Originally known as "Stony Rises" Elaine could once claim the largest Catholic church congregation in the Meredith parish, due to the extensive mining activity in the area. At the time the population of the district supported three hotels and 4 churches and the town was served by a water supply from a reservoir at Lal Lal. Elaine in common with other rural communities has lost many of the services that were once available, but it still retains a well maintained Catholic church and Public Hall as well as a Hotel, Post Office, General Store and Service Station.
The Advocate November 2, 1872.
A New reef has just been discovered at Elaine, on the Lal Lal road, which is expected to yield 3oz to the ton. The reef is believed to extend from Stony Rises to Mount Doran, a distance of four miles. There are at present 200 men at work developing the ground
The Catholic school at Elaine opened c1870.
The Advocate March 29, 1873 Support of Catholic Schools.
The following are particulars of a Catholic school so faithfully and gloriously maintained by local efforts.
Stoney Rises (Ballarat Mission). Attendance 43. The Presbyterian School here received in 1871, 125 pounds from the State.
The Advocate April 19, 1873 Support of Catholic Schools.
A welcome correction has come from Stony Rises unaided schools, Ballarat Mission. Our statement (derived from information received 12 months ago) was that this school has had an attendance of 43. Mr.John.O‘D.Carew now writes, “since the beginning of the present year we have 78 on the rolls, and an average of 60 in daily attendance.” Mr.Cleary, it appears, is the master, and he has worked energetically to provide the requisites so as to challenge a comparison “with any school in the colony.” If this increase has been effected (as we believe it has) in spite of an opposition State supported free school, it proves how much can be accomplished by unity of action. Although the secularists will never wholly succeed in their design, it must be expected that they will succeed wherever the Catholics are not united and active.
The Advocate September 25th, 1875 PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Tuesday, September 21. Petitions against the Education Bill.
Mr.Belcher presented a petition from the Roman Catholic residents of Elaine and Lethbridge, praying for redress from grievances sustained by them under the operation of the Education Act. The petitions were received and ordered to lie on the tableThe Advocate November 13, 1875. Catholic Education at Elaine.
The Advocate November 13, 1875 Catholic Education at Elaine.
Early in last April the people of Elaine and its vicinity commenced their task of providing for the proper education of their children. How they have succeeded may be judged from the following facts. Two intelligent teachers have been secured in Mr.McDonald and Miss.Hewitt; no child of Catholic parents attends the State school close-by; and the number of children in attendance is once and a half as large as that of the secular establishment. An examination with most satisfactory results, was held on the 20th ult, by a lay gentleman of the highest attainments and long practical experience in teaching.
The Advocate September 9th, 1876 MEREDITH MISSION-RETURN for quarter ending 31st March,1876.
In consequence of there being few Catholic schools, about 50 children in this mission attend State schools. Elaine school, unaided by State: average attendance 68 Lethbridge school, unaided by State: average attendance 24 Darriwil capitation school: average attendance 23 Anakie capitation school: average attendance 14.
The Advocate October 27, 1877 Meredith.
In this mission the Catholics appear to be determined to support their schools at all hazards, and to have nothing whatever to do with the establishments erected by a kind and paternal Government. There are now three very successful schools in operation, situated at Elaine, Darriwil and Lethbridge. The Elaine school which is very efficiently conducted by Miss.Wilson, has the very satisfactory average attendance of 50. In the country districts there are many obvious difficulties in the way of supporting the schools, and the Rev.J.L.Hegarty is to be congratulated on having triumphed over these difficulties and maintained the schools in a state of efficiency equal to; if not superior, to their position when under Government control.
To support their application to have a State school built, at Elaine, the writers of the three letters received by the Education Department, in 1874, mentioned the closing of the Elaine Catholic school to reinforce their case. The Catholic school reopened again in April, 1874 with Mr.McDonald and Miss Hewitt. Two of the teachers, and remained open until well into the 1880‘s supported by the contributions of the parents. In 1876 the number of children attending the Elaine Catholic school, exceeded the combined total of all the other Catholic schools in the parish combined.
After it was sold, the old school building served as an out house at the rear of the Elaine Hotel until destroyed by a fire that started in the hotel chimney.
The first Catholic church at Elaine, is thought to date from the 1860‘s.
The Advocate November 4th, 1876
On Sunday morning October 22nd, 1876 his Grace Archbishop Goold, accompanied by Fathers Kelly and Hegarty, proceeded to Elaine, a rising mining township on the Ballarat railway, situated at a distance of seven miles from Meredith. It had been previously arranged that the candidates for confirmation residing in the western portion of the mission should attend at Elaine, but the small accommodation afforded by the Elaine church was found to be totally inadequate to the large number in attendance. A children‘s Mass was first celebrated by Father Kelly, at which 100 children of both sexes received Holy Communion. His Grace the Archbishop then addressed those about to be confirmed, pointing out the nature and objects of the Sacrament, and dwelling on the manifold graces it was calculated to bestow on those who received it worthily. The total number confirmed was 150, and amongst those were several aged adults. At the conclusion of the ceremony of Confirmation the children retired, and their places were occupied by the ordinary congregation and a large number of visitors from the adjacent districts. A second Mass was then celebrated by the Rev.J.L.Hegarty, in the presence of his Grace the Archbishop, and Father Kelly preached, in his usual brilliant style, a sermon on “The proper use and application of knowledge.” Father Kelly‘s address was listened to with marked attention, it being the first occasion on which the majority of those assembled had been afforded an opportunity of hearing the most eloquent Victorian Jesuit.
