Rokewood, western Victoria 150-year-old church goes on sale

A historic 155-year-old church with its stonework, spire and stained glass windows still intact could be transformed into a family home after going on sale for the first time.

The 4,000sqm Gothic-style church in Rokewood, western Victoria was put on the market last month by its owners the Uniting Church in Australia after welcoming its final worshippers in 2020.

The church’s Victorian branch decided to sell due to the congregation dwindling in recent years, Charles Stewart Real Estate Colac agent Anthony McDonald told Daily Mail Australia.

He said the church – constructed in 1865 with funds from two powerful farming families – would likely sell for $400,000 to $450,000 and be converted for residential use.

This 4,000sqm Gothic-style regional church in Rokewood, western Victoria was put up for sale last month by its owners The Uniting Church in Australia

Charles Stewart Real Estate Colac estate agent Anthony McDonald said the church decided to sell due to dwindling congregation numbers in recent years

The original stonework, spire, ornate doors and stained glass windows are still in tact despite the church turning 155 years old last year

‘Due to heritage rules, the buyer must leave the exterior completely intact but they can add an extension at the back,’ Mr McDonald said.

‘Most will want to convert it for residential use but they could also turn it into a business like a cafe or gallery.’

The property’s listing describes the church as being a ‘historically and architecturally significant gem’ and a ‘rare opportunity’ for buyers to secure a piece of southwest Victorian history.

Mr McDonald said the Russell and Elder farming families were instrumental in the commissioning of the church back in the mid-1800s and their descendants were a key part of the congregation in the years since.

‘The two families were certainly involved in it until very recently and we can see how important they were from epitaphs and plaques in the church that mention them,’ he said. 

As well as the stained glass windows, the original wooden pews and vaulted timber ceiling have also been kept in good condition by the church’s owners.

Scottish architect Alexander Davidson designed the church – paving the way for him to mastermind a series of similar churches and homesteads in the region until his death in 1908.

The church is described as an ‘historically and architecturally significant gem’ and a ‘rare opportunity’ for buyers to secure a piece of south-west Victorian history

The influential Russell and Elder farming families were instrumental in the commissioning of the church back in the mid 1800s

The church’s original wooden pews and vaulted timber ceiling have been kept in good condition by the church’s owners

Pictured: The church’s kitchen area. The Gothic-style church was designed by Scottish architect Alexander Davidson

The Catholic church in Rokewood sold in February for an undisclosed price at auction after it also suffered from falling congregation numbers

The real estate agent said disused churches were increasingly being sold to developers as churchgoing became less common in Australia.

‘During my 28 years doing this, I’ve sold at least five churches. The Catholic church in Rokewood also sold recently,’ he said. 

The red-brick Catholic church sold for an undisclosed price in February at auction after it too suffered from falling congregation numbers.