elphinstone

facilities

Song to the Moon is available for special events such as weddings, birthdays, family reunions and funerals. It is also a great venue for yoga or any other type of retreat, ceremonies, workshops and conferences.

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The church will comfortably seat up to 80 people. It has the original, magnificent stained glass windows, wide baltic pine floors and timber vaulted ceilings. There is also heating and carefully designed lighting.

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The property consists of 2 acres of natural bushland, surrounded by gum trees and manicured native gardens. It’s a private environment that provides many opportunities for impressive, creative photography.

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Just a short walk from the church is an attractive building providing catering/kitchen facilities. It features polished concrete floors and benchtops as well as ample chairs, tables and generous space for you to supply the food and drink to complement your event.

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The property has ample room for a marquee, and the whole area is fully fenced making it a pet friendly venue.

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Song to the Moon is environmentally sustainable and off grid. There is a back up generator.

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The separate rest rooms are also charming in design and feature a shower and disabled access.

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The entire property is included in the hire, creating a blank canvas on which you can see your vision come to life.

Song to the Moon is part of the…

Castlemaine Wedding Collective

 

History

 

The early years

Ministering religion on the goldfields was a difficult task for many clergymen with services initially delivered from tree stumps or overturned wheelbarrows. After a while small churches started to appear in and around the gold mining centres and St Mary’s Church was one of these.

An Anglican church, it was built in 1861, during the time they discovered gold in nearby Forrest Creek (now Chewton/Castlemaine). The church was created from the handmade red bricks left over from the construction of the railway tunnel in Elphinstone.

Many plaques marking the lives of early parishioners still exist. At one time they were located under the stained glass windows of the Church and together, tell a story of devotion and early settler life. For example “ In loving memory of Joseph and Jane Starr & Family who arrived in Melbourne on board the ‘Atlanta’ on 15^th of June 1856’ and ‘In loving memory of Eliza Grace Roberts Organist and Sunday School Teacher from 1902 – 1957’

The goldfields is home to some of the best preserved examples, large and small of 19th century architecture in Australia and St Mary’s Church is a heritage listed illustration of this.

Elphinstone

Elphinstone is one of the many smaller, historical towns surrounding the larger goldfields centres and was originally a sawmilling settlement.

The town, and its local materials played a major part in the construction of the railway line from Kyneton to Bendigo in 1862. Although the local railway station was closed in the late1970’s, the Elphinstone section of the line showcases the engineering feats of the mid 1800’s with the construction of a tunnel through solid rock.

Today it’s the countryside around Elphinstone, well known for its diverse flora and fauna which attracts local and visiting bush walkers. It’s a striking, historical location and a great example of the beauty of this part of Central Victoria.