News and Events
All Roads Lead to Tunnack!
On 13th March 2010, all roads led to Tunnack!
About 150 people travelled by picturesque and winding country roads to join the local faith community in celebrating the refurbishment of St Brigid’s Catholic Church and Priest’s Cottage. Among the congregation which filled the little country church were eleven Sisters of St Joseph who travelled from throughout Tasmania for the occasion, and two Sisters of St Joseph from South Australia.
On September 11, 1866, Bishop Murphy applied for, and was granted, 4 acres of Crown Land on which to erect a Catholic Church and Burial Ground. Fr Marum was the Parish Priest and the slab hut that was built doubled as both a church and a school.
In May 1873, approximately 30 families donated, and promised, money for the erection of a church on a new site, on land donated by Mr C O’Conor. The original slab hut was removed to this site and used for worship. On 1st January, 1882, Bishop Murphy blessed the Foundation Stone for the new church . 
On 14th July, 1894, St Brigid’s Catholic Church was blessed
and opened by Bishop Delaney. John Banderet designed
and supervised the building of htis church. The original shingle
roof was laid by Fred Palmer.
The refurbishment of St Brigid’s Church was part of the Pastoral Council’s Parish Plan for the Catholic Parish of Central Tasmania. The interior was completely stripped back, the floor and plaster renewed, the church rewired, the furniture cleaned and the altar retouched. The original Priest’s cottage was also revamped and set up as a meeting room.
At the conclusion of the celebratory Mass, led by Archbishop Adrian Doyle, with concelebrants Fr Christopher Igboanua and Fr Greg Barker, the church and priest’s cottage were blessed. Those present signed a visitors’ book and took time to renew acquaintances and share memories while inspecting the refurbished buildings and wandering through the adjacent cemetery. Lively conversation continued at the Tunnack Club where visitors were able to reminisce while viewing the History Wall and enjoying a wonderful lunch. Those attending from afar will long remember the welcoming faith community who made their visit so pleasant and thank Paul O’Brien and his committee for enabling such a happy occasion.
Connection of Sisters of St Joseph with Tunnack:
Two Sisters of St Joseph arrived to teach at Tunnack in 1891, using the original slab building. Miss Ellen McAllister, who had been teaching in Tunnack prior to this, moved to St Patrick’s School, Jerusalem (Colebrook) and later entered the Sisters of St Joseph, being then known as Sr Winifred.
Two Cleary sisters entered the Sisters of St Joseph from the Tunnack area - Sisters Eustelle and Philomena.
Sr Vincent Bowler, the first to enter the Sisters of St Joseph in Tasmania, in 1888, is buried at Tunnack. For a reason currently unknown, her grave is placed at right angles to all others in the cemetery.
The Sisters of St Joseph administered the Catholic School at Tunnack until 1963. The Convent and School buildings have since been relocated within the district.
