Wollert Church relocation and restoration

The heritage-listed building served as a church until its decommissioning in 2006.

It was sold to a private owner and gradually fell into disrepair.

In 2018, when the Epping Road upgrade threatened the former church’s future, we worked with Major Road Projects Victoria to preserve this piece of local history. 

Over several months in 2022, the church was painstakingly disassembled and transported by truck to its new home at Carome Homestead in Mernda.

Once on site it was meticulously rebuilt and restored to its former glory using traditional materials and finishes, with Working Heritage entrusted with managing the building. 

Before the building was dismantled and transported to its new home, our Heritage Coordinator, Colleen Lazenby and Civic History Collection Manager, Mary Ann Rosenthal did one last sweep of the church grounds.

As they turned over some dirt near the front of the church, they unearthed the original church key, which had likely been lost since the late 1800s.

The iron key, measuring 13.5cm, was professionally restored ahead of its exhibition at the church's new home.

Member for Thomastown, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage, City of Whittlesea and Major Road Projects Victoria representatives, and descendants of the church’s founding members attended the official opening.

Also in attendance was David Freeman, whose parents were local preachers.

His earliest memories of the church date back to the 1930s when it was the centre of life in the tight-knit community.

He vividly remembers as a child watching the district’s dairy farmers, having milked their cows, make their way by lantern light to the church for a service. “Growing up I felt comfortable in [the church] and it did my heart great sorrow to see it being vandalised,” he said.  “When I heard it was being restored that gave me great comfort. It’s just beautifully done the way that you’ve done it here.”