Dates

• Existence: 7 April 1859 - 6 December 1887

History

Formation:
Proceedings of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, 7 April 1859.
It was resolved that the following be erected into Provisional Presbyteries till the next meeting of the Assembly, and that each of these judicatories come prepared to recommend some permanent arrangement for their respective districts: Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Castlemaine, Kilnoorat, and Portland.

The Presbytery of Melbourne to consist of the following Ministers, with the Elders representing the Kirk Sessions of their respective congregations: Rev. Jas. Clow, Queenscliffe; Rev. Willm. Fraser, St. Andrew’s, Melbourne; Rev. Dr. Cairns, Chalmers’ Church; Rev. Irving Hetherington, Scots Church, Collins Street; Rev. Jas. Ballantyne, Erskine Church; Rev. G. M. Reed, Union Church; Rev. Don Macdonald, Emerald Hill; Rev. John Ballantyne, Emerald Hill; Rev. George Divorty, Prahran; Rev. James Megaw, South Yarra; Rev. T. Craig, Essendon; Rev. A. Duff, Cranbourne; Rev. Charles Moir, St. Kilda; Rev. J. S. Moir, Brighton; Rev. John Clarke, Williamstown; Rev. Andrew Graham, Longwood; Rev. D. Boyd, Heidelberg; Rev. Alex. MacNicol, Bacchus Marsh; Rev. John Meek, Gisborne; Rev. John MacMillan, Beechworth; Rev. David Hunter Ballantyne, Albury; Rev. Wm. Login, Sale; Rev. Samuel Kelly, Alberton; Rev. William Jarrett, Rev. J. H. MacLachlan, and the Rev. H. S. Seaborn; and the representative Elders from the Kirk Sessions of the Collingwood and North Melbourne congregations.

Division:
Proceedings of the Commission of Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, November 1887.
The Overture relative to the division of the Presbytery of Melbourne having been taken up, the Rev. D. McKenzie was heard in its support, the following Deliverance was moved by the Rev. Geo. Tait and adopted on 15 November —

“Approve the Overture; divide the Presbytery of Melbourne into two Presbyteries, to be designated respectively, the Presbytery of Melbourne North, and the Presbytery of Melbourne South — the division to take effect in the beginning of December; declare Hobson’s Bay and the River Yarra the boundary line between the two Presbyteries; resolve that the Ministers emeriti be members of the Presbytery, within whose bounds they respectively reside; that the congregations in Western Australia be placed under the charge of the Presbytery of Melbourne North, and the congregation in Fiji under the charge of the Presbytery of Melbourne South.

Authorise both Presbyteries to meet in the Assembly Hall, Collins Street. Appoint the first meeting of the Presbytery of Melbourne North to be held on the first Tuesday of December at 10 am; and the Presbytery of Melbourne South to meet for the first time on the second Tuesday of December at 10 am — the Rev. S. G. McLaren to preside at the first Meeting of the Presbytery of Melbourne North, and the Rev. J. G. Mackie at the first meeting of the Presbytery of Melbourne South. Authorise the Presbytery, as present constituted, to meet in the meantime for the transaction of business.”

Topics

• Formation of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria -- Date: 7 April 1859
  • Note: Scots'Church, Collins Street