Our Lady of Pompeii Roman Catholic Church, Yoogali, Roman Catholic church in Yoogali, Australia
Our Lady of Pompeii is a Catholic church in Yoogali with distinctive gothic-arched windows of colored glass and a bell tower at the southeast corner. The building is constructed in traditional brick and features a Madonna statue on its facade as a defining landmark.
The structure was built between 1939 and 1940 by Antonio Ceccato and Italian community members during the Great Depression. This was a crucial moment for Italians in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, creating a central gathering place for their community.
The name honors Mary as protector and connects the congregation to a worldwide Catholic tradition. Visitors notice how the Madonna statue on the facade reflects the community's Italian faith, and the interior arrangement shows how it was designed for Italian-language worship.
The church is visible from outside and accessible to visitors, though its condition requires some attention. Ongoing roof repairs and moisture control work may be visible during your visit, which is part of the site's maintenance program.
This is the oldest structure in New South Wales built specifically by and for an Italian community, and it remains active today. Its significance lies not just in its construction, but in how it continues to represent a living link to early Italian migration.
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