Our History
“All One in Christ Jesus”
Katoomba Christian Convention (KCC) began under this banner in 1903, founded in the tradition of the Keswick Convention in the north of England.
Growing from a small gathering of Christians in a children’s playroom in Katoomba, KCC has continued for 120 years to bring Christians together and see transformation in their lives as they sit under God’s Word.
A Timeline of Our History
First ‘convention’ hosted by the Young family in the children’s playroom at ‘Khandala’. This becomes an annual gathering.
1903
A larger tent is required to accommodate the 400 or so attending, and numbers grow with these conventions.
1906
The 19-acre ‘Culverden’ site owned by the Deck family is offered for just £1750 to the Convention, and the first convention on the current site is held.
1955
The ‘Tin Shed’ is built at the top of the plaza, seating 700 people.
1958
The first Easter Convention in Katoomba.
1962
The conventions began to outgrow the Tin Shed, and a big circus marquee was hired for the Oval for the first time for KYC.
1974
The first Katoomba Youth Leaders’ Training Convention (KYLC).
1991
Extensions to the Tin Shed allows over 2,000 to fit inside to hear God’s Word preached.
1992
KYC splits to introduce KYCKSTART, for teens.
1993
The first Men’s Convention (MKC) in Katoomba.
1995
October Katoomba Convention (OKC) launches.
1996
The first Women’s Convention (WKC) in Katoomba.
2001
KCC’s Centenary Year, and the successful purchase of the adjoining Clairvaux property.
2003
KYC becomes Engage conference, for young adults.
2007
The first official Oxygen conference (though not the first KCC preaching/ministry conference!)
2011
WKC re-launches as OneLove, as a day event in Sydney.
2014
KCC launches its first mobile app, offering talks from recent convention years for free.
2014
MKC re-launches as BASECAMP, keeping a weekend in Katoomba and launching a day event in Sydney.
2015
Onward launches, with a focus on apologetics in today’s world.
2017
KCC re-launches its official app, KCC One, expanded and improved to share KCC’s talk archive as audio, video and text resources. Now available on mobile, tablet and web!
2020
KCC launches its first online, livestream events to keep encouraging Christians during COVID-19 restrictions.
2020
I think I love being able to get away and just be fed on some really good teaching and refreshed in something different to what we normally get. Our children can also come and be recharged and enjoy the sessions, it’s fun for them. Just something for all of us.
— Anastasia, Easter Convention
