Our History

Our Acknowledgment of Country

Williamstown Uniting Church - Electra St acknowledges that we reside on traditional lands of the Yalukit-william tribe (a name meaning 'river camp or river dwellers"  of the Kulin Nation.

We offer our respect to the Elders of these traditional lands, and through them to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples past, present and emerging.

We commit ourselves to reconciliation in this land.

Our Impact and connection

In June 1835, the local indigenous people from the clans of the Yalukit-william were the occupiers of vast lands that extended from the northern shores of Port Phillip Bay to Wilson's Promontory. The indigenous name for the area is Koort Boork Boork, which translates as 'Sheoak, Sheoak, many' . Traditionally Point Gellibrand was a major food gathering site for the Yalukit-william as the mangroves located there are important fish and bird breeding grounds. While a shortage of freshwater meant that the area was unsuitable as a camp, indigenous people of Victoria frequently used the area for gatherings and ceremony*(o).

Derrimut was headman of the Yalukit willam clan, descended from the first residents of Melbourne's Western Region. For thousand of years a number of aboriginal Koorie clans had settled on the current Hobson's Bay municipality land.*  His tribal colleague King Benbo was 'short and sturdy with a single cockatoo feather stuck in his lank hair, and wearing a possum skin rug with the fur next to his skin'.

John Batman's arrival on the shore of Yarra River in May 1835 had set colonisation in terrible motion. He was the man who sat down by a lovely stream of water with a group of Kulin Elders from several clans to 'negotiate' the transfer of hundreds of thousands of hectares of their land to his Port Philip Association. In return, Batman's so called treaty- drafted by prominent Tasmanian lawyer Joseph Trice Gellibrand- promised 'the yearly rent or tribute of 100 pairs of blankets, 100 knives, 100 tomahawks, 50 suits of clothing, 50  looking glasses, 50 pair of scissors and five tons of flour". It was preposterous. The Kulin Elders did not speak English and their laws could not allow the transfer of land. *The Age (A Time for Truth - Dispossession  by Tony Wright) October 10th 2021

When the first Europeans came ashore on land at Point Gellibrand, now known as Williamstown, the life style of local aborigines, who were semi-nomadic hunters and gatherers, were never the same. *Preslend, G. The First Residents of Melbourne's Region, Harriland, Forrest Hills 1997 p5    # Evans,  Wilson P  ibid p16

Corroborees were usually  held in Cecil Street. In 1840 they held one outside the Woolpack Inn in Thompson Street#

For more information on the history and current standing of the Uniting Church in Australia and First Peoples and their ancestors, click here

We've all come from somewhere to be here.

Our Christian Church Tree (Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches) from 1835 includes young shoots from those early foundation years and then blossoming out to young branches in new suburbs of Newport, West Newport, Spotswood and  North Altona. Growth generally continued until the 1960's which then witnessed a cutting back with church amalgamations and closures, eventually back to the 2 remaining key branches- the Williamstown Uniting Church- Electra St and St Stephens Uniting Church.

For the Williamstown Uniting Church - Electra St Church Tree  click  here

For a City of Williamstown map of the Williamstown Uniting Church expansion from 1838 to 1995  click here

History on Display

Over the decades many people have spent time researching the history of this church and in general, the commencement of Williamstown. We are indebted to Miss Lilly Hall, Rev Laurie Slee, Mr Bill Fletcher, and Mr Peter Jones for their work in this field.

In 2002 Rev Renate Macdonald supported interested congregational members to honour past people of faith, in showcasing and telling the stories of our predecessors by transforming a disused room in the church to what has became The History Room.  We give thanks to the efforts of Rev Laurie Slee, Dean Langford, Bill Fletcher, Pat Marshall, Peter Jones and Michelle Paule for their work in acknowledging and honouring the people that came before us, who prayed and acted faithfully to express the all-encompassing love of God and and in following the action for  justice and peace of Jesus Christ.

There are many original documents and items of interest on show and so please contact us if you interested in visiting.

