Faith and heritage in West Brunswick.
St Joseph's has served local Catholics for more than a century, growing from a young parish into a heritage church community with a living mission.
Our history
Built by generations of parishioners.
The West Brunswick Parish was formally established in 1913 by Archbishop Thomas Joseph Carr, with Fr C. Sheahan appointed as the first parish priest. In the earliest years, Sunday Mass was celebrated in part of what is now the school hall.
Archbishop Daniel Mannix laid the foundation stone for the first church in 1919. Construction of the present church began in 1949 and continued in two stages so Mass could continue uninterrupted. The new church was blessed on Palm Sunday, 22 March 1959.
St Joseph's is a large red-brick church in an abstracted Gothic style, with pointed-arch windows, buttressed piers, a terracotta-tiled roof and exposed timber trusses.
Timeline
Key moments in our parish story.
- 1912Charity establishment date recorded by the ACNC: 31 December 1912.
- 1913West Brunswick Parish formally established; Fr C. Sheahan becomes first parish priest.
- 1919Archbishop Daniel Mannix lays the foundation stone for the first church.
- 1959The present church is blessed on Palm Sunday, 22 March.
- 2020St Joseph's partners with neighbouring parishes in the Brunswick Moreland Catholic Community.
- 2026Emmaus Parish Brunswick Moreland begins a new shared chapter while each church keeps its name and heritage.
Transparency
A registered charity, publicly accountable.
St Joseph's Catholic Church West Brunswick is a small ACNC registered charity and a Basic Religious Charity. Our public record includes our ABN, establishment date, activities and the people we serve.
Verify Our ACNC Profile- Legal name
- St Joseph's Catholic Church West Brunswick
- ABN
- 17 142 662 410
- Address
- 183 Hope Street, Brunswick West VIC 3055
- brunswickwest@cam.org.au
- Charity size
- Small
- Established
- 31 December 1912