Wesley Church, 124-148 (part) Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
Wesley Church, 124-148 (part) Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105758
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period: Early VictorianDATE: 1858-;ASSOCIATIONS: Wesleyan Church Trustees;DESIGNER: Reed, Joseph;BUILDER: Forsyth, Mr.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0012https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/773Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The Wesley Church and Wesley Mission Victoria Complex in Lonsdale Street consists of ten buildings including: The Church (1858); The Manse (1859); and The School House (1859) all designed by Joseph Reed; a Caretakers Cottage (1914); the Princess Mary Club (1926), designed by AS Eggleston and Nicholas Hall (1938), designed by Harry Norris. The North Boundary wall along Little Lonsdale St (1869) incorporates remnants of a stables and also includes a section which was rebuilt in 1914 during the construction of the Caretakers Cottage. The Lonsdale Street boundary is defined by a set of basalt central gateposts, the basalt plinths of a cast iron palisade fence and the bases of a smaller set of gates which led to the Manse(1873). Standing in the forecourt of the church is a bronze statue of John Wesley by Paul Montford (1936). The Methodist Church has had a presence in Melbourne since the beginning of European occupation and the Wesley Church has been at this site since 1858 having moved from a site in Collins Street. The Wesley Church complex has been the core of Wesleyan Methodism in Victoria since this time and the headquarters of the Wesley Mission Victoria since 1893.How is it significant?The Wesley Church and Wesley Mission Victoria Complex is of historical, architectural and social significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Wesley Church complex is of architectural and historical significance as a complete and substantial collection of related mid to late nineteenth and early twentieth century ecclesiastical buildings.The principal group of 1858-59 buildings (Church, School House and Manse) are of architectural significance as the earliest intact church complex in the state. Conceived and completed as a single building project, the 1858-59 buildings are also architecturally significant as an early and essentially intact group of ecclesiastical buildings designed in a correct Gothic Revival Style. This group of buildings is of architectural significance as being the work of noted nineteenth century Melbourne architect Joseph Reed. The School House is of architectural significance as the only known Denominational school in Victoria designed by an architect.The Wesley church is of architectural significance as an early and highly accomplished example of Gothic Revival styling and for the unusual combination of a gallery on all sides with a cruciform floor plan. The spire is the oldest surviving, and is believed to be the first, spire built in Victoria. The spire is also significant as having been a major landmark in nineteenth century Melbourne.The Wesley Church is of architectural significance, representing the acceptance of the Gothic Revival style into the mainstream of Wesleyan and other non-conformist churches.Nicholas Hall is of architectural significance as a fine and intact example of a church hall designed in a Moderne style and as the work of prominent interwar architect Harry Norris.The Wesley Church complex is of historical significance as a major focus for Methodists in Victoria. The church itself has a symbolic position and prominence in the history of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Victoria.The site and complex are of social and historical significance for their long association with various welfare initiatives and programs since the 1850s, in particular those of the Wesley Mission Victoria.The Wesley Church site is of historical significance for its associations with A M & G R Nicholas, founders of the Nicholas Chemical Manufacturing Company who had a longstanding philanthropic association with the Wesley Church.The Princess Mary Club is of historical significance in the history of women's employment in Victoria as a rare surviving example of a 1920s hostel for young women coming to the city to work and study, enabling the greater inclusion of women in the workforce.The School House is of historical significance as a representative example of a nineteenth century denominational school.The School House is of social significance as housing the offices of the Wesley Mission Victoria when it was established in 1893..