The Development of Methodism

The ‘Father of Methodism’ John Wesley died in 1791.  Following his death many sects and breakaway groups were formed and by 1860 there were at least nine.  In 1902 they joined together to become The Methodist Church.

Methodist Union Board, located in church

In Williamstown this union affected The Wesleyan Methodist and The United Free Methodist Church and these congregations merged with the Wesleyans in Electra Street and The Primitive Methodist Church.

In 1973 the John Street Methodist congregation merged with Electra Street to be renamed St John's.

In 1977 St John's Methodist Church joined the Williamstown Parish of the Uniting Church and was renamed St John's Uniting Church

Brief History -Australia, Victoria and Williamstown

On January 26 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip guided 11 boats from England carrying mainly convicts to what they named Sydney Cove in New South Wales to start a colony and so, fundamentally founded Australia.

From 1804, convicts were also sent directly from England or Sydney to Tasmania to start a colony there. As this colony grew, Europeans from Tasmania saw the commercial value and new opportunities and wealth of grassland and pastures across Bass Strait and up Port Phillip Bay.

The first landing of livestock on 9th November 1835 consisted of 500 sheep and 50 cows in Williamstown.

In September 1836 Batman's deal with the aboriginals was soon repudiated by Governor Richard Bourke in Sydney who wanted to contain and regulate such bold entrepreneurial activity.

In September 1836, a party under Captain William Lonsdale in his capacity of Resident magistrate was sent to 'County' Bourke to advise on a suitable place for an official settlement (in Melbourne). Lonsdale originally selected Gellibrand Point as a the appropriate spot but within a well realistically transferred his allegiance to the more luxuriant Yarra site with access to fresh water and this settlement was named Melbourne after the current British Prime Minister Lord Melbourne.

By 1838, many small ships from Tasmania brought passengers and cattle to Point Gellibrand (deep water port) to the area.

Williamstown with it's deep waters became a 'service' port, providing vessels transporting people, and cargo up the then narrow river to Melbourne.

In 1837 portions of the infant settlement were named and recognised by royal proclamation from Sydney on 10th April Hobson's Bay after Captain William Hobsons of HMS Rattlesnake

William's Town after King William IV

Melbourne (after British Prime Minister Lord Melbourne)

Henry Hoddle of the Surveys Department was the auctioneer at the first land sale held on 1st June 1837 when 107, Nelson Place allotments between Thompson and Cole St were disposed of at prices averaging 10 pound more than Melbourne sites. After 3 years the desire for land diminished and the auctioneer's hammer fell silent for some time.

In 1838 Methodist Rev Joseph Orton sponsored Charles Stone, then an ardent and enterprising youth to leave Hobart Town to preach in the open air to the small and growing flock of Methodists including in Williamstown.  He settled as a schoolmaster, occupying a lean-to room attached to the school building in which a Divine Service was held where he preached as a lay preacher, conducting Wesleyan Methodist Services on Sundays. A Bethal flag waved over the spot to indicate the service had begun and the liturgy was of the Church of England.

Our Founding Churches

People of faith commenced erecting places of worship since 1840 and over the decades, there were periods of rapid expansions of all denominations, which can be seen on the  Church Tree map. Our current church has been standing since 1876.

The Methodist Years

In 1840, the preaching was held in the open air.  On January 28^th 1841 at the first quarterly meeting in Williamstown, Melbourne, it was mentioned that a new chapel was needed and a committee was appointed to secure it.  In October 1841, the timber Wesleyan Methodist Church (Ann Street) was opened and it was the first church in Williamstown. Rev Grylls conducted one of the colonies first weddings with the service between Mr Stone and Miss Hurstone.  A Methodist home was established. Its first members were were Mr and Mrs Stone and Mrs and Captain Sutton). Steamers were chartered to bring people from Melbourne to services conducted by Rev J Orton. Three services were held each sabbath, morning, afternoon and evening.

Most of the inhabitants in Williamstown in 1841 were suppliers of port facilities or the labour of the port. Blacksmiths and carpenters work on repairs, merchants refurbished ship supplies and spares, watermen ferried passengers and cargo, customs, pilots and water police made sure the state's revenue were collected and laws were obeyed.

