I received the following letter back in 2016 – I wonder what became of the old church.
Gnowangerup has a bit of Boulder History in the form of a Church, Presbyterian/Methodist/Uniting. In 1922, this church was dismantled in Boulder, transported and re-erected here in Gnowangerup. About 2 years ago, the Church was decommissioned and sold, which included a large block of land. It is now on the market again, and I thought your town may be interested in having it back.
The Church is in good order but needs re-stumping and does have some asbestos. We have relocated by jinker a building within our town with asbestos with very little bother, we did have to remove the roof, however, for the power lines.
If this Church is not saved by an interested body, I fear it will be destroyed. Our group can not take on any more projects as we are snowed under as it is. This building is privately owned, but I believe if your town contacted the Gnowangerup Shire with respect to this very historical building, it may be saved. The owner is asking $50,000 for the land and building, but with the re-stumping and the asbestos, I am sure he would be glad for someone to take it off his hands.
The Shire negotiated on behalf of the Church to sell it for them in the 1st place so they will know the story of it. I will attach a photo taken in 2012 when it was getting a new coat of paint, it still looks much the same but the bell has been removed.
Church in Gnowangerup 2012
Unfortunately, the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Council is not in a position to purchase it, but it was still nice to be asked. A few years ago, I was fortunate to be able to copy the photographs of the Weselyn Church before they went to the archives in Perth, and among them was this photo. Do you think it is the same building with a few modifications?
Wesley Church in Boulder, 1896 – Photo SLWA
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Moya Sharp
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