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A historic Adelaide Hills venue is about to enter a new chapter. St. Stephens, estimated to originally have been built in 1892, is being lovingly restored by new owners who aim to return the church to its original glory.
With the church’s new chapter, you can expect a carefully restored space designed for intimate weddings, private events, and gatherings. As an homage to the building’s original form, the new space will assume the original church’s title ‘St. Stephen’s’.
Ambitions to restore the original ecclesiastical elegance of the building and its surrounds form the foundations to this revamp. Early evenings will invite dancing pillars of sunlight through the narrow old stained glass windows.
“The whole space is just gorgeous. As soon as you walk in, you’re transformed into an intimate space right in the middle of the Adelaide Hills,” says Landscape Architect for the project, Katie Steinwedel.
After functioning as a church for decades, it was converted into a residential space which later became the popular pizza restaurant Lost in a Forest.
Current owner, Nick Sheehan, purchased the property directly after Lost in a Forest closed in 2024, with the vision of creating a boutique venue for weddings and events.
“We are completely restoring it back to how the church originally was,” Katie says. “This includes removing the mezzanine that had been added, taking out the pizza oven, and reopening the congregation area. The aim is to get the building back to its pristine condition.”
The restoration will also extend to the grounds, with a new garden designed to complement the church’s architecture. “We’re using Basket Range stone for walls and garden piers, creating a beautiful outdoor space for events,” Katie explains.
Inside, the church boasts standout features such as its timber ceiling and original stained-glass windows. Katie’s favourite part of the restoration? “Honestly, the ceiling is beautiful. It’s a gorgeous timber ceiling.”
Nick Sheehan, the new owner, a local resident was drawn to the property for its history and charm. “He saw it was up for sale and was just taken by it,” Katie says. “It’s such a beautiful, prominent building in the hills.”
St. Stephens is already attracting interest as a venue. It found use last year, ahead of the full refurbishment, for corporate events during the Tour Down Under, and the team is now taking expressions of interest for weddings and private events. While the garden and restoration work will continue over the next few months, the venue is expected to be ready for bookings by spring, with some works completed by winter.
For expressions of interest, contact the St. Stephen’s team via Instagram.
St. Stephens
Where: St. Stephen’s Uraidla
When: 1203 Greenhill Rd, Uraidla
For more info, click here.
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