

During the 1890s the Mount Read Mining Company was established to work the rich ore deposits. There turned out to be a large deposit of lead-zinc sulphide orebody and gold. By 1897 there were six mines in operation.

At the peak of operation Mount Read had a population of around 100 with a hotel, a store, cottages, a recreation ground and a church.

A Methodist Home Mission Station was established at Mount Read after they separated from Zeehan in 1897.

The Mercury newspaper in September 1898 reported:

Church service was held on Tuesday night 20th inst., and the ceremony of the first baptism on Mount Read was performed by Mr. Copeland.

The spiritual needs of the community were tendered by Church of England minister Rev. F. Copeland and Methodist minster Rev. William Featonby who made regular trips to hold services.

With the commencement of the first world war, zinc was cut off from their markets in Germany and Belgium and by 1915 mining had ceased and Mount Read was a ghost town.