In 1842 -1843 a severe depression hit Port Phillip. Property changed hands rapidly as squatters established on credit could not meet their debts, flocks were sold for a few shilling a head.

The Port of Williamstown solely dependent on immigration, the export of sheep and wool and repair of ships was gravely affected by the depression with almost no shipping.

In 1845 Mr Stone removed to Brighton and Mr Witton to the Western District and the church was closed for some time. Mrs Captain Sutton, afterwards opened forth with her house as a preachers home and she took a hearty and generous interest in maintaining methodism in the place

In 1851, Victoria gained separation from NSW and Williamstown was granted municipal status. The Wesleyan Melbourne Methodist Circuit decided that Williamstown be listed as a self-contained circuit, which fact was signalised by the erection of a church in Anne St, a small weather board building (wood coming from Tasmania) with a shingle roof..

In 1854 Rev W. Currey was appointed. A bluestone church was erected next door to the timber church in 1854.

GOLD

The settlement of Williamstown was impacted greatly by the gold rush (discovered in country Victoria 1854- 1861) as gold seekers from Europe and California arriving in the town on their way to the fold fields in the north west. They arrived by boat, local residents including clergy left for the gold fields wither to seek their fortune or to service and to preach to those on the fold fields.  The population boomed from zero (non indigenous) people in 1835 to 5000,000 in 1861.

It was recorded that "Hobsons Bay" was packed with ships whose crews- and sometimes even the masters had disserted in hope of uncovering the elusive nugget. Some ships were marooned in the bay for up to 2 years and were converted into floating boarding house. In 1853 almost 2300 British and foreign vessels, or six a day arrived, representing more than a six fold increase over three years.

With the discovery of gold it enhanced the value of property to an enormus extent and it meant it made this the richest country in the owrld at that time. "In short the gold rush was a revolutionary event and reshaped Victoria in it society and politics"

This had tow lasting impacts, one being that the Methodists men who well from the gold rush were generous and gave funds back to their local Methodist church and it was women who remained at home were then left to run the church ad conduct services.  It is recorded that "In these days of the gold fever, when the male folk had cleared for the land of gold, our sister Mrs Mason (formally Mrs  Sutton) undertook the management of the church and performed her duties well".  Big praise indeed.

By 1857 through the unfailing generosity of the worshippers the church was soon from debt.

By the year 1874, "accomodation became over taxed". A bigger church was needed.

In 1874 new trustees appointed Rev John Harcourt. He decided on a new suite of buildings and land at Electra Street was purchased from Sir John Hay for £700.

In 1876, new buildings – The Wesleyan Methodist Church and Manse were erected at a cost of £5,800 and the Ann Street church property was sold for £2,800 and became “The Sailors Rest”

Originally the present church was partly of weatherboard at the rear, which eventually was replaced by the fine building as it now stands and the pipe- organ was erected.

The church

With regards to the selling of the Ann St chapel/church and the purchase and buildings at Electra St, it was recorded in notes for the 1934 Victoria's 1st anniversary that 'Our people here have been condemned for undertaking such great financial obligations; we have told we lacked prudence, faith in God, almost every other quality that was good. The reply to those criticisms is that our faith has never failed, and never will.  Without compromising ourselves in any way, we reduced our indebtedness to about 1200 pounds and then we undertook the completion of the church and the erection of a pipe organ, therein at a cost of about 2000 pounds. While this work was in progress the boom burst"  Ref XXXXX

A period of a Land Boom 1883 - 1889 (land value equal to that of London) and the BUST, resulting in an economic depression which would decades to recover.  It took till 1931 to pay off the church building debt.

In 1887, the Coode canal was completed, Melbourne became the main dock for shipping as well, and Williamstown slowly subsided into a largely forgotten, almost rural village backwater, where an unparalleled collection of lovely old buildings and houses was able to survive the short-sighted cultural devastation of the 1950's and 1960's.

