Proud community builders

1916 Methodist Church at Dixons Creek. Picture: SUPPLIED

The Dixons Creek Methodist Church was one of the earliest churches in the Yarra Glen district.

The first Dixons Creek church was erected in 1881 on land donated by Henry Robinson.

The building was a paling structure on the eastern side of the present Melba Highway.

It was used until 1916 when the congregation felt the need of a new Church building.

The 30-year old building required many props to stay upright and was no longer large enough for the community.

They were inspired by the success of the volunteers who had built a church at Badger Creek in one day, 8 November 1913.

On that occasion more than 60 community members had been organised by Mr W.F. Hurlstone.

The full, colourful story is in the Healesville Guardian 14 November 1913.

The Dixons Creek community organised supplies of materials and labour for a similar project.

A new site next to the primary school was donated by William Bell.

Timber cutters felled the trees in the forest, carters took them to Mr Beach’s mill, and then to the building site. Mr W. Smith was foreman to 30 volunteer workers of whom an average of 18 appeared each day.

The ladies maintained a steady supply of refreshments.

On Monday, the frame and rafters were erected, on Tuesday, the roofing iron and weatherboards were attached, on Wednesday, the floor was laid and a start made to lining the walls, the heavy work was completed on Thursday, and the painting and varnishing was done on Friday and Saturday: all in time for the church to be opened on Sunday 26 November 1916.

The services were conducted in the afternoon and evening by Revd W. Morley of Melbourne.

The building measured 30 feet by 20 feet and accommodated up to 150 people.

This new church was unencumbered by debt due to the contributions from the community.

Only ten years later, this building was destroyed during the bushfires of 1926.

A replacement was built in 1927, but that was also destroyed by bushfire in 1939.

Yet another building was erected in 1940 and served the community as a church for the next 55 years.

On Sunday 17 September 1995, Reverend Claire Tanner of the Uniting Church’s Healesville parish conducted the final church service at Dixons Creek.

The building was then converted to a private residence.