Christ Church, Churchyard & Cemetery

Item details


Name of item:	Christ Church, Churchyard & Cemetery
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Religion
Category:	Church
Location:	Lat: -34.5379627413 Long: 150.3916561860
Primary address:	Bong Bong Road, Moss Vale, NSW 2577
Local govt. area:	Wingecarribee
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Illawarra

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	PT 14		DP	751253

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Type
Bong Bong Road	Moss Vale	Wingecarribee	Primary Address
Moss Vale Road	Moss Vale	Wingecarribee	Alternate Address
Church Road	Moss Vale	Wingecarribee	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Anglican Church Property Trust	Religious Organisation

Statement of significance:


	Christ Church was constructed in 1845 and is the oldest church between Cobbitty and Canberra. It is associated with important figures such as John Verge who designed the Church and Charles & Betsey Throsby. It was dedicated and consecrated in 1845 by Bishop W.G. Broughton - Bishop of Australia. It provides evidence of the first designated township in the southern highlands by Governor Macquarie in 1821 and is a landmark feature on the approach to Moss Vale, and Wingecarribee River, relating to nearby Throsby Park. It contains a unique interior collection of a Parsons Organ, church pews, pulpit and lectern, painted ceilings, painted enamel and stained glass windows. The cemetery is an important record of the history of the southern highlands and of the Throsby family.
	Date significance updated: 18 Apr 01
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	Attributed to John Verge
Builder/Maker:	Charles Throsby (possibly convict labour)
Construction years:	1845-
Physical description:	Christ Church is set in a churchyard with a cemetery on a hill over the Wingecarribee River, now on the outskirts of Moss Vale, and near the related site, Throsby Park estate. It is constructed of sandstock brick on stone foundations. The exterior has been cement rendered and painted white. There is a covered entrance on the north side and a tower. The interior is beautifully decorated by Elizabeth Throsby in honour of her husband Charles. It contains stained glass windows including an Ecclesiastical decorative east window and eight stained glass and painted enamel floral panels designed by Lyon, Cottier & Co. (later Cottier and TIffany) showing lilies, roses, chrysanthemums, iris, arum liilies and passionfruit flowers. There is a Parsons Organ and a painted ceiling attributed to Lyon, Cottier & Co. It contains Australian cedar pews, oak pulpit and brass lectern. The cemetery is divided into two distinct sections; one of the Anglican graveyard of Christ Church Bong Bong and the other the Presbyterian cemetery. Although there is a light steel and concrete fence between them the two sections form a unified group. The cemetery landscape is enhanced by two rows of mature Bhutan cypress trees (Cupressus torulosa), planted on the 1945 centennary of the church's construction, one tree per (17) Throsby child, and some other large trees including gums which predate the church's construction, being shown in an 1820s painting of the area. The monuments are arranged in parallel rows facing east. They date from 1841 and about half are pre-1900. The early monuments are mainly sandstone (40% 1841-1900) and of simple design, with a few of `Marulan stone'. Other materials used are marble (10%, 1866, 1890-1925), Trachyte (10%, crosses 1867-1925, other styles 1908 to present), granite (5%) and marble tablets on plinths (35%) of sandstone (1915-1930) or of cement or terrazzo (1930 to present.) Building Material: Marulan stone, marble, trachyte, granite, terrazzo, sandstone, cement. (National Trust of Australia 1984). The cemetery contains the remains of many notable early settlers including 26 Throsbys and 19 Osbornes (HHA). Other cemetery plantings include Chinese/funeral cypress (Cupressus funebris), Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), black locusts/false acacias (Robinia pseudoacacia), cherry plums, privets, and firethorns (Pyracantha sp.). The ground is carpetted by kiss-me-quick/valerian (Kentranthus ruber), sparaxia bulbs and grass. (Stuart Read, inspection 10/00)
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Physical condition is good. Some damp coming in through cracking in walls. Church yard/ cemetery is in relatively good condition, although now (11/2000) becoming encroached upon by suburban sprawl of Moss Vale to the east and north (formerly open fields
	Date condition updated:18 Apr 01
Modifications and dates:	1845 - Constructed 1884 - Gallery and stair demolished, Parsons Organ installed, ceiling removed and painted finish dome on diagonally laid pine boards, stained glass & painted enamel windows installed, enaustic tiles laid on floor and gothic porch. (by Blacket Bros) 1930s - exterior cement rendered 1945 centenary commemorative planting along road boundary of a line of 17 Bhutan cypresses (Cupressus torulosa), one for each Throsby child. 1945 - a second short row of Bhutan cypresses planted as a windbreak on the south side of the church 1949: following the building of an electricity sub-station in 1928, land at the churchyard's eastern boundary was acquired in 1949 by the State Electricity Commission for workmen's cottages. 1954, 55: additional land resumed for the Electricity Commission (Darling, Sally: pers.comm., 6/8/2019). 1992 - Church reroofed in colorbond.


