Almost $30,000 has been spent in the past year keeping one of Tasmania’s most significant historic churches standing and the group behind the work is now turning to food and wine to fund the next round.
Celebrated Tasmanian chef Zac Green will curate a gala fundraising dinner at Buckland on October 24 to support the preservation of St John the Baptist Church.
The event, called United by Obsession, will be the church’s major fundraiser for the year.
It forms part of Great Eastern Wine Week, with Green’s menu paired with Tasmanian wines from Obsessionist Wines at Cranbrook.
Green formerly worked at the Waterloo Inn at Swansea and MoVida in Melbourne.
The small Gothic Revival church was built by convict stonemasons 180 years ago.
Its foundation stone was laid on August 12, 1846 and it went on to become a significant example of English Gothic architecture in Tasmania.
Its first minister, Frederick Cox, wrote in 1847 that his new church would be “the most church-like church in the island”.
Friends of Buckland Church president Bryan Green said the dinner was designed to draw people in rather than simply ask them for money.
“We wanted to find a way to make people fall in love with Buckland Church all over again,” he said.
“Heritage fundraising is often about asking people to give. We wanted to create an experience that makes people want to be part of the story.”
Green said bringing together the chef, wine, food, music and the history of the church was a chance to celebrate the place while helping secure its future.
The restoration and conservation work carried out over the past year was aimed at keeping the building sound.
The dinner starts at 6pm at Buckland and is supported by the National Trust Tasmania.
A free return bus will run from Hobart.
Tickets are limited and available here.