1890:

The Rev Henry Bath was next appointed in 1890 and has been described as a 'prince of preachers'. Under his ministry the congregation increased and the Church prospered so much that ‘the trustees talked seriously of completing the church. It only had a wooden back to it and being very wide had a stumpy appearance from the inside. The circumstances of the church at the times warranted the trustees on their determination to complete the building. The removal of Mr Bath from the circuit at the end of one year check their ardour and our dream of extension were not fulfilled.

The Rev W Presley succeeded Mr Bath and even after Mr Baths departure and furthermore though the land boom had burst the church prospered more than ever (perhaps it may have been the charism of Rev Presley which increased the congregation numbers) .  Special services were held and a great many conversion took place. The church were filled to it utmost capacity so the matter of extension was again forced upon the trustees.

Just then Edwin Gaunt, proprietor of the Alfred Woolen Mills who was a trustee of the church was generous enough to send along a cheque for £300 to aid the trust funds of the church.

From this donation, the trustees resolved to complete the church, erect an organ loft and vestry at the rear of the pulpit, build porches on either side of the church at the rear, remove the plaster ceiling and replace it with ornamentally laid wood, suitably stained .  Mr A Hick the church steward and treasurer undertook the carrying out of his work .

While this work was in progress, the trust resolved to have a pipe-organ placed in the loft. It was built to order by Messrs Fincham of Richmond at the cost of about £800.

This left a debt of £2000. This was a large debt but a magnificent asset.

Large events- crowds- good…. But the dark days of the great and prolonged depression, people decided to leave the town and state and we in common with all other churches suffered severely.

1902

These factions came together in 1902 and the Electra St church was renamed the Williamstown Wesleyan church    The Spectator Part 2, page 2

In the early 20th century, Williamstown was a blue-collar, working class suburb, painters and dockers and the like. In the 30's and '40's we had one of the worst slums in Melbourne" . Those slums, like similar ones across the city, were cleared during the 1940's and 1950's and from the 1960's were replaced by housing commission towers. Bryan Haynes The Age July 27th 2024

1949  Rev Frank Byatt

It’s been more than 70 years since Rev. Frank Byatt started the Christmas Bowl.

He put a Bowl of Remembrance on his Christmas dinner table and asked his loved ones to place a gift in it to ‘share your good dinner with hungry children in other lands.’

Frank couldn’t have foreseen how his simple act of compassion that evening would grow into the powerful Christmas Bowl tradition we now know is celebrated in thousands of churches across Australia. And he couldn’t have known how much it would be needed in our world today.

When Frank sat down to his Christmas dinner in 1949, he knew millions of people were starving in war-ravaged Europe. And he was compelled to offer help.

As we break bread with our loved ones this Christmas, our thoughts will be for our sisters and brothers who have been forced from their homes, and loved ones, by conflict or disaster.

It was in 1949 that Rev. Frank Byatt first laid a bowl of remembrance on the Christmas dinner table asking his family to 'share your good dinner with hungry children in other lands'. From this simple act of compassion, the annual Christmas Bowl appeal was born – a much-loved tradition in churches across Australia.

Post War II  1950’5 60’s Post War

 “After World War II Williamstown took in hundreds of migrants from central Europe who where housed in huts based at the old Williamstown racecourse. The end of World War II to the 1970’s saw the town slide into disrepair and become a unattractive industrial town, but fortunately much of its charm was left from the wrecking ball and just left to slowly decay, awaiting the day when the town would rise again to its former glory.

The good times in post war saw a new choir in robes in the early 1950’s,  performances.

70’s- buildings in Williamstown in decline-  infrastructure in decline also in Wmn.  House prices very low.

It was identified that St John’s Methodist church was in need of major works- and Rev Laurie Slee not only undertook to coordinate this but he was also tasked to bring 5 churches together in union.

Well that time has come and Williamstown is looking better than ever, the old girl has been restored and new people have moved in making it one of the jewels of Melbourne”.

