Carapooee Community wins Pebble Church
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NORTH CENTRAL NEWS , 30th SEPTEMBER 2020.
This week marks are resounding win for community, in particular the Pebble Church Community Group antique coordinator of the community group, Johanna Medlyn.
After a week of negotiations with The Church of England, late Thursday afternoon the group was notified that they had secured the Carapooee former Saint Peter's Anglican Church, known as the Pebble Church, for the use and enjoyment of the community.
Negotiations are continuing on the terms of a confidential clause however, the group and it's large band of supporters paid a price higher than their first offer.
Johanna Medlyn said "we are elated, and busy working on becoming an incorporated association with the guidance of Michael Lowe, Solicitor.
"Then there is a big job of collecting the pledges and signing the contracts as we are forming a committee of management" Johanna said.
"We are looking forward to all the opportunities alongside other local and regional events to include the history of the Pebble church in having open days, and looking at it for venue hire for weddings etc, it also preserving and maintaining it "as is" is a huge priority of our group" Johanna said.
The Pebble church is heritage listed and has a deep connection with many families in the Carapooee district.
The mining ancestors of many local families carried the pebbles or rocks from the nearby Peter's Diggings for the outside walls of the church after the land was also donated by a local family. Their work and commitment has created a unique and notably attraction in this district that will now stay in community hands as a testament to the strength of what can be achieved when a community bands together, then and now.
Negotiations continue for Pebble church
NORTH CENTRAL NEWS , 23rd SEPTEMBER 2020.
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Although the expressions of interest for the purchase of the so-called the former St Peter's church of England and karapui, negotiations with the Pebble church community group and the Anglican church have continued this week.
The community with group was formed when residents became aware of the Church Of England's move to sell off the much loved and heritage listed building which was built on the donated land and with the volunteer labour of the community.
Current negotiations
Johanna Medlyn said that the Pebble Church Community Group had put forward two further offers since their original offer of $50,000 was rejected and since that time the support from the community has grown considerably. The group had, prior to this week, two offers with both rejected.
A final bid was being prepared by the group on Monday evening this week.
Johanna Medlyn thanked the community saying they were grateful to everyone for helping to keep the Pebble Church in community hands.
Permits required
If the Pebble church is purchased by private buyer a good deal of uncertainty applies in relation to the planning and building requirements of the land. The Northern Grampians Shire Council (NGSC) was contacted for a comment on the issue of the heritage overlay on the building and responded that as the land was zoned farming, the heritage overlay would trigger the need for a planning permit, if any construction was required.
"One of the determinations for any proposed permit will be whether there will be an impact on the heritage building and heritage advice will therefore be required for that permit" said the NGSCCEO Ms Liana Thompson. "Whether someone will be able to live in the church will depend on heritage advice and whether the inside needs to be protected and if any alterations that need to be made to the building conflict with the Heritage cover overall" she said. The building has no plumbing or electricity and construction work would probably be necessary through the pebble walls to address both these residential requirements.
Last minute community attempt to save Pebble Church
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NORTH CENTRAL NEWS , 9th SEPTEMBER 2020.
There is the last minute attempt within the community to save the Pebble church from falling into private hands after the Anglican church listed property for sale by expression of interest
Expressions Of Interest for the former Saint Peters Pebble church in Carapooee will close this Friday the 11th of September. The local community was largely unaware of this move by the Church as the signage was only put up recently at the church property. The listing with the real estate agent was only made less than three weeks ago.
Johanna Medlyn only noticed the sign over the last weekend and this week some of the locals have gathered together and will put in an Expression Of Interest to keep the ”beautiful building in community hands”.
Some years ago in 2016 Joanna wrote to the Anglican Church when she heard that the church intended to privately sell the Pebble Church.
She points out that the land was donated for the church to be built on and that many hours of work and labour were volunteered by locals for the karting of pebbles from the then Peter’s Diggings. In a reply from the Anglican church to Johanna dated the 14th of September 2016 Bishop Curnow stated that no decision had been made in relation to the future of the church building.
“The church is currently closed and has been for some time” he said. Further the bishop stated that there has only been one public service a year and the occasional wedding. “The church is on the State Heritage register and therefore is of significance. There will be no decision made without reference to the local community.” he stated
To Johanna’s knowledge, that notification has not occurred.
Johanna said that the Medlyn’s owe it to their “patriotic grandfather PaBill (dec) who was so disappointed and shocked to hear it was being closed by the church and sold.
Johanna is hoping that the church can be retained for weddings baptisms family reunions and community use. She said part of PaBill's “father actually helped carry the pebbles”. For intended interested community members whether that be to give financial assistance to this cause or just support it with numbers of people can contact Johanna on 0438 392 027 but you'll have to be quick it all finishes this Friday!
We saved the Pebble Church
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NORTH CENTRAL NEWS , 16th December 2020.
The successful settlement of the Pebble church occurred on Friday 27th of November 2020 and the ecstatic new custodians of 3607 Dunolly Road, Carapooee are the Pebble Church Heritage Association Inc. (PCHAI).
"We saved the building, the land title, the history, the Heritage, THE ICONIC Landmark, the second pew to the right, the evidence of a past community......" says president of the PCHAI, Johanna Medlyn.
" We saved the Pebble church from being privately owned, and saved its enormous Legacy for many future generations to enjoy and admire. The shared passion, support, and sentimental connection to the Pebble church from the current, and past, local and water community was and is overwhelming. The significant amount of money raised in under two weeks is truly a wonderful testament to all those who share a connection to the Pebble church" Johanna said.
The colossal key to the Pebble church was handed over to the executive committee by real estate agent James Nevins. Vice President of the PCHAI, Megan Barham it was an amazing feeling to hold the key and fill the weight of it in your hands. "It was a very humbling experience as I pondered the many hands he would have held that key before me, since the late 1800s. It too, like the full walls of the church, would have many stories to tell." Megan said.
Through chance, or perhaps even fate, on that settlement day, the key was passed around and held by some of the youngest members of the late Bill Medlyn's family, and also the oldest living member, the now late Frank Medlyn who is Bill's brother.
The PCHAI Committee of Management for the first time on Wednesday 2nd of December 2020 at the Carapooee CFA shed to discuss the future plans of the Pebble Church and its operation. An interior and exterior working bee will take place once harvest is finished to bring the buildings and grounds up to scratch. The Committee of Management also endeavour to form close working relationships with local organizations such as NGSC to promote tourism and also the RSL to commemorate fallen Soldiers local to the Pebble Church's history .
The PCHIA welcomes interested members of the community to become members of the association. To get a membership form please email pebblechurch@gmail.com or pick one up from Ramjac, St Arnaud. A Facebook page is also under construction commerce so keep an eye out for that!