The Bell still ringing - Church Bell at Harkaway

The Lutheran Church of Harkaway is long gone, with the remains of the building finally being dismantled in 1912, (find out more at: http://caseycardinialinkstoourpast.blogspot.com/2016/12/harkaway-lutheran-chuch.html), but the Church Bell still remains. It stands alone in its tower in Hessel Road Harkaway, opposite the Harkaway Cemetery, and it still plays an important part in the local community

“The bell was imported from Germany at a cost of 16 pounds and once erected was christened "Concordia" by Pastor Herlitz. The Lutheran community built the first school and church on the site as the government of the time would not provide either a church or a school…... The bell is still rung each New Year's Eve, and whenever there is a funeral it tolls when the approaching cemetery hearse is sighted, ceasing when the funeral cortege is inside the cemetery.” (Berwick Cemetery Trust - A short history of the Harkaway Cemetery.  https://bhct.net.au/harkaway-cemetery/)

The bell was initially erected near the church building in 1869, with the timbers for the original tower coming from the property of the late Wilhelm Aurisch, a prominent Harkaway land-owner.  The tower was later demolished (long after the church had gone), in 1935 and a new bell tower erected on the same site, with new wood also coming from the Aurisch property.  (Early Days of Berwick and its surrounding districts, compiled by Norman E. Beaumont etc, pages 84-86)

 

(Early Days of Berwick and its surrounding districts)

Sometime between 1935 and 1993 (date unknown), Hessel Road was realigned on Cemetery Corner, necessitating the move of the Bell tower.  It was moved only a short distance to its current location and additional works have included adding parking spaces adjacent to the reserve in which it now stands.

“The new tower, resembling the original, has a gable protecting the original bell and its brass bearings and timber cross bracing bolted between the main supports.” The plot on which the bell now stands, is surrounded by a hawthorne hedge, with additional Italian cypresses and elms.  It is 0.093 hectares and the land and bell are now managed by the City of Casey( formerly City of Berwick).   (Heritage of the City of Berwick 1993)  

(Heritage of the City of Berwick 1993) 

 The Bell stills ring on New Year’s Eve.  To satisfy our curiosity, developed over many years of hearing the bell ring at midnight, my family and I went to the bell on New Year’s Eve and were delighted to find a small group of 40 people, including local residents and curious visitors.  A small introduction was given, one of the key holders unlocked the bell and just before midnight, some test peals were done.  We counted down to the stroke of midnight and then the bell was rung in earnest.  We all then had the chance to ring the bell, before stopping to sing Auld Lang Syne together and share best wishes. 

 

Play to hear the bell ringing just after midnight 01.01.22

 

It was amazing to revisit that history in person, but also to be part of this ongoing tradition.