The Williamstown Parish of the Uniting Church in Australia 1977 – 2004

In 1977, union took place with the Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian churches coming together to worship nationally under the one name, as the Uniting Church in Australia (“UCA”).  In this district it included 5 churches: Spotswood UCA (previously Spotswood Methodist , Westgate UCA (Previously West Newport Methodist), and in Williamstown; St Stephens UCA (Previously St Stephens Presbyterian church), Stevedore Street UCA (Previously Stevedore Congregational church) and St John’s UCA (Previously St John's Methodist church).

Spotswood UCA was destroyed by fire in1979 and their congregation joined Westgate UCA and then due to declining numbers closed in 1995 and their members joined with the Stevedore St UCA church.

In early 1980, a few congregational members from the Williamstown Parish leased a shop at 75 Stevedore St Williamstown with the purpose of operating an Op Shop as a welfare program. In 2020 the shop closed, and in 2021 the Electra St church took sole responsibility of the op shop and relocated it to Williamstown Uniting Church Electra St property. For more information click here

Early in the  1980's house prices were still very low. Young professionals saw the value and beauty of Williamstown, and the proximity of the city and overcame their prejudice of living in the Western Suburbs to then start to make their homes here. Wealth came back into the area, house and other properties were being restored.

By 1995 three linked churches remained; St John's, St Stephens and Stevedore St.

On Dec 8th 2002, a once disused room in the Electra St church was formally dedicated and opened as the "Historical Display room". The service was led by Rev Renate Macdonald and the preaching conducted by Rev Dr John Bodycomb.

In the next few years, and with declining numbers, it became apparent that each of the 3 church sites had aging properties to maintain and not one building suitable in its own right to accommodate a united large congregation. Thirty members of the leadership teams (The Visioning Group) met with Architect Mr Ian Hartley on Tuesday 11th May 2004, to commence the discussion around the properties and the future. From a report prepared, a decision was made to rationalize the properties connected by the UCA in Williamstown.

Consolidation and Re-imagining

By 1995 three linked churches remained; St John's, St Stephens and Stevedore St. Each site with aging properties to maintain and not one building suitable in its own right to accommodate a united large congregation, 30 members of the leadership teams (The Visioning Group) met with Architect Mr Ian Hartley on Tuesday 11th May 2004, to commence the discussion around the properties and the future. From a report prepared, a decision was made to rationalize the properties owned by the UCA in Williamstown.

In 2005 after much consideration and prayer, the Stevedore St congregation and some members of St Stephens decided to join with St John's congregation on the Electra St site with the new name Williamstown Uniting Church - Electra St.

Services also continued at St Stephens UCA in Melbourne Rd Williamstown.

The new Williamstown Uniting Church  - Electra St congregation set goals for having a welcoming, flexible building to suit a variety of styles of worship, looking to the future with optimism of a growing faithful congregation and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in the community.

To enable this development to proceed, the Westgate Church Property that had been rented for some years was sold to provide finance for the purchase of a manse for the Electra St Minister. The Stevedore St Church was also sold and the sale proceeds (as provided by Synod) were used for the Electra St development. In addition, the congregation took out a loan to complete the refurbishment.

The scope of works was large, and in working with the architects, consultants from the Heritage and Planning departments of the the City of Hobsons Bay and the church Refurbishment Committee, the completion was still years in the making. The planning permit was granted on 23 March 2007, the building permit was received on 28th May 2010 and the work commenced shortly after. It was by July 2010 that works commenced and were completed in early 2012. The official reopening was conducted by UCA President Rev Alistair Macrae on February 26 2012.

Major Refurbishment Features:

• A level floor from both Electra St entrances
• Disability access ramps and sealed car park
• Joining of the church and former manse with a glassed roof foyer
• New semi-commercial grade kitchen and toilet facilities
• State or the art audio and visual equipment
• New carpet and flexible individual upholstered chairs

We give our gratitude and thanks to the Refurbishment Committee members; Church Council Chairperson Mrs Natalie Cronin, Miss Margaret Bull (Committee Chairperson), Mr Dean Langford, Ms Celia Waters and Miss Bev Lambie, for their tireless and dedicated work in enabling this re-imagining to take place, and for the legacy that we continue to benefit by, today.

