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STORY BY MAHMOOD FAZAL, PHOTOS CHRIS TURNER

At the end of a beaten track, a white timber building shines among fairytale gum trees. The Little Church on Spring Hill maintains a charming aura that stands the test of time.

“It was originally St Marks, Church of England, it was built in 1890 and served the locals as both a place of worship and Sunday school up until 1959 when it was deconsecrated,” explains Nicky Thomas, co-owner. “I’ve heard the Sunday school teacher used to ride their bikes from Kyneton to take their classes. That probably doesn’t seem that extreme now, but the old bikes wouldn’t have had gears and Spring Hill is atop a rather large hill.”

Nicky was raised between Apollo Bay and Melbourne. “My Grandfather was one of the last drovers in the Otways, so I was exposed to country life from the beginning. It’s the rolling hills and the four seasons that I love.

The friendly people and the no-rush lifestyle.” And her husband, Mac Barry, also has roots that tie to the area, Nicky says, “He always wanted to be a farmer and first bought land in 2000 to fulfill that dream.”

It was years later, when their neighbours were married on Spring Hill, that Nicky and Mac asked the owners if they could clear the church that was being used for storage. “When Mac and I were standing behind the old church, the idea to bring it back to life seemed rather obvious. So we bought it and went about rebirthing it.”

Together, armed with paint brushes, they began to breathe life back into the century-old Church with a view to host quaint celebrations of love. Nicky explains, “The church itself got a new coat of paint, we oiled the floorboards and replaced some rotten boards but that’s about it.”

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Outside, the garden has had a makeover and the home that was on the property has been redesigned as a reception area.

For Little Church to feel like a special place, Nicky and Mac realised that the setting had to be everlasting. “There are only a limited amount of resources, we don’t want to be the ones burning through them,” says Nicky, referring to her sustainable practice. “The venue is solar powered with grid back up, we catch all the water we use and we recycle bottles. Any food scraps goes to our chooks and all the suppliers on our list are happy to follow our reuse-recycle doctrine.”

When Little Church was picture perfect, the first wedding almost ended with ashes to ashes. “Somebody moved the outside heater into the church and put it right up against the wall,” says Nicky. Little Church didn’t just survive, the venue performed it’s first miracle.

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Since then, the weddings have been full of wonder and joy. “There have been plenty of memorable moments, one of Australia’s leading jockeys got married there early days, his bride wanted her favourite horse to attend.” And Nicky’s sister loved the venue so much she chose to have her own wedding there just last year.

“Many people are surprised that such a place exists, it is tucked away from major roads and really is off the beaten track.” For many, Little Church isn’t just a divine building at the end of a gravel road, its a beacon of light that marks the beginning of a journey. “It’s just a magical place to be. When the sun sets, the church throws the most beautiful shadow.”

Little Church At Springhill - 1385 Kyneton-Springhill Road, Spring Hill VIC 3444
0438 567 604 - littlechurch.com.au