Seeking a new Pastor
Title: Full charge Pastor – immediate vacancy
Location: Mt Evelyn, VIC
Remuneration: in line with Presbyterian Church of Victoria stipend, non-cash benefits, and communication allowances.
We have a 4 bedroom manse with study and 2 bathrooms available for the incumbent. There is a lock-up garage.
Conditions: This is a full-time role.
Position: Mt Evelyn Presbyterian Church is seeking a passionate gospel-focused pastor to lead our congregation
in sharing the good news of Jesus with our vibrant growing town. This role offers an opportunity to connect with the people of
Mt Evelyn which is a growing friendly outer metro community with a rich history and natural beauty. There are many visitors to the
area as we are situated on the Warburton Trail, and the village has a rich tapestry of shops and restaurants.
We are a committed congregation who are eager to welcome young families and new faces into our fellowship.
The ideal candidate will actively involve themselves in local community life, build relationships across generations,
and help lead our gospel presence in the area There are numerous aged care and ‘over 55’ communities in the area to be actively involved with.
If you have a heart for outreach and building a lasting gospel presence in Mt Evelyn, we would love to hear from you.
Applications: expressions of interest can be directed to`: the Interim Moderator Rev. Cameron Griffiths (see below)
as well as to the Session Clerk, Julian Dunn at julianidunn@gmail.com
Formal applications should include a CV as well as a document with responses to the following questions:
– Why are you applying for this role?
– What aspects of church ministry are you most passionate about and why?
– What are some ways you have seen God at work through your ministry over the last 12 months?
The position start date is for as soon as possible and by negotiation for 2026
If you have an interest in this ministry opportunity, please contact
Rev. Cameron Griffiths. (Interim Moderator)
Phone: 0421 316 417
Email: Cameron.G@croydonpc.org.au
Or the Session Clerk : Julian Dunn – julianidunn@gmail.com
OUR PEOPLE AND FOCUS OF MINISTRY
We are a committed Christian community of +- 53 people including 37 members, 16 adherents and regular attenders.
Our average age is probably around 60 and we have several grandchildren of our congregation that form a small Sunday School.
We are led by 3 local elders and served by a faithful Board of Management.
We hold a regular Tuesday midday Prayer meeting as well as a monthly Prayer meeting on a Saturday morning.
We have an active fortnightly Women’s bible study, with up to 15 – 20 attending
We have established a book library on our street-facing fence – this has proved to be well
received and each week bibles and other Christian literature for young and old are taken away by passers by.
We also support 2 missionary families that were fellowshipping with us for many years
– one in South East Asia and the other in Western Australia in Mt Magnet.
We are active in supporting the Prison fellowship Easter bake as well as a strong supporter of
Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes. Last year we prepared over 130 shoeboxes – punching well above our weight!
Historically our congregation has shared activities with other local churches, notably the
Reformed Christian Church over the road, with whom we occasionally share the pulpit.
OUR HOPE
We hope that we can continue to build on the unwavering commitment we’ve had to the gospel and share it with a new generation of believers in Mt Evelyn.
Currently, the average age of our congregation is 65 years but under God, we desire to draw young families and new people into our church family.
To do this we need help.
We would like to have the right kind of pastor to help us to lift the profile of our church in the community and help us reach out with the good news of Jesus.
We would like a pastor who is prepared to be involved in the local community and can relate with both older believers and younger people who are not yet
attending church.
THE TOWN
Mt Evelyn, although well -established, is a growing area and there is certainly room in the town for our local church. There are opportunities both now and
into the future to advance the gospel message into the lives of local people.
OUR CHURCH BUILDINGS
The Mt Evelyn Presbyterian church celebrated a 90 year old celebration a few years ago. The current facilities offer a church building constructed in the
early 1920s. It can seat up to 65 people and has an adjoining vestry. It has recently been painted and the roof weather-proofed and is located on Wray
Crescent, a service road off Birmingham Road. There is also a large hall with a modern kitchen, as well as further library, prayer and Sunday School rooms.
We recently took part in Stable One, a ministry to the homeless and a shower was added to the existing bathrooms.
OUR TOWN
Mt Evelyn is a town in the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area in the Australian state of Victoria. The town is situated in the beautiful
Dandenong Ranges, with the Warburton trail passing through, just across the road from the church. It is located approximately 44 kilometers
east of the state capital, Melbourne. There is a suburban rail link to the City with Lilydale the closest station. We are a friendly and close-knit
community.
ABORIGINAL HISTORY
The land was traditionally owned by the Wurundjeri people, evidenced by shield trees and other cultural markers along the creek.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
Early settlement of Mount Evelyn began with Wurundjeri people, followed by European pioneers clearing land for farming and timber in the mid-1800s, leading to small settlements like (originally Running Creek). Key developments included sawmills from the 1850s, the Olinda Creek Village Settlement in the 1890s, the arrival of the railway in 1901 (boosting tourism and growth), and the township officially adopting the name Mount Evelyn in 1913.
Mid-1800s: Timber & Early Homesteads: Logging was a primary activity, with sawmills operating from the 1850s, like one by McDonald & Goodyear. Early homesteads, such as the bricked-over Murray Pine log cabin (c. 1850s), mark this era.
Late 1800s: Olinda Vale Village: A distinct “village settlement” of small farmholders emerged in the 1890s along Olinda Creek, known as Olinda Vale, with residents accessing the Lilydale railway via private land.
Early 1900s: Railway & Naming: The railway station (1901) and a post office (1904, initially Valinda) linked the area, leading to growth. The community successfully lobbied to change the name from Olinda Vale to “Evelyn,” then “Mount Evelyn” in 1913, to promote it as a tourist destination.
1930s: Boom & Bust: Construction of the Silvan Dam and Aqueduct brought a boom, but it ended with project completion, followed by the Depression.
Post-WWII & Modern Growth: The area saw significant residential growth from the 1970s onwards, with the region developing its tourism appeal and becoming part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
A very strong agricultural sector surrounds Mt Evelyn (think Yarra Valley) and the growing township is serviced by Primary and Secondary Schools, Kindergarten and Day Care. Mt Evelyn has aged care residences and villages, a local medical centre as well as service and sporting clubs.
DEMOGRAPHICS IN Mt Evelyn
The following information has been gathered for Mt Evelyn from the 2021 Census. As of the 2021 Census, Mount Evelyn, Victoria, had a population of 9,799 people with a median age of 38, slightly more females (50.4%) than males (49.6%), and a median weekly household income of $2,045. Key data highlights include around 3,582 dwellings, a significant proportion of residents with English or Australian ancestry, and varying mortgage/rental costs, with more detailed breakdowns available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Yarra Ranges Council profiles.
Ancestry & Birthplace (2021):
Top Ancestries: English (45.8%), Australian (43.7%), Scottish (11.7%), Irish (11.6%).
From the 2021 Census:
In Mount Evelyn, Secular Beliefs and Other Spiritual Beliefs and No Religious Affiliation was the largest broad group religious group reported overall (58.6%) (excludes Not stated). The broad group level is the highest and most general level of the Australian Standard Classification of Religious Groups, 2016.
There are approximately 2,766 families in Mt Evelyn
Families make up about half of the population.
Most people living in Mt Evelyn come from 2nd or greater generational families who were born in Australia. Of those who were not born in Australia – of which there are few – most were born in the United Kingdom.
The median income for families in the region was $2,263 p/w and the median household income is around $2,045 p/w.
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