Thank you also to Martin Smith and Neil Langford, with wonderful support from Dean Langford, for their generous contributions to the planning and installation of the excellent audio and visual system in the church.

Hobsons Bay City Council brought in heritage controls in 2006 and this church church was classified as a property of local significance  (no changes on the outside allowed) . For full details click here

Our gratitude and thanks to Barbara Howell (deceased member) for her bequest to the Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust for specified purposes for our church which enable our mortgage debt of $234,293.98 to be paid out in 2019. We remain debt free.

From Mr Charles Stone in 1838, through the Gold Rush of wealth then bust periods, the  Great War and subsequent wars, The Great Depression, The Spanish Flu epidemic, Rev Byatt commencing the 'Christmas Bowl' appeal while ministering at Electra St  and just about everything in between, our men and women of faith and conviction have served us well in Williamstown and we thank each of them.

Imagine from the first ministers who walked from Melbourne by foot or took the punt across the Yarra River to the dirt roads of Williamstown or ride their horse on visits, there have been many and varied challenges and events of great celebration shared, and faith journeys travelled alongside with congregational members. Even through the recent challenges of COVID- 19 we know at all times God was and is with us.

For a list of Ministers click here

What a wonderful occasion to have our past ministers attend the opening of our refurbished church in Feb 2012.  From left back row  

• Rev Bill Lidgett
• Rev Margaret Manning
• Rev Renate Macdonald
• Rev Alistair Macrae    then UCA Vic Tas Moderator
• Rev David Howie
• Front: Rev Peter Aumann
• Rev David Kim
• Rev Walter Rolley

Since formation people of faith connected to our church have lived through some unique and interesting periods of time and experiences.  We are grateful for the historic material saved over the decades which enables us now to share some of their stories for a glimpse into their lives- their time, their church/faith experience.

Mr Edwin Gaunt:   Alfred Woolen Mills were established in 1878 located in Osborne and Garden St Williamstown by Messrs Edwin Gaunt and Walter Gaunt.  Edwin arrived in Victoria in 1875 for the purpose of taking in charge as manager of the Union Mills at Geelong. His next charge was the Melbourne Woollen Mills at Yarraville.  He was later joined by his brother in Williamstown with machines for the manufacture of yarn and cloth.

Edwin Gaunt died in the year 1892 after which for some years the business was carried on by Walter Gaunt. Edwin was a church trustee and he donated £300 to the church to show support and encourage confidence for others to also donate to the church for further development (organ loft, the organ and other refurbishments), meaning that the church would return to debt (while in a financial depression) but what a wonderful legacy his efforts have left us. Unfortunately Edwin died before hearing the organ which was completed in 1893. The debt was cleared in 1931.

Winter 1854:  Mr White and his boat

5th November 1887  Multi church Sunday

Summer 1916 or thereabouts Sunday School Picnic to Werribee

21 November 1937. Pleasant Sunday Afternoon - Program

October 29th, 1938. Newspaper cutting for Mr Alexander White Hick.   Is he the same man who designed the organ loft - disconnected from church later on?

1941: The Harvest Thanksgiving- this will be a link to a scanned pamphlet from that time

4th May 1975: Invitation card for 135th anniversary of Methodism in the City of Williamstown

In 1949, the then minister at this church Rev Frank Byatt founded the Christmas Bowl appeal when he placed an empty bowl on the Christmas dinner table, asking his congregation to support refugees in war-ravaged Europe by making “a generous gift so that you can share your good dinner with hungry children in other lands”.

Since then the Christmas Bowl appeal has raised more than $100 million from many denominations across Australia, according to Hannah Montgomery from Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

In 2019, the Williamstown Uniting Church - Electra St  commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Christmas Bowl campaign with Act for Peace CEO Janet Cousens, and reflected with two members of the then and now congregation, Mrs Winsome Barnett and Mr Dean Langford.

We continue to support the legacy of Rev Frank Byatt and the crucial work to respond to the urgent needs of people around the world.