Current use:	Churchyard
Former use:	Aboriginal land, farmland, churchyard

History

Historical notes:

INDIGENOUS HISTORY
Gundungurra or Gandangarra people lived in the Southern Highlands area, which includes Mittagong, for many thousands of years. People who spoke the Gundungurra language lived in the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands and the Goulburn Plains of New South Wales. They lived in small groups of extended family members, who were attached to particular country areas. After Anglo-European settlers caused displacement of Gundungurra people, they often worked on farms or grazing properties within and adjacent to their traditional countries (Di Johnson: 2004).

Gundungurra groups left archaeological evidence of their occupation throughout their traditional homelands, including scarred trees where bark was removed for use as a boat or other object, grinding grooves on rocks where axes were ground, and occupation sites which include middens. Well-worn Gundungurra pathways on ridge tops were often the routes used as the first roads by colonists (Di Johnson, 2004). Possibly this could have been the origin of the Old South Road where the Hassall and Jefferis Cottages are located.

The area is home to the Tharawal and Gungungurra people (Robinson, 2008).

Camden and the Cow Pastures:
The area is associated with the early history of the colony of New South Wales. Governor Hunter named it 'The Cowpastures' after cattle which had strayed from the Farm Cove settlement were discovered there in 1795 (to the south-west of Sydney). Due to the early European settlers, namely the Macarthurs, who established flourishing wool, wine and wheat industries here, the area is said to be the 'birthplace of the nation's wealth' (ibid, 2008).

Throsby Park, Bong Bong and (later) Moss Vale:
In 1850 the vale (that would become known as Moss Vale) looked very much as it had since white settlers began farming there 30 years before. The large Throsby Park estate spread for several thousand acres. Dr Charles Throsby had settled in 1819 and by 1850, his nephew and heir Charles had transformed the property into the finest in the district. The adjacent Hutchinson estate ran to White's Creek. Convict William Hutchinson was transported to NSW in 1799, one of the more successful emancipists. He prospered under Governor Macquarie's patronage and was appointed to the important position of Principal Superintendent of Convicts in 1814 and later active in establishing the Bank of NSW. South of White's Creek lay Browley, another early land grant in the area, to John Waite, long-time servant of Dr Charles Throsby, who received his 100-acre parcel of land in recognition of his outstanding service to Throsby on his journeys of exploration. He prospered, acquiring much more land, and became one of the leading local settlers. It was on these three estates that Moss Vale would develop (Emery, 2001, 82).

For Moss Vale's development, 1867 was a momentous year. In December, the newly completed railway line from Sydney opened and in anticipation for an influx of people, the owners of the large estates began subdividing, with the first town plots sold in 1863. By the time the station opened, the town had a store, postal service and hotel, mainly to cater for the needs of the large number of railway workers and their families who had come to the district. Their small tent communities had sprung up all along the Great Southern Railway line as it forged south to Goulburn. Lewis Levy from Berrima opened the first store, having cannily anticipated the decline in business in Berrima once it was bypassed by the railway. Business people of Sutton Forest saw Moss Vale's potential as the future centre of the district and many of the first land buyers in Moss Vale were Sutton Forest and Berrima people (ibid, 2001, 82).

The coming of the railway to Moss Vale required subdivision of part of Throsby Park estate and provided impetus for the establishment of the town of Moss Vale. Its name commemorates Jemmy Moss, an ex-convict servant of Charles Throsby, who lived in a hut on Throsby land in what is now Spring Street, Moss Vale. Moss had been transported to NSW for 7 years in 1828 for stealing but proved a valued employee to the Throsby family.

The opening up of the Yarrawa Brush (rainforest area, split up and cleared for farming) in the 1860s - the Robertson, Burrawang and Wilde's Meadow area - added to the importance of the rail head at Moss Vale, which became the district centre for sending produce and other freight to the Sydney market (Emery, 2001, 82).

