The Lal Lal district has always been a rich source of mineral wealth.
Extractive industries have operated there for more than 130 years, and continue today with the extraction of high quality kaolin, used in the making of pottery. The first iron mine in Australia operated at Lal Lal in the 1870s and 1880s. The fence surrounding St Patrick‘s Cathedral, Ballarat is one known example of the use of Lal Lal iron. Other minerals mined were gold, brown coal and clay for brick making. The timber mills that operated in the area sent away large quantities of timber by rail.
The New Year‘s Day Race Meeting at Lal Lal became an institution, with thousands travelling by rail to the course. Other attractions are the nearby Lal Lal Falls and the Bungal dam.
Mass commenced being celebrated in private homes, at Lal Lal from 1909.
The old Lethbridge church was moved in August,1914 to a site on the east side of the railway line at Lal Lal.
On the 31st October,1914 “The Advocate” contained a report of the opening.
On Sunday last the Lal Lal church was blessed and opened by the Coadjutor- Archbishop of Melbourne (the Most.Rev.Dr.Mannix.) Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given. An address of welcome was presented to Archbishop.Mannix by Cr.Way, of the Buninyong Shire Council. Dr.Mannix spoke at length on Catholic education, and emphasized several of the points in his Lethbridge utterance. The renovation of the church removed to Lal Lal involved the expenditure of two hundred pounds, and the liquidation of this is advanced substantially, fifty pounds being subscribed on Sunday, Buninyong and other districts were well represented at the ceremony. Lal Lal is remarkable for the sandy nature of the soil, and this has been turned to commercial advantage by local industries. But to the contractors for the removal of the church it proved an impediment. From Lethbridge to Lal Lal eight horses were able to draw the load, but so heavy was the “going” over 200 yards from the main road to the church site that it was necessary to secure 18 additional horses. But the outlay and enterprise are justified in the result, which no little satisfaction was expressed on Sunday. The architects were Messrs. Lusk and Moriarty.
Dr.Mannix and Fr.P.A.Vaughan motored to St Mary‘s, Geelong and were the guests of Ven Archpriest.McKenna till Monday. The Lal Lal church was dedicated to St Alphonsus‘.
On Saturday afternoon 13th December,1915 Archbishop.Mannix administered confirmation at St Alphonsus‘ church Lal Lal, to 19 children and nine adults. His Grace congratulated the children on the splendid knowledge they evinced of Christian doctrine, notwithstanding the fact of not being privileged to attend a Catholic school. The sponsors were Mr. & Mrs.D.Maher.
The Advocate July 21, 1927.
On the far outskirts of the Meredith parish is the little Catholic community of Lal Lal. They take pride in their famous waterfall and their fine church erected by the late Fr.P.A.Vaughan. The church has been recently renovated and painted.
It is thought that the last Mass at Lal Lal may have been celebrated by Fr.D.Cameron in the year 1959.
The church was sold to the 14th Ballarat Scout Group and removed to Llanberris Reserve near Sovereign Hill in 1964 where it saw use as a scout hall.
A fierce storm that lashed Ballarat on 21st December, 1973 shifted the hall six feet off its foundations.
Damage was so extensive that a decision was taken to demolish the building
The land at Lal Lal was sold in 1985.
The only wedding at Lal Lal. 1952. Sheila and Syd Burns.
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