The Advocate November 2nd, 1878 THE LANGUAGE OF THE CHURCH
Elaine is a mining township on the Ballarat railway, about six miles distance from Meredith and in its vicinity there is a large Catholic population- so large that in the local church adequate accommodation cannot be provided. On Sunday last Mass was celebrated by the Rev.J.L.Hegarty, in the presence of a thronged congregation. An interesting and instructive discourse on “The Language of the Church,” being one of a series of lectures on “The Sacrifice of the Mass,” was delivered by Father Hegarty.
The Latin tongue, he said was the language of the Church, and has much to recommend it as the language of a body at once universal in its extent, undying in its endurance, and unchanging in its doctrines. He answered the various objections advanced by non-Catholics against the use of a dead language in the services of the Church, and remarked that the professors of Oxford University lament in these latter days the miscalled “Reformation” that removed the language of Christendom to put in its place the language of one nationality. The address was listened to with close attention throughout, and will, no doubt, have the effect of enabling those present to give a crushing answer to the numerous quibbles advanced against this point of Catholic doctrine.
The accommodation provided by the church building was not nearly sufficient for the convenience of the congregation, owing to the increase in population of the district, and in 1909 it was decided to erect a new edifice. The Meredith Sentinel, of 4th June, 1909 carried an advertisement, advising that the Catholic Church buildings at Elaine were to be sold by Auction, on Friday June 4th, 1909 at 12 o‘clock.
The Meredith Sentinel reported on June 11th, 1909 that the R.C.church building was auctioned by Messrs Coglan, Boase and Co on Friday last, and knocked down to Mr.E.Randall at 31 pounds. Mr.Randall removed the building to his property in Elaine where he allowed it to be used for socials and dances by the residents of Elaine.
The present St Patrick‘s Church at Elaine was opened on Sunday 28th, November, 1909 and a report appeared in the Advocate on December 4th, 1909.
On Sunday last the Very Rev.Dean Phelan, V.G., blessed a new church at Elaine, in the parish of Meredith. The church, which was built by a local firm, Messrs. Smith Bros, is a weather-board building on brick foundations, and gives a clear seating accommodation of 50 feet by 25 feet, independent of sanctuary, sacristy, and porch. After the ceremony, which commenced at 11 o‘clock, the pastor of the parish, Rev.M.Murphy, celebrated Mass, and the choir from St.Joseph‘s, Meredith, sang in a highly creditable manner portions of Weber‘s Mass, also a hymn to St.Patrick, under whose patronage the church is placed. The financial statement made by Fr.Murphy showed that the entire cost of the building, alter, seats, etc, was $1103.10; that $620 had been subscribed previous to the opening, and over $140 received on Sunday, including $20 from his Grace the Archbishop, and $10 each from the Dean and Fr.Murphy. After Communion the Very Rev.Dean Phelan preached on the necessity of a church as a dwelling place for God in His Eucharist Presence. Taking for his text, “Behold the tabernacle of God with men: He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people; and He Himself with them shall be their God.” In doing this work, I am pleased to learn that you have not only received material assistance from some who do not kneel at this altar, but that the authorities of the Presbyterian Church have given you their organ for the Mass today. This generous action deserves our special thanks and is in striking contrast with the anti-Catholic prejudice shown in other quarters. It reminds me of the action of Hiram, King of Tyre, when he heard that Solomon was about to build a house to the God of Israel. Not only did he offer cedar-trees from Libanus, but skilled men to carve the wood, and sent his trained sailors to assist in bringing from the mines of Ophir four hundred and twenty talents of gold for internal decoration. May that spirit of Christian charity ever dwell in your midst!
The Advocate December 18th,1909.
The friendly action of the Presbyterians of Elaine in lending their organ to the Catholics of that district for the opening of their church has been universally commended, as showing the true Christian spirit which ought to exist between the congregations of the various religious bodies; but, unfortunately, there are in our midst those who desire to see sectarianism rampant, and are trying to keep all the other religious bodies at loggerheads with Catholics. The “Watchman,” in condemning the action of the Presbyterians of Elaine, says:- “And yet the silly sheep, who are Protestants only in name, run to the Mass and assist in building up a political concern that will be a curse to their children and their children`s children.
Really, such people deserve to find themselves under the heel of Rome.” Liberal Protestants are pretty well sick of these sectarian-mongers, and care but little what Dr.Bill Mackay and his satellites in the press say of them.
A pleasing feature of the new church is the four feet Kauri Dado round the walls. The whole building is Kauri lined, and varnished. The church was designed to provide seating accommodation for three hundred and fifty persons. The contractors, Messrs Smith Bros, of Meredith, deserve the highest commendation for the workmanship displayed, and the splendid finish of the building throughout. The painting has also been exceedingly well done, Mr.A.Briggs of Meredith, being the artist reported the Meredith Sentinel.