The latter years of the 19th century perhaps marked the heyday of Moss Vale. The town was thriving, capitalising on the prosperity of the surrounding farming and grazing industries. With steady growth came the usual public buildings that reflected the aspirations of the inhabitants - a School of Arts, new Post & Telegraph Office, Court House and E.S. & A. & Commercial bank buildings. Most of the business activity was centred at the southern end of Argyle Street from the railway bridge and up the hill as far as Yarrawa Road - the shift of the town to the north is a relatively recent occurrence. As well as being the commercial hub of the district, Moss Vale a century ago was also the educational centre. Several private boarding schools sprang up, including Tudor House, opened in 1902 at Hamilton, a house for Alick Osborne and his wife Isabel, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Throsby of Throsby Park. Throsby Park was also used as a school, first by Henry Southey in the 1870s. His school opened with 11 boys, but grew quickly, transferring to Mittagong to become Oaklands School. For a short time from 1888, James Neale Dalton leased Throsby Park and somewhat grandiosely named it 'St George College', styled 'on the principles of the great schools at Eton and Rugby' (ibid, 2001, 83).

Bong Bong Church Group:
Mr Charles Throsby of Throsby Park gave land for a church, burial ground and parsonage with a glebe of 100 acres at Bong Bong. Construction started early in 1845 to the plans of the well known architect, John Verge. These were prepared in 1837, probably for a church at Sutton Forest (National Trust of Australia (NSW)).

Charles had inherited Throsby Park estate from his uncle, the explorer Dr Charles Throsby. Charles (Jr.) built Throsby Cottage before his marriage to Elizabeth (Betsey) Broughton in 1824, and started work on the 27 room Throsby Park homestead in 1834. He built Christ Church Bong Bong on his own land and it has always been strongly connected with the Throsby family. He and Betsey had 17 children and over decades the Anglican church has seen scores of descendents christened, married and farewelled (Reid, 2013, 78).

The Church was paid for by Charles Throsby at a cost of 701 pounds. Its architecture is attributed to Verge and the building was dedicated and consecrated by Bishop William G Broughton in 1845, Bishop of Australia.

Beneath the church is a crypt, intended for Throsby family members but never used (Reid, 2013, 80).

Betsey Throsby was one of five survivors of the Boyd massacre, where New Zealand Maoris killed and ate between 66 and 70 people in one of the worst instances of cannibalism on record. She was on the 'Boyd', which sailed from Sydney to Whangaroa harbour in 1809 under the command of Captain John Thompson. Te Ara, son of a Maori chief from Whangaroa, asked to work his passage on the ship from Sydney and an incident occurred which resulted in him being flogged (perhaps theft, refusing orders, or he may have been framed). When the ship arrived in Whangaroa, Te Ara showed the whip marks to his tribe which led to violent retribution.

Five people were spared: Ann Morley and her baby, hidden in a cabin; cabin boy Thomas Davis (or Davison), hidden in the hold; the second mate; and two-year-old Betsey Broughton. She was 'taken by a local chief who put a feather in her hair and kept her for three weeks before rescue'. The mate was reputedly 'killed and eaten when his usefulness in making fish-hooks was exhausted'. When news of the massacre reached New Zealand's European settlements, Captain Alexander Berry undertook a rescue mission aboard 'The City of Edinburgh'. Betsey and the other three were taken aboard, bound for the Cape of Good Hope. The ship struck storms and was repaired in Lima, Peru, where Ann Morley died. The cabin boy went on to England and Berry returned Betsey and the other child to Sydney, via Rio de Janeiro, in 1812.

Betsey had been on the ship with her mother, Ann Glossop, returning to England. Her siblings are believed to have been sent to school in England and they were going to visit them. By the time she was reunited with her father, she was four and could speak Spanish. She married Charles Throsby in 1824 at the age of 17 (Reid, 2013, 81).

Charles died relatively young and Betsey brought up their 17 children. Being very pious, she kept up regular attendence at the "Throsby Church", all her long life. She cherished the church and funded work on its interior in 1884.

A rare mahogany organ, c.1850, was installed during the 1884 renovations (ibid, 2013, 80). Later work was done in 1907, after her death (ibid, 2013, 78).

The Church had been sited on a hill above Bong Bong, the first designated village in the southern highlands of New South Wales, by Governor Macquarie in 1821. The village declined in the 1850s due to flooding and diversion of the main south road, and only the Church/graveyard, the Briars Inn and Throsby Park remain.

Towards the end of the last century the Rectory fell into disuse and was later demolished.

The surrounding land was settled by recipients of Crown land grants and rewards to pardoned convicts. Many of these pioneers and early settlers are buried in the cemetery including Charles and Elizabeth (Betsey) Throsby 1854 and 1891 and their descendants; Joseph Wild 1847 (explorer of Lake George and Wildes Meadow); and Rebecca Jenkins.
Around 30 Throsbies are buried in the cemetery (Reid, 2003, 80).

