Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church

Foundation stone records: Most Rev James Alypius Goold, - Bishop of Melbourne, blessed and laid the - foundation stone of this church of Our - Lady of The Rosary on September 20th 1857. - Pius IX Being Pope; - Victoria, Queen; - Sir Henry Barlky, Governor - Very Rev Patrick Bonaventure - Geoghegan DD VC, Preacher - Rev Horatio Geoghegan, Pastor - in the presence of a large congregation - Praise be to God...

An historic plaque records: Our Lady of the Rosary (St Mary's) Church - First mass was celebrated in the Gold Diggers Arms hotel on the corner of Piper and Ebden Streets in 1852. Building of the present church commenced in 1857, it was dedicated in 1861 by Bishop Goold. It was finally completed in 1869 by William Wardell. It has a fine ceiling, and the beautiful stained glass windows and church furnishings were donated by local families. The original marble altar is made of Sicilian marble. The 14 Stations of the Cross were carved in Munich, Germany, and installed in 1868. The Church is built of bluestone quarried on and near the site, the builder being Andrea Stombuco, a sculptor, builder, and architect from Florence.