The Rt Rev Robert Nolan

Bishop of the Western Region

Robert Nolan, the third of four children born to Stan and Vera Nolan, was born in Roma in 1947. His first two years of education were by correspondence lessons prior to enrolment at the Roma State School. In 1960 the family moved to Toowoomba and Robert completed his Scholarship year at the Rangeville State School before attending Toowoomba State High for two years. His final two years at school were as a boarder at Slade in Warwick.

Upon finishing school, Robert spent two years as a mission teacher at The Martyrs’ Memorial School outside Popondetta in Papua New Guinea. Having a growing sense of being called to the priesthood from the age of thirteen he entered Saint Francis College in 1968. He was made a Deacon in 1970 and Priested in 1971. It was also in 1971 that he married Janet Turner, a nurse who had completed her general training at Saint Martin’s Hospital, Brisbane.

His first parish appointment was to Saint Paul’s, Ipswich, as an Assistant Curate (1970-74). Their first child, Mark, was born in 1973. Just after the floods of 1974 the family moved to Childers with Robert as the Priest-in-Charge. In 1975 he was appointed as Rector to that Parish. Elizabeth was born in Bundaberg Hospital in the same year.

At the beginning of 1977 Robert was appointed as the Priest-in-Charge of the Mission District of Jindalee/Middle Park. This was a fast growing suburban development on the fringe of Brisbane. With Bishop Ralph Wicks as the visionary, a high-set house was constructed on donated land in what was to become the suburb of Middle Park. This building was the focal centre of ministry for the young faith community. David was born in this year. Their fourth child, Matthew, was born in 1979. In 1980 a Church/Hall was erected next to the dwelling and Robert was appointed as Vicar of what was then known as Saint Catherine’s, Centenary Suburbs. In 1982 he was given the title of Rector of that Parish.

After being offered the Parish of Charleville in 1983, the family moved west. In 1985 they moved to the District of Algester. An offer to be appointed as Rector of Saint David’s, Chelmer-Graceville, was accepted in 1989. During this time Robert was appointed as Archdeacon of Moreton and remained in that position after moving to Saint Mary’s, Kangaroo Point, in September, 1999.

Robert served as Rural Dean of the West (1984-85), Area Dean of Brisbane South West (1993-95), the Chair of Anglican Care of the Aged for twelve years, and, since 1998, as a member of General Synod.

On 20th March, 2003, Robert was elected as the Bishop of the Western Region of the Diocese of Brisbane, and he was ordained on 27th May, 2003.

To contact Rob, email rwnolan@anglicanbrisbane.org.au.