Steiglitz is named after the family, von Stieglitz, who, under licence from the New South Wales Government leased an area of approximately 74,000 acres..Steiglitz became a Borough in 1866 with an area of 9 ½ square miles. In 1881 the Borough of Steiglitz amalgamated with the Shire of Meredith. The Steiglitz court house built in 1875 replacing an earlier wooden structure, is now one of only a handful of buildings that remain in this once bustling town.
The first reef of gold was reported to have been found about September, 1855 by a party including Davis, Hooley and Howley. On October 16 the Geelong Advertiser gave directions for finding this new goldfield, near the junction of Sutherland‘s Creek and a tributary of the Anakies, and soon the rush was on.
In the 1850s and 1890s Steiglitz was a busy gold- mining township with a population of over 1000. Most of the hotels, shops, churches and people have now gone, but many traces remain.
Soon after the concentration of people in the area, Very Rev. Dean James Hayes, O.S.A., pastor of the extensive mission of Geelong, visited the diggings, and on August 25, 1857, purchased a large wooden converted grain store, measuring 60 by 30 (and with shingle roof) for the purpose of establishing a school and church in the area. Donations were received from the people of the neighbourhood and a school was opened on January 1, 1858 with Michael O‘Grady as the first teacher.
The attendance was more than 30 boys and girls and among some of them were: Bridget, Anthony and May Johnson; Bridget O‘Halloran; William, Eleanor, Joseph and Lucy Levers; Sarah and Ann Walker; May Mulrooney; John Sullivan; Alexander, Henry and Anne Collins; Mary, James and Joseph Shandon; James Smith; John Walker; William E Young; Jane Creed; Catherine C. Young; William, Ellen, Charles and Rose Lawrence; Mary Bailey, and Frank Vale. The old store had been thoroughly renovated at a cost of $300. The school, did not remain open long, and with a petering out of gold-digging work the population moved elsewhere. A rise in the population in 1859 prompted Dean Hayes to re-open it but soon after it was again closed.
In subsequent years, various efforts were made to revive the school, but the arrangement was not satisfactory. This building was also served as the Catholic church under the patronage of St.Bernard, being served by the priests from St Mary‘s Geelong. Mass had previously been celebrated in Butcher‘s old store. Mass was celebrated every Sunday at the peak of prosperity, but about once a month when population declined.
Rev.James.Hoyne (who had succeeded at Geelong) stated that the site at Steiglitz was unfit for building purposes. The best site he considered was that adjoining the old cemetery and between it and the Steiglitz bridge. The new site was approved on May 5, 1868, and soon after he commenced the erection of the second building. Trustees of the new reserve were, besides the Bishop (Dr.Goold) and Father Hoyne, Messrs. Stephen McGonigal, Henry McGann and Michael Johnson. Ten years later Mr.Patrick.Barrington replaced Mr.McGann who left the district.. The church was opened c1868 under the patronage of St Thomas. Forty people were confirmed at Steiglitz on Sunday March7th,1896.
The Steiglitz Miner May 8, 1898 The R.C.Church.
The mission to be conducted in the local R.C.Church by one of the Redemptorist Fathers will commence to-morrow (Sunday) evening. On Monday morning Masses will be celebrated at 8 and 11 o‘clock. The same evening a mission will be commenced at Anakie, and concluded with the celebration of Mass on Tuesday morning, May 10.
J.F.Hogan‘s reminisences in “The Advocate” February 1, 1919. “I have seen the church of St Thomas over crowded at Mass on Sundays, and a number of people kneeling outside, unable to squeeze in. But all Australian mining townships have their booms and their slumps, their favours and frowns of the fickle goddess. Fortune, and I afterwards saw Steiglitz well-nigh deserted, with hardly a score of people at Mass. Through the years additions and renovations were made. Following the closing of the mines, the church was idle for many years. In 1950 negotiations were satisfactorily concluded with the pastor of the Meredith parish, for the purchase of the building and its subsequent removal to Norlane. Mrs Mary Lynch (Tom‘s mother) was the last sacristan of the Steiglitz church.
The first Mass in the old church, in its new location, was celebrated on Christmas Day, 1950 in the presence of a crowded congregation. It was later used as a school hall, and returned to its former site at Steiglitz in 1983. The land was sold to the Government in early 1983. The land and the old St Thomas‘ Church are both owned by the Government and are part of the National Parks Service.