When Betsey Throsby died in 1891, aged 83, the funeral service at Christ Church was conducted by three clergymen. There were 50 vehicles in the cortege and 20 horsemen. She left 78 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren (Reid, 2013, 81).

The Church celebrated a 'Foundation Day' centenary service on 21 July, 1945. After a short church service to commemorate the centenary, 17 Bhutan cypresses (Cupressus torulosa), one for each Throsby child, were planted in the church grounds along the western road fence boundary. Miss Sarah Gregg Loseby, aged 98, planted the first one, on the northern end above the early village of Bong Bong. Mrs G. S.Begbie, wife of the Rector, planted the second. Mrs Foley, wife of the Mayor planted another, as did Miss V.T. Baddams (principal of SCEGGS). Sarah Loseby was niece of RIchard Loseby who is said to have carried the mail 'from Picton to Goulburn on foot' about 1825. In 1834 he was licencee of The Argyle Inn. Sarah was born 4/9/1847 at her father's property, Harby Farm, Kangaloon Cross Roads. Her father was present at the consecration service of Christ Church, Bong Bong by Bishop Broughton in 1845, and Sarah was baptised in the church in 1847 and later sang in the choir. Sadly two of the 17 trees planted that day were later cut down to make way for an electricity line (Darling, 2000, 28). The other 15 trees remain today.

A second short row of Bhutan cypresses were planted in 1945 as a windbreak on the south side of the church, near it (Darling, Sally: pers.comm., 6/8/2019).

On 31 December 1945 a service was held to mark 100 years since the consecration of the church. The address was given by Bishop C. Venn Pilcher. In attendence were Archbishop Howard Mowll of Sydney, Rev. L.A. Pearce and Rev. J.A. Dahl. At 11am Frank Henry Osborne Throsby, senior surviving grandson of Charles Throsby, unveiled a commemorative tablet set above the north door - overlooking those fertile flats where the Bong Bong village once stood (Darling, 2000, 28).

Mr H. Talbot Sanderson of 'Wongabri' thought it a good idea to mark the site of the Bong Bong village. He gathered support, donating much of the finance himself, and on 18 January 1947 an obelisk was unveiled by Lieutenant General John Northcott CB, MVO to commemorate the Proclamation of the Township and Military Station of Bong Bong. The obelisk marks the site of the village below Christ Church. Its inscription reads: 'Site of Bong Bong Military Station and First Township Reserve on the Southern Highlands. Surveyed 1821, R.A.H.S. Donated by H.Talbot Sanderson Esq., 1946' (Darling, 2000, 28).

Following the building of an electricity sub-station in 1928, land at the churchyard's eastern boundary was acquired in 1949 by the State Electricity Commission for workmen's cottages. Additional land was also resumed in 1954 and 1955 (Darling, Sally: pers.comm., 6/8/2019).

The church held a 150th anniversary year service in 1995.

In 2000 a book was published, by Sally Darling: 'Bong Bong and Christ Church, Bong Bong, 1800-2000'.

The church's stained glass windows were restored in 2004. The east window, depicting Christ's ascension, was given by Betsey Throsby (probably in 1884) in memory of her late husband. Three other floral windows are thought to have been commissioned by Betsey and made by Lyon, Cottier and Company which made windows for major buildings including St.Andrews' College, Sydney University and St. Andrew's Scots Church, Rose Bay. A later ecclesiastical window reads that it is in memory of the Rev.William Fisher, who died in 1916. Former warden Sally Darling was instrumental in organising the window restoration work (Reid, 2003, 80).