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 77, page 76.DARYL JACKSON EVAN WALKER ARCHITECTS PTY. LTD 1976 FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS PRESERVATION COUNCIL; MELBOURNE: THE AREA BOUNDED BY VICTORIA, SPRING, LONSDALE AND SWANSTON STS (source 77)Building Name Wesley ChurchAddress 124-148 Lonsdale StreetDate Built 1857Reference I4Builder Mr. ForsythOriginal Use ChurchPresent Use Church...IntactnessApart from entrance air lock, completely intact.Construction MaterialsStone building, with timber gallery, timber roof trusses and forming....Environmental Area No. 5Recommendation·That the building remain on the Historic Buildings Register.1 HistoricalIn the early 1850's it was decided to build a new Church and the property in Lonsdale Street acquired. The initial plan was to import an iron church in the decorated Gothic style to a design by George 'Wharton, but the idea was dropped. A basic design for the building was selected and a competition held to choose an architect Joseph Reed's scheme won, Webb and Taylor came second.The foundation stone was laid on 2nd December 1857 by the Governor, Sir Henry Barkly. The Governor regretted' hearing of the immorality and intemperance in Melbourne, but was gratified to witness the commencement of another religious building. During the ceremony the workmen's shed fell in with a ,large, crash and one young man suffered a black eye and a slight bruise. The church was completed in less than a year, and opened on 26th August 1858.2 Architectural2.1 Joseph Reed’s plans were ready by September 1857 and tenders were called. Mr. Forsyth’s tender of ₤20,000 was accepted (figure of ₤26,000 is mentioned by later writers ,but this probably includes the schoolroom, bookroom and residence which were tendered at .the same time). The foundation stone was laid on 2nd December 1857. It was to have been completed in seven months but the time was a little exceeded and the ,church was finally opened on 26th August 1858. The Argus commented `the elegance and appropriateness of its architecture and internal arrangement has, during the progress of its erection, created a considerable degree of interest’ (1).The Illustrated London News enthused that it was "the finest ecclesiastical edifice ever erected in any part of the world by the Methodists" although probably quoting the Melbourne `Wesleyan Chronicle’ from which very detailed descriptions of the building were takenThe decision to build in the Gothic style aroused lively debate, for Gothic was seen as a manifestation of Catholicism, far removed from the simplicity of Methodism. However, the Rev. Draper declared that `a good Gothic place of worship attractive in its forms and commodious in its arrangements, will always command a better congregation than an ill-constructed place".2 .2 Internally, the church is decorated Gothic especially in the upper windows. It is, in effect, a hall church with a gallery inserted and no clerestory ,windows. The upper windows have three lights with three quatrefoil- panes filling the space at the top of the arch. On the ground floor there are simply paired lancet windows. The piers are octagonal with foliated Corinthian capitals and between each pier is a single clustered shaft, supporting the gallery and lightweight shaft.The roof is panelled in diagonal boarding in squares following the slope of the roof up to four rectangular panels across collar tie level. The trusses are carried on corbels above each octagonal pier. Between the spantum of the truss and above the arch line on either side of the apex there are trefoil and quatrefoil perforations.The line of the gallery continues quite interestingly around the full perimeter of the church. It has a sloping floor along the sides and at the back although now, it has been glazed in below to make an air lock. It continues right around the east end and the pulpit and there is a modern organ placed in it at this point. The gallery balustrade is ornamented in a rather Rococo Gothic, trefoil ornament. The figurative stained glass all appears to be modern although there is simple diamond pattern lead lighting on the ground floor which may be original. There is a very short trunset (transept?) projection which is masked off by the continuous gallery. The piers at the crossing are in the form of four clustered octagonals. On the floor the nave still slopes slightly and the seats are arranged in a radial pattern running out into the trunset (transept?) as well as the nave.2.3 Since its completion in 1858 the building has remained the focus of Methodism in Melbourne, not least because of the famous Pleasant Sunday Afternoons conducted by Sir Irving Benson.The building itself is a delightful example of decorated Gothic, and of particular interest because it is more in the form of a hall church with a gallery inserted, than more typical church forms.3 RecommendationThat the building remain on the Historic Buildings Register on the basis of historical significance and architectural interest and accomplishment.Footnotes(1) Argus, 27/8/1858(2) Illustrated London News, 5/3/1