A couple of weeks ago, a group from the Citywide Baptist church based in Mornington made a special visit to Eskleigh while attending their church camp at the Perth Baptist Church. One of the key topics of discussion during their stay was the rich history of the Baptist Church in Tasmania, which began with the Gibson family in Perth. They sold Merino Rams to build 12 of the Baptist buildings around the state and to pay for pastors from London to serve at those churches. It was their son, William Gibson Jr, who was the original owner of Eskleigh.

One of the Elders of Perth Baptist church, Tony Hart, welcomed the 80 people from Citywide and shared some of the history from Julian Burgess’s book, “Home of Peace”, which explores Eskleigh’s past. On a beautiful mid-morning, they walked from the church to Eskleigh, where they explored the historic building and garden.

Many thanks to Andrew Westwood, who was the official guide for the day. A big thank you for sharing your insights and knowledge with the group!