Pioneering History

The Stonnington Church of Christ was established in January 1853. Six new settlers to the colony met in a tent near the corner of Chapel & High Streets to celebrate their Christian faith. They became known as the Prahran Church of Christ and ultimately established a permanent facility in High Street. In 1996, in partnership with the South Yarra Church of Christ, they relocated to the current facility, a Community Recreation Centre in Windsor, not far from the original location. They adopted the new name of "Stonnington" following the change of city name in more recent years.

The 1850's were the "gold rush" years for the fledgling settlement, known the world over as Marvelous Melbourne. The influx of new settlers swelled the population to over 700,000 by the end of the decade. In one week during 1853, more than 4,000 people disembarked from ships arriving in Hobson's Bay. Public works were unable to cope with the growth. Pollution of the Yarra was chronic and public health marked with disease, including cholera.

The young church community moved to the "Bowling Alley" and then to the Mechanic's Institute, ultimately constructing a facility during the 1890's in High Street, east of Chapel Street. This was the meeting place of the church until it moved to the current facilities.

Prahran Church of Christ was the founding congregation for the Churches of Christ in Victoria, now numbering in excess of 130 congregations.