Story by Ellie
Restored Country Church Charm
Adventure in Tantawangalo, South Coast, NSW, AU
If you’re anything like me, old country churches might bring back memories—Sunday mornings squeezed into inescapable rows of dust-covered oak pews, listening to enthusiastic sermons by overdressed, balding men.
Well, I’m happy to report that the Church at Tantawangalo was very different from the dusty pews of my youth. Instead, this beautifully restored space is a modern, luxe utopia—fancy enough to feel like you’re on holiday, but homely enough to feel as though you could stay there forever. Situated in the Bega Valley Shire, Tantawangalo is a small, fertile locality with mostly private farms, many of them still operating.
The church itself was a centrepiece of community culture for more than 100 years, hosting services and gatherings for the region’s local families. With the downturn of small-scale farming and the closure of the local school, the population dwindled and the St John’s Anglican Church at Tantawangalo was put on the market. The church’s restoration project was able to retain the aesthetic of the original church—built in 1905 in the architectural style of gothic revival—while adding a splash of opulence with a wood fireplace, a freestanding bathtub, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that you can completely open when the weather is fine. The double bed is tucked away in the little nook where the altar used to be, and they’ve added a treehouse-like mezzanine with a child-size bed and snuggly cushions.
With so many creature comforts, it was hard to leave the church to explore the region—but after a coffee on the church steps, we headed out towards the Sapphire Coast, stopping along the way for a bite to eat in the charming village of Candelo. Sluggish from the eggs, sourdough bread and coffee, we called into Pambula Beach for a quick dip to wake us up. White sand framed the gentle waves lapping at the shore, a rumbling coastal storm brewing in the distance.
Next up, wood-fired pizza and IPAs on tap from the local brewery and then back home for G&Ts by the campfire pit out the front of the church. To wrap up our visit, we explored the countryside with a cycle down Tantawangalo Mountain Road, past cattle, small orchards and the impressive Tantawangalo Creek.
Staying at the Church at Tantawangalo was definitely a unique experience for us—being able to stay in this expertly restored space was an opportunity to experience an old-school church from a completely different perspective, without the pomp and circumstance and the antiquated traditions.
And while it saddens me that small-town community culture is dissipating, I was heartened to think that more people, not just locals, will now be able to experience a slice of the old-world charm of Tantawangalo....
Well, I’m happy to report that the Church at Tantawangalo was very different from the dusty pews of my youth. Instead, this beautifully restored space is a modern, luxe utopia—fancy enough to feel like you’re on holiday, but homely enough to feel as though you could stay there forever. Situated in the Bega Valley Shire, Tantawangalo is a small, fertile locality with mostly private farms, many of them still operating.
The church itself was a centrepiece of community culture for more than 100 years, hosting services and gatherings for the region’s local families. With the downturn of small-scale farming and the closure of the local school, the population dwindled and the St John’s Anglican Church at Tantawangalo was put on the market. The church’s restoration project was able to retain the aesthetic of the original church—built in 1905 in the architectural style of gothic revival—while adding a splash of opulence with a wood fireplace, a freestanding bathtub, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that you can completely open when the weather is fine. The double bed is tucked away in the little nook where the altar used to be, and they’ve added a treehouse-like mezzanine with a child-size bed and snuggly cushions.
With so many creature comforts, it was hard to leave the church to explore the region—but after a coffee on the church steps, we headed out towards the Sapphire Coast, stopping along the way for a bite to eat in the charming village of Candelo. Sluggish from the eggs, sourdough bread and coffee, we called into Pambula Beach for a quick dip to wake us up. White sand framed the gentle waves lapping at the shore, a rumbling coastal storm brewing in the distance.
Next up, wood-fired pizza and IPAs on tap from the local brewery and then back home for G&Ts by the campfire pit out the front of the church. To wrap up our visit, we explored the countryside with a cycle down Tantawangalo Mountain Road, past cattle, small orchards and the impressive Tantawangalo Creek.
Staying at the Church at Tantawangalo was definitely a unique experience for us—being able to stay in this expertly restored space was an opportunity to experience an old-school church from a completely different perspective, without the pomp and circumstance and the antiquated traditions.
And while it saddens me that small-town community culture is dissipating, I was heartened to think that more people, not just locals, will now be able to experience a slice of the old-world charm of Tantawangalo....
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