Outpost beginnings

The Salvation Army in Fairfield began as an “outpost” of the Liverpool Salvation Army in April 1936. Meetings were held at the School of Arts building. Less than four years later, the Fairfield Outpost was made an official Salvation Army corps (church) on 13 January 1940, with its first officer Pro. Lieutenant Charles Bennett. On 29 November 1947, Commissioner Joshua James officially opened The Salvation Army’s first citadel in Fairfield on Hamilton Road. A youth hall was added to the complex and opened on 28 June 1952, and then a new citadel was completed and opened by Commissioner Harold Scotney on 21 March 1970.

In 1973, the Salvation Army youth group renovated the community hall into a coffee shop which attracted many people, and workers were always kept busy. More than 100 people attended the opening night on 3 June 1973. On 2 July 1994, the new Salvation Army Complex was opened at 473 Hamilton Road, Fairfield West, by Colonel Keith Parkinson. The corps name was changed to Fairfield City.