We were deeply saddened to hear of the recent death of Richard Peterson. In the 1990s we engaged Richard to write a history of churches in Collingwood and appreciated the commitment and enthusiasm which he brought to the project. The resulting book was entitled Brimstone to Bunyip (Richard’s choice), was published in 1999, and won a Victorian Community History Award. Working with him on the research and editing was always pleasurable – even when we disagreed on certain points! The deep architectural knowledge which he brought to the task complemented the social and religious history of our churches, and remains reflected in the detailed architectural descriptions of each building which enhance the text.
Richard was generous with his time which far exceeded what was covered in the modest stipend we allocated; he also gave presentations at Society meetings, and conducted a History Walk.
The book can be seen listed in various bibliographies and has regularly been cited in City of Yarra planning and conservation documents. Copies are still available for sale (see our Publications page).