Little church’s big history

But on one of their frequent Wombeyan Caves camping trips in the early 1980s, the little old church at Tarlo and its potential caught their attention.

“The church was a wreck,” Mr Cooper said.

“The door had come off and was broken, all the windows were broken but the frames were intact.”

Further investigations revealed that former owner Terry Cunningham had used the structure as a hayshed. Sheep had also made their presence felt. The condition did not deter the Coopers. Attracted by its history they set to work on the church the Presbyterians dubbed St John’s when they finished it in 1872.

The Sydney couple had been looking for a weekender for some time. In 1983 they decided to buy the church block and adjoining acreage and spent three years working weekends on the old building.

“We lived in a tent out the back,” Mrs Cooper laughed.

But when Mr Cooper was offered early retirement from his underwriting job with the AMP Society, the couple jumped at the permanent tree change.

“We made it liveable and spent one year designing our main house (next door). It took one year to build and we moved in November 1986,” Mr Cooper said.

The church has been a labour of love. Thankfully, the rubblestone was in good condition and only required internal plastering.

The Coopers installed a new floor, which “was a mess” with old boards sitting on earth, new windows and a new door specially made in Adelaide.

Internal evidence of its former church life, such as the altar and church pews, were long gone. Only a makeshift confessional box remained.

The work has been a labour of love. The Coopers’ efforts were also greatly appreciated by long time neighbours.

“But I think people thought we were slightly mad,” Mrs Cooper said.

For the full story, and a related report on the neighbouring Chatsbury church, please see Friday’s Goulburn Post, available from our front office in Auburn St, or at all leading newsagencies across the Goulburn area.