The Geelong Advertiser July 25th, 1928 ELAINE CONSECRATION OF MEMORIAL WINDOW
One of the largest congregations that has ever been in St.Patrick‘s Church attended on Sunday last, the occasion being the consecration of a memorial window to the memory of James Connell, who died in his 25th year in February last. Deceased was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Connell, respected residents of Elaine. He was loved and respected by all sections of the community, and was closely connected with all sporting bodies. Friends of the deceased and the family were present from Ararat, Stawell, Ballarat, Melbourne, Geelong and all the surrounding districts, also members of other denominations. A few noticed were Cr.C.C.Austin, Mr.H.Young, Mrs.A.Bowers, Mrs.Gray, Mr.and Mrs.R.Norgate and others. The stained window was made by Brookes Robinson in Melbourne, bearing the image of St.Patrick and the inscription thereon “To the undying memory of James Connell, who died 3.2.28 R.I.P.” The beautiful window was kindly placed in position by Mr.Bill Smith, Meredith. High Mass with full ceremonies was offered by Rev.Fr.F.Conlon,P.P., Meredith, with six alter attendants from St.Josephs School, Meredith. The Meredith choir, with Mrs.R.Grant organist, assisted by Miss K.Johnson (violin) rendered beautiful music, the principal parts of the singing being capably handled by Mrs.Thos.Brady, Father.Conlon took as his text, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. From henceforth now, said the spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their works follow them.” With well chosen remarks Fr.Conlon touched feelingly on the many qualities of the late member. First as a good son; secondly as a good citizen and sportsman; thirdly as a good child of the church. The choir conducted an impressive ceremony with “Nearer my God to Thee.”
The early baptismal registers at St.Patrick‘s Cathedral, Ballarat, record baptisms for Stony Rises and Lal Lal. Mrs.Nina O‘Brien was sacristan of the Elaine church for many years and during the missions at Elaine the priest stayed with Joe and Nina O‘Brien.
Organist of the Elaine choir since its inception, Miss Eileen Cleary was given a farwell presentation in March, 1923. Miss Flora Mary McDonald was sacristan for over 33 years, she was also the organist and catechist for the children. Mrs Nina O‘Brien was another sacristan who served for many years, and provided accommodation for the priest during the missions at Elaine.
A tale from Elaine.
In the early 1930‘s a circus came to Elaine, and the circus had a monkey that used to run up a pole. During one of the sessions someone cut off the monkey‘s tail and dropped it in the pocket of Paddy Farrell‘s jacket. Martin Sharkey, the local J.P. duly conducted an investigation, but failed to identify the culprit. The following Sunday Paddy dipped his hand into his pocket for his offering and dropped the tail on the plate. Martin Sharkey was taking up the collection and was heard to mutter “case solved”.
Memories of Elaine.
In the early 1980‘s Father. Joe Dargan decided to partition the Elaine church in order to bring the back seat people closer to the altar. The transition was made with little fuss. The Stations of the Cross were not repositioned, so 6 of the Stations were “outside” the church. This oversight was corrected in late 1996. The room created by the partition is now used for a cuppa after Mass each fortnight.
Recollections of Elaine by Mrs.Mary Perdrisat (nee Phillips).
The first recollection I have of the Elaine church is of a First Communion. This was probably around mission time in 1929 or 1930. I had already made my First Communion in Moreland in October, 1929 and was upset when I was dressed up again to swell the crowd of Jack and Joan Power (teachers children) and perhaps Rita McCormack of Morrisons.
There were missions in the parish regularly every three years. I recall my mother telling of one mission in Elaine when for some reason no missioner was available, so the parish priest himself (Fr.A.Hughes) conducted a mission, and it was lovely. The Catholic children, on these occasions would be late arriving at school, having attended morning Mass and on one such day the school Inspector arrived too! I do not think he was impressed! I remember vaguely a mission priest who instructing the children asked us to draw the Southern Cross, each star having a particular meaning. The prize was won by Marian Randall.
My worst memory of St.Patrick‘s, Elaine was when aged 13 or 14 I had to play the organ for a mission.
I was petrified! One night I played a discord and nearly died of shame, (I think prior to this time Miss McDonald had been organist). This was the last mission of our time in Elaine and I helped with the piety stall, Nina Pearson (later O‘Brien) was in charge. There was a time the church pews were varnished and I kept sticking and peeling off my bare legs much to the amusement of people around me. About 1932 there was a wedding in St.Patrick‘s. The bride I think was Eileen Dunne. My mother decided it would be nice if I presented the bride with a horse shoe posy. I was shy and embarrassed and to make matters worse, I had to wear my white Confirmation dress! All I can recall is that we were seated on the wrong side of the aisle and had to change in a hurry. I also recall a parish picnic to Lal Lal by special train.
The Elaine children were on the swings when the Meredith kids came running over and announced that our mothers wanted to see us, and when we got off the swings they hopped on. I‘ve always maintained that Pop Gargan had a hand in it.
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