Feature Story February 22, 2026

Renewed Sanctuaries: Breathing New Life into Darling Downs Churches

How old churches are finding new purpose as homes, studios, and community spaces.

As rural populations decline, historic churches on Queensland’s Darling Downs are being transformed, preserving heritage while embracing new chapters.

Built in 1917, Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Peranga was once the heart of a thriving rural community. Parishioners raised funds and travelled from surrounding farms for worship and ceremonies, with horses and buggies parked outside its weatherboard walls.

Though the town’s population dwindled after the railway line closed in 1964, the church stood strong until 2025, when it was deconsecrated due to a shrinking congregation. Sheron Sendziuk, visiting Peranga, fell in love with the church’s stained-glass windows, hoop pine floors, and peaceful aura, and bought it to create an art studio and community space.

From Sanctuary to Studio

"It was the serenity — the history," says Sheron, who plans to turn the church into a gallery, writers’ retreat, and café, keeping it a place for community gathering.

This transformation reflects a broader trend across the Darling Downs, where many old churches are repurposed as homes, galleries, and venues, blending craftsmanship and heritage with modern living.

Notable Church Conversions

All Saints Catholic Church	Perseverance
The Abbey	Warwick

These buildings showcase the beauty and history preserved through adaptive reuse.

In Perseverance, the former All Saints Catholic Church, built in 1909, has been transformed into a charming two-bedroom home, attracting strong interest for its handcrafted features and stained-glass windows.

Warwick’s gothic Victorian Abbey, dating back to 1891, is undergoing renovations to become a boutique accommodation and function venue, blending its rich history with new life.

As Bishop Ken Howell of the Toowoomba Diocese notes, while more churches may close in coming years, these buildings often begin new chapters, preserving community spirit and heritage in fresh ways.

Much like the national heritage crisis highlighted in our previous report on St Oswald’s Church, these stories remind us that while some sanctuaries vanish, others are renewed, keeping history alive through transformation.

Read more about this inspiring trend at ABC News.

Heritage Renewal Darling Downs Church Renovation Community Adaptive Reuse