On Sunday May 2nd,1999 about 120 parishioners filled the tiny timber church on the hill for what is believed to have been the first Mass at the church in Steiglitz since 1926 reported the Geelong Advertiser.
Fr Haines said only one member of the congregation yesterday could remember church services being held at St Thomas‘ at Steiglitz; Maude‘s Tom Lynch. Fr Haines is hoping that the church doors will open again for more services. The Mass at Steiglitz was followed by a parish picnic.
Report of an incident at Steiglitz . PROV,VPRS 61/P, Unit 18, 58/616
13th March,1858 Notice placed on the door of the Church of England school at Steiglitz.
NOTICE.
Where as certain semi-popish beings lost on Sunday last “The Sacred Heart of the Virgin Mary” and an anchor of the Holy Catholic Church, with cross belonging there to. Those who claim the same can have them by applying within. Signed Mr.Mathers (School teacher.)
15th March, 1858 To the Board from Michael O‘Grady. PROV, VPRS 61/P, Unit 19, 58/986
I respectfully beg leave to state that I am called upon by the R.C‘s here and respectable members of the C of E , to forward for the accompanying notice; which was placed on the door of the Cof E, School House on the 13th (see above notice.) It appears to be the production of Mr.Mathers, Master of the C of E School at Steiglitz and bears the genuine signature of that man. The Catholics consider it a gross insult and an abominable production emanating as it does from one entrusted with the moral training of youth. The day on which it was set up was one on which a large assembly of people was gathered at Steiglitz. I am not acquainted with Mr.Mathers and do not consider it directly an insult on my own account. Here we Catholics request you will be pleased to place the notice before your Honourable Board for consideration. As it tends to stir up feelings on sectarian views,amongst the inhabitants of a quite and peaceful township. May I also mention that some of the members of his School Committee, have requested me to hand the notice to the proper quarter, being pulled down by one of themselves and placed in my hands.
28th April, 1858 STEIGLITZ Mr.O‘Grady PROV, VPRS 61/P, Unit 19, 58/986
I have to state that Rev.Russell of Buninyong called upon me on the 26th inst re Notice. He states that Mr.Mathers acknowledged the writing and posting of the said notice for which he should be reprimanded and cautioned against such injudicious conduct in future. Any further investigation was deemed unnecessary as I promised to intercede with some of my own community not to further press the charge and let your Board deal with the matter as they think proper. It may be fit to mention that any of my statements to the Board accompanying the notice cannot be contradicted except that the man who pulled down the paper is only a member of the C of E not a member of the School Committee as represented. On the whole Mr.Mathers conduct was both artless and impudent in first attributing it to quibbles amongst his own community and afterwards acknowledging very opposite motives. This I have in his own handwriting but as Mr.Russell‘s interview was such a conciliatory nature and disapproving of Mr.Mathers conduct, I would not feel justified in asking against such charitable feelings.
1st May, 1858 From BUNINYONG: REV. RUSSELL. PROV, VPRS 61/P, Unit 19, 58/1062
In reply to your letter respecting a certain notice, which was posted on the C of E Church House at Steiglitz, by Mr.Mathers which notice was said to be a gross insult to the R.C., feelings as well as an abominable insult, I beg leave to say having investigated the circumstances I am prepared to state:
That Mr.Mathers at once unhesitatingly acknowledged that he did put the notice there and that he acted injudiciously in doing it, and that placing it there he acted impulsively and without due consideration. He promises never to do the like again and that when he posted this notice he had in view not so much any member of the R.C. community as some unknown Protestant with a R.C. tendency. The articles alluded to having been found in the C of E School room on the 1st of March, immediately after the closure of Divine Service. I would also like to add that the Protestant people were indifferent on the subject and the R.C‘s are but wretchedly miserable fraction of the population therefore I do not see what further action should be taken in the matter. I also enclose a copy of the minutes of the C of E School Committee of Steiglitz held on Tuesday 16th March,1858.
The Secretary brought under the notice of the Board complaints of a notice offensive to the Catholic community being posted by Mr.Mathers on the C of E School room in reference to certain articles found in the school room. The Board were of the opinion that such proceedings on the part of Mr.Mathers were uncalled for and reprehensible and that he should be requested to be more careful in future in any matter of faith affecting others.
It seems as though the outcome was the Secretary of the Denominational School Board sending a letter to Mr.Mathers informing him that the Board will overlook his conduct with the understanding that such a course would never be taken again.