Two more rural Victorian churches listed for auction

Two more rural Victorian churches have been listed for auction.

St Dominic’s, a Catholic church in Dingee, 40 kilometres north of Bendigo, and St Saviours, a nearby Anglican church in Serpentine have been listed for auction through FP Nevins & Co.

St Dominic’s (pictured below) is a 1900s weatherboard church on around 1000 square metres. Final mass at the church was said in September last year and it was then deconsecrated.

St Saviour’s (pictured below) is an Edwardian style timber church with a traditional bell tower, a separate vestry room and a porch all on 1000 square metres.

It was built in 1912 by PR Mann from Sussex in honour of his deceased wife with the help of reverend JD Watsford.

It was built from red gum plates and blocks, with a hard-wood frame and weather board outside.

It was the first time a bell had sounded in Serpentine.

At the time it was against the rules for the Catholic church to consecrate a wooden building but permission was given after it was explained the nearest bricks would have come from Bendigo.

From 1912 to 2012 there were 61 different priests and readers appointed to the church with 46 others as preachers of the day.

Two former priests, JD Watsford, and Rev. E.G.Laverick died with the sinking of the hospital ship Centaur.

Agent James Nevins says St Saviour’s will be deconsecrated between sale and settlement.

He has sold four Anglican churches in the past six months citing dwindling smaller congregations.

“It’s the old philosophy. If you don’t use it you lose it,” he said.

He says the churches around the area generally sell quite well with strong interest from renovators.

Last year he sold St Mary’s church in Kingower to state water and agriculture minister Peter Walsh, whose great-great-grandfather built the property, for $140,000.

Nevins anticipates these latest listings will be converted to residential properties.

“They are a unique part of Australian life. If done right they can be spectacular,” Nevins says.

St Dominic’s is expected to sell for $50,000 to $60,000 while St Saviour’s is expected to sell for $80,000 to $100,000.

They go to auction on May 18.