St Monica’s Church, Kangaroo Flat

St Monica’s Church is now home to the Catholic community of Kangaroo Flat and Golden Square, after the closing of St Mary’s Church (High St, Golden Square).

A richly decorated Gothic Revival white truckpointed red brick church with stuccoed pinnacles to the porch buttresses. The gable ends have characteristic Gothic Revival copings with crosses at the apexes and there is a rose window with diapur panel above to the west end. Windows are lancet arched, the roof is of slate and there is an apsidal sanctuary with attached vestry. (Source: City of Greater Bendigo, Marong Heritage Study)

The original Church of St Monica’s was built in 1864 and was used as a Church School. This building was constructed from bricks fired in the open from clay obtained from the present school oval area. The moulding and firing of these bricks was a unique process: The unfired bricks were placed in low stacks or in shallow trenches and a fire was maintained around each stack or trench to produce an even temperature until such times as the bricks were considered ready. This moulding and firing was carried out near the creek bed, behind St Monica’s Primary School. This building (Church-School) was officially blessed by Bishop Gould from Melbourne on July 24th, 1864. It served as a Church until the present St. Monica's was built in 1926.

An extensive renovation of the Church will be undertaken this year to provide a gathering space for parish occasions.

Address: 97 High St, Kangaroo Flat, Vic 3555