All Saints Memorial Church, Tamrookum, Heritage-listed Anglican church in Tamrookum, Australia
All Saints Memorial Church is a single-storey timber chapel on a hill at Tamrookum Church Road, built on a Latin cross plan with a hardwood frame on a concrete base and oiled hardwood weatherboards. Its steep tiled gable roof covers the nave and chancel, with smaller gables over the transepts and two entry porches linked by narrow verandahs. White-painted timberwork contrasts with the dark walls; inside, unpainted cedar lining, original pews and a coloured concrete floor sit under a raked timber ceiling.
Robert Martin Collins chose the site for the church and family graves overlooking Tamrookum homestead shortly before his death in 1913. His family had William Bywater of Brisbane build the timber church for £2,098, and Archbishop St Clair Donaldson dedicated it on 31 August 1915. Collins had been a parliamentarian from 1896 to 1913 and pressed for Lamington National Park, proclaimed in 1915 after his death.
The stained glass windows were designed by the English church architect Sir Richard Lorimer and made by Una Adamson. The church also holds memorial gifts: a triptych, carved altar rails, fonts and communion utensils. The double entrance gates were hewn by broadaxe, and the flagpole and sundial came from the demolished Tamrookum homestead.
The church stands on a hill above the surrounding countryside, reached through a heavy timber gateway with double gates. The grounds hold mature trees, flower gardens and two separate burial areas, the older one at the back holding unmarked graves. The interior is dimly lit by small casement windows with green glass.
Most materials for construction came directly from the property itself, creating a strong local connection. Only specialized items like pews and altar components were sourced from elsewhere.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,869 contributors worldwide.