Home
Up

Email us

swanparish@swan.perth.anglican.org

 

Phone 9274 2661

Fax     9250 6744

 

The Original Octagon Church.

 

The Octagon Church

 

Unfortunately there are no photographs of the original church, only sketches like that above.


It was opened on November 20, 1840 in the presence of His Excellency the Governor (John Hutt, Esq.). According to some early reports it was of wattle and daub in structure with a shingle roof. The flooring was of well burnt bricks. A sketch of it can be seen in one of the stained glass windows of the current church. 

It was designed by Mr T. N. Yule, whose wife Lucy died in childbirth in 1838. The church was built close to her gravesite. Mr Yule was assisted by his late wife's father, the Resident Magistrate, Dr Harris. One of the first duties the reverend Mitchell had to perform in this building was to officiate at the wedding of his assistant, Miss Breeze, to Mr H. Camfield, of Burswood, the Acting Collector of Colonial Revenue.