Church celebrates opening of Haskell Hall and the 140th Anniversary of the Adventist Church in Australia
Galen Gan / Naomi Janmaat
Published
On April 6, 2025, church officers, members and friends of the Victorian Conference were joined by dignitaries from the South Pacific Division, Australian Union Conference, Trans-Pacific Union, and local government to open ‘Haskell Hall’ - a new 340-seat multi-purpose auditorium on the Nunawading Estate (former camp ground). The facility was officially opened by Pr Glenn Townend, President of the South Pacific Division.
Built as part of Stage 3 of the Pavilions Blackburn Lake retirement village project, this new state-of-the-art multi-purpose facility has been designed to provide event, conferencing, and extensive congregational worship capabilities to the Victorian Conference, as well as performing arts capabilities and social event amenities to Pavilions residents and the wider community.
Named after Elder Stephen N. Haskell - the superintendent in charge of the mission that brought Seventh-day Adventist beliefs to Australia in 1885, Haskell Halls' development was in response to the desire expressed by the 2009 Constituency Meeting for a church building to be part of the overall Nunawading Estate development.
Located on the exact site of the 'Big Tent' when Big Camp was held in Nunawading, Haskell Hall’s positioning is a remembrance of the site's Adventist heritage and an acknowledgement of the memories and long legacy of fellowship and service conducted by generations of Adventist members on the site. It is noted that when ground excavations commenced, builders found thousands of tent pegs, left by generations of Adventist campers.
Construction was completed in April 2025 and was completed under budget, ahead of schedule, and fully funded from the proceeds of the Pavilions’ development.
Also celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Church in Australia, Pr Graeme Christian shared the story of how John Corliss evangelised Melbourne, and after much hard work and prayer, established the first Seventh-day Adventist congregation in Australia (and the southern hemisphere) in North Fitzroy in 1886.
Galen Gan, project lead, says, “It is fitting that this Hall has been completed in time to commemorate 140 years of Adventist faith in Australia – ready to play its part as an enduring asset to the Victorian Church into the future.”
