Author(s): Anne Doggett

Ballarat History

A church destroyed by underground mining. A plot to rid themselves of a turbulent priest. And a clergyman forced to line his cottage with mattresses in an effort to protect his family from gunfire. There was no lack of drama when the people of Ballarat East set out to establish a church of their own. Stories of determination, tragedy, bravery and intrigue mingle with the day-to-day life of the church, as St Paul's gradually became a familiar presence on Bakery Hill. During the course of her research Dr Doggett uncovered new evidence of the role the church played at crucial times in Ballarat's history, including the gold rush, the Eureka rebellion, and the wars of the 20th century. The book examines the links between the life of Ballarat and the life of the church community, tracing the way one particular church made a difference in the lives of the people, and in the development of a community, over the course of a fascinating 162 years.