A list of properties, including churches, for sale following the North Queensland diocese (region) of the Anglican Church going into receivership has been revealed. The lisy of the first properties to be sold includes the heritage-listed St John’s Church South Townsville, Kirwan rectory Townsville, Catsim Church Cairns, heritage-listed Holy Trinity Church Herberton, St Alban’s rectory Innisfail, St Mark’s Church Belgian Gardens, St Paul’s rectory Proserpine, Holy Trinity rectory Bowen, St Margarets Church Magnetic island, St Pauls rectory Charters Towers, St James the Great Church Mount Isa, St Ambrose Church North Mackay.
The properties are being sold by the receivers, SV Partners, to pay debts of $8m incurred due to abuse settlements. The Other Cheek understands these are Redress Scheme payments, which indicate there’s a large number of smaller payments (capped at $150,000) rather than fewer court-imposed debts. Further sales will take place if necessary.
The diocese obtained an order from the Supreme Court of Queensland in August 2025 to appoint receivers to all its assets. At that time, Bishop Keith Joseph told the ABC “There were some truly evil individuals in the past. We want to acknowledge the harm done while upholding our moral and legal responsibilities.”
The parallel Anglican conservative body, the Diocese of the Southern Cross, has a church in Cairns, Northern Hope Anglican, which meets in Peace Lutheran College.