Church purchase saves Stanley’s museum precinct

THE Stanley community is celebrating news the Tasmanian government will buy its Anglican Church in a deal which will not only save the structure, but allow the historic town’s museum to expand.

St Paul’s was one of the many properties the Anglican Church put on the market to raise money to fund its redress commitment to survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

The community feared the church would be sold and become private property, meaning volunteers would need to move its historical artefacts and displays out of the church hall which is on the same title.

The government said on Thursday it would pay $650,000 for the weatherboard church – built in 1887 – and the hall and renovate both.

Stanley Discovery Museum president Sue Smedley said the decision was a “Godsend” for the future of the museum.

“We put in a submission hoping something would come out of it and this is the best outcome we could have hoped for as a community. Things looked very uncertain when the property went on the market and we were worried the museum would not have a home.”

The state budget also included an extra $300,000 to support the work of the National Trust Tasmania.