First Catholic Church 1886-1898
The first Sacred Heart Church was one of the buildings that was moved from one stop on the railway line to the next as it advanced westwards. It was re-erected – after it arrived from Jericho with the railway in 1886 – on the corner of Willow and Yew streets.
It was replaced in 1898 when Fr. Lorretucci was in charge. The original building moving once again to become an extra classroom for the first Convent school.
Second Catholic Church 1898-1954
A building next to the church was previously Glencoe Private Hospital. It was the hospital where T J Ryan, Premier of Queensland from 1915-1919, died from pneumonia when he was visiting town to campaign for a Labor Party candidate.
It was used as a Presbytery from 1943-1966.
A new Presbytery for the priests was constructed in 1967 on the same site and was first occupied by Fr. J. Anderson. It is now the Parish Centre.
Third Catholic Church 1954
Work on the current Catholic church on the corner of Elm and Willow streets began in October 1953, after the first set of plans had been destroyed (eaten by goats).
The contractor, J. Feehley, completed it on time for the official opening by Rev. A. G. Tynan, Bishop of Rockhampton, on 20 June 1954.
At that time Barcaldine’s Church of the Sacred Heart was considered of revolutionary design. The Longreach Leader described it as ‘a divergence from conventional ecclesiastical architecture’ but supposed it would ‘soon acquire its own atmosphere’.
Text sources include: Hoch, Isabel. 2008. Pages 43, 61, 101; Between the Bougainvilleas. 2004. Page 32.
