Community
23 July, 2026
FOUNDATION OF FAITH: Pebble Church's new mural
While the church itself has a rich history, the group wanted to shift focus to the community around it at the opening of its new mural last week.
THE Pebble Church Heritage Association has made sure everyone - young and old - who gave everything to the building would be remembered.
While the church itself has a rich history, the group wanted to shift focus to the community around it at the opening of its new mural last week.
Built in 1869, the Pebble Church was constructed from white quartz pebbles collected by miners and their families from their gold mines in the surrounding area.
It was this simple act of every member of the church community, no matter their age, that inspired St Arnaud artist Kyle Torney’s mural ‘Children of Carapooee’.
“I met and received a heap of historical documents and photos from the founding and pioneering families, but I wanted to make sure what was painted on the tanks would do justice to the building and its history,” Mr Torney said.
“What stood out most was that this church was a community project created by that community literally working together.
“From small children to older men and women, everyone played a role. I wanted to have one entire scene that didn’t focus on one aspect.”
During the ceremony last Thursday, Craige Proctor, with the support of Kaye Medlyn, read a Roll Call of 50 ‘children of Carapooee’ in the 1860s who likely saw their church being constructed and, just possibly, assisted in carting pebbles. The honour of cutting the ribbon went to Glen Halden, who first put forward the suggestion of a mural.
The State Government’s Tiny Towns fund provided $8,500 for the project.
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