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- Our church building, completed in 1855 for the sum of 2,780 Pounds, is believed to be the fifth oldest church building in Melbourne. It is a Tudor Gothic building of an unusual design incorporating a castellated bell tower, with narrow rectangular windows in the tower, and is one of the few surviving works of architect Charles Laing.
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- The solid brass bell was sourced from Scotland, weighs 175kgs and its clapper, in the shape of a scotch thistle, rings out at 9am every Sunday to announce commencement of services.
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- Worship services commenced on the property on 8th May 1842 beneath the branches of this eucalypt tree (still standing, but the main trunk is hollow).
Further historical information…
When services commenced in 1842, the population of Melbourne was fewer than 300 people.
The bluestone building was completed in 1855, just a few months following the 3rd December 1854 Eureka Stockade, and also just a few months following the birth of Victoria’s famous bushranger, Ned Kelly (at Beveridge, Vic in December 1854).
Prior to the current bluestone building, the property had a period building constructed for the first minister, Rev Thomas Mowbray. No photographs exist for this building but ancient records describe it as “built of logs and roofed with imported shingles.”
Another source says, “a shingle-roofed building of wattle and daub.”
Still other sources mention “rough-adzed beams” and “a bark roof so low that people had to stoop to enter.”
A number of areas on the property are currently under Heritage Victoria protection.
Scots Church graveyard is a rare example of a churchyard cemetery in Victoria. This graveyard may be the only private Presbyterian burial ground in Victoria. It contains the graves of many of the original Scottish settlers in the vicinity. The Columbarium was opened for the interment of ashes in May 1987 and is still in use.
Our 2nd minister, Rev. Peter Gunn, is buried in this cemetery, along with 56 other known people, plus a number of unknown people, mostly miners from the goldfields of central Victoria. Miners often slept overnight in our hall on their way to the goldfields, or prior to the final days horse or horse & buggy ride into Melbourne. Peter Gunn’s grand-daughter is author of the well known Australian novel, “We of the Never Never.”