30 Church Hill Rd, Old Noarlunga SA 5168

Being at the doorstep of the McLaren Vale wine region - could you imagine the property as a Cafe, Wine Bar, Cellar Door, or BnB - or even your own private residence or business location - whatever your idea check with council to ensure your dream can become reality.

Contact Nigel Christie to arrange a private inspection (private inspections for serious buyers only)

From the bell tower you would have outstanding views both out to sea and back up the Onkaparinga National Park and the surrounding vineyards at the gateway to the rapidly expanding McLaren Vale wine region.

Together with the church comes the operating graveyard with grave sites dating back to 1850 - this graveyard will remain in operation with the public allowed to enter the grave area to pay their respects.

Keen to inspect? Call Nigel Christie

NOTE - Adjacent is a vacant 2.75 Acre allotment has now sold and settled (thanks for all who enquired - please let me know if you are looking for any other acreage.

Brief history - St Philip & St James Old Noarlunga, South Australia

The church of St Philip & St James nestles on the side of a hill outside the township of Old Noarlunga, south of Adelaide.

The first stone was laid for the church in December, 1850, and the following March the foundation stone was put in place by Bishop Augustus Short. It was a further 14 months before the church was ready to be dedicated and open for use.

The church was built from stone quarried from the banks of the Onkaparinga River which flows about 100 metres below the church. The stone was hauled up to the site by bullocks and a winch system anchored to a rock outcrop which is now the church's graveyard.

As was the custom back then, the Anglican Church Council provided 150 pounds towards the cost of the building and the rest of the money needed to be raised by whatever means possible, consequently, it was a fairly basic church which was used for its first 15 years by the local community and worshippers from Hackham in the north to Port Noarlunga, Seaford and Moana in the west.

Eventually the rattling slate on the roof began to distract from the sermon and the cold draughts from the hessian-covered windows became too much for the congregation, fortunately, with growing prosperity in the area, changes were able to be made.

The church was extended to allow for a sanctuary, chancel and vestry but the construction of a large archway leading to this extension had moved the southern wall about 2.5cm and buttresses had to be built to support it & leadlight replaced the hessian at the windows.

At the turn of the century cracks and general wear and tear were showing in some of the additions but new alterations created gloomy conditions for the choir. in 1915 a leadlight window was installed in the east wall to brighten the area. It remains in place today.

Further repairs were undertaken in 1931 and in the 70s the Noarlunga council provided assistance to prevent water damage to the north wall. in 1989 a maintenance and restoration committee was formed to plan a long-term restoration program.

However, despite the best efforts of a loyal and faithful congregation and assistance over the years from the local council, local business and the National Trust, the church has again fallen into a state of disrepair.

While it is Heritage listed it requires significant work to repair structural issues caused by movement in the foundations.

This church has been closed for the past 3-4 years.

The Cemetery

The cemetery is historically very interesting and it shows the importance of the church and early life of Noarlunga. At a time when there was several other denominations actively represented in the village, it seems that all the burial is took place in this one cemetery.

The earliest records began in 1850 and tell their own story of hardship of life in these times. Of the 53 burial is recorded in the first 10 years, 19 windows of children less than two years of age. Only two people seem to have lived beyond 60 years. The following is a breakdown of the various groups showing ages at death. 0-10 years 32, 10-20 years 4, 21-30 years 7, 31-40 years 2, 41-50 years 5, 51-60 years 1, 61-70 years 0, 71-80 years 2.

Records only occasionally shows the cause of death, which is a pity because these two are interesting. Some of the courses shown in the order of appearance are lockjaw or tetanus, falling out of a driveway, southern visitation of God, drowned, consumption, disease of the heart and suicide. The notation drowned appears several times and indicates that there was much more activity in the river in those days.

Under the heading of abode we learn that the early settlers buried in the cemetery came from the following places

Martins Gully, Long Gully, Horseshoe, Noarlunga, Kingston, Myponga, Port Noarlunga, Peddlers Creek, Hackham, Aldinga, Morphett Vale, Reynella, Adelaide, Seaview, Range Road and Cockatoo Valley.

Gravesites are not systematically shown in the record so unless headstones were acted we do not usually know where people were buried.

*Some information taken from the 1990 pamphlet: St Philip & St James Old Noarlunga - A brief history of the Church on the Hill - 140 years of service to the community