The church's paintwork gradually deteriorated. In 2010 an anonymous benefactor, who came to the region c.2007 and is a regular member of the congregation, came to the rescue, finding heritage contacts in Sydney and putting momentum into the conservation project, said church warden Robin Croker (warden for 42 years). Discoloured stencil work on the ceiling and walls was repainted in its original colours, other parts were rediscovered and recreated, such as gold circles and fleurs-de-lis (iris motifs) that had been painted over. Lettering, which had always remained visible, was restored to its original brighter condition, and to its more ornate original scheme. 'In terms of its decoration, the church is unique - I know of nothing like it' says Julian Bickersteth, managing director of International Conservation Services which did the award-winning work. The restorers discovered the cream window frames were originally stained wood, so these were returned to their original state. The whole interior was repainted, where previously paint was peeling off walls. One small section was left to show the condition pre-restoration. New lighting and heaters were installed (Reid, 2003, 78-80).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Gardens-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Other open space-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Cultural: Plains and plateaux supporting human activities-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	Private farming-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes and parklands of distinctive styles-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of remembrance-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes and countryside of rural charm-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of institutions - productive and ornamental-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Exploration-Activities associated with making places previously unknown to a cultural group known to them.	(none)-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Pastoralism-Activities associated with the breeding, raising, processing and distribution of livestock for human use	cattle-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Adapted heritage building or structure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	1820s-1850s land grants-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Early land grants-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Granting Crown lands for private farming-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Early farming (Cattle grazing)-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from rural to suburban-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Subdivision of rural estates-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	19th Century Infrastructure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing the social life of a rural community-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing suburbia-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Planning manorial villages and systems-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Country Estate-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Role of transport in settlement-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Planning relationships between key structures and town plans-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Beautifying towns and villages-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	living in the country-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Cultural Social and religious life-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Impacts of railways on rural development-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Rural Estates-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Roadside Villages-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Suburban Expansion-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Activities associated with relaxation and recreation-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Developing collections of items-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Visiting places of romantic inspiration-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Gathering at landmark places to socialise-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Visiting heritage places-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going to church or temple or mosque-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Religion-Activities associated with particular systems of faith and worship	Religious worship-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Religion-Activities associated with particular systems of faith and worship	(none)-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Religion-Activities associated with particular systems of faith and worship	Practising Anglicanism-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Religion-Activities associated with particular systems of faith and worship	Cemetery-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Religion-Activities associated with particular systems of faith and worship	Church-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead.	(none)-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	(none)-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Charles Throsby MLC, major landholder and grazier-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Bishop William Grant Broughton, Anglican bishop of Australia-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Betsy (Elizabeth) Throsby (nee Broughton), gentlewoman and farmer-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Christ Church is of historic significance being constructed in 1845, it is the oldest Church between Cobbity and Canberra. It is associated with historic figures John Verge, Charles Throsby and Bishop W.G Broughton. It provides evidence of the first designated township in the southern highlands by Governor Macquarie in 1821.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Christ Church is of aesthetic significance as a relatively intact church, churchyard and cemetery, prominently sited on a hill, overlooking Throsby Park and the Wingecaribbee River, and as a landmark feature as you enter Moss Vale from Bowral.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	Christ Church is of social significance as it is important not only to the people who attend the Church but to others it contributes to Bong Bong's sense of place.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	Christ Church is of technical/research significance as it has the potential to yield further cultural and technical information through its rare stained glass & painted enamel windows, rare Parsons organ and interior paintwork. The cemetery is an important record of historic information about the pioneers and convicts that once lived and worked in the Southern Highlands.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The collection of the organ, paintwork and stained glass & painted enamel windows as set of floral panels are unique in New South Wales.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	It represents the aspirations of the early settlers and their attempts to build the Bong Bong township.
Integrity/Intactness:	Christ Church retains all its significant features except that of the gallery.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Produce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) OF THE HERITAGE ACT 1977 Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977. I, the Hon James Griffin MP, Minister for Environment and Heritage, pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales do by this Order, effective at the time of publication in the New South Wales Government Gazette: 1. revoke the order made on 9 November 2020 and published in the Government Gazette Number 318 of 13 November 2020; and 2. grant the exemptions from subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 that are described in the attached Schedule. The Hon James Griffin MP Minister for Environment and Heritage Signed this 2nd day of June 2022. To view the standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 click on the link below.	Jun 17 2022

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register	01383	07 Apr 00	44	3161
State Environmental Planning Policy		11 Apr 86
Local Environmental Plan	1989	12 Jan 90	007	00288
National Trust of Australia register		31 May 76
National Trust of Australia register		05 Nov 84
Register of the National Estate		21 Mar 78

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Darling, Sally	2000	Bong Bong and Christ Church, Bong Bong 1800-2000
Written	Historic Houses Association of Australia	2020	The Vice-Regal Retreat: Southern Highlands Tour: 20-22/3/2020	View detail
Written	Reid, Melissa	2013	'Thank Heavens for Betsey'
Written	Sally Darling	1999	State Heritage Inventory form - Christ Church Bong Bong
Written	Stiller, John	1981	Christ Church Anglican, Bong Bong, NSW: Documentation of pipe organ built by Samuel Parsons, c1840

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5045224
File number:	H99/00215, H99/00262

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

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