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Welsh PioneersPrint Page Print this page

A cedar fireplace surround from the mansion  "Brynhyfryd" which was owned by Lewis Thomas has been converted into a combined Welsh pioneers / World War Two memorial.

Lewis Thomas had begun to mine coal at Blackstone in the 1860s. In 1883, a group of Welsh people, formerly slate miners from Blaenau Ffestinog, arrived in Blackstone to work for Thomas. Shortly after their arrival, they held a Protestant church service under a mulberry tree on the banks of Bundamba Creek. They agreed that Welsh nationality took priority over minor sectarian differences and formed a Welsh Church. The first combined service was held in a church hall in the nearby suburb of Newtown on 19 July 1883. Lewis Thomas then allowed use of a cottage in Blackstone for services. As the number of Welsh immigrants grew, this became too small and Thomas donated land for a church. The church building opened officially on 1 October 1886.

Location

Address:6 Thomas Street, United Welsh Church, Blackstone, 4304
State:QLD
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -27.623608
Long: 152.798536
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Structure
Monument Theme:Landscape
Sub-Theme:Settlement
Link:http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/heritage…
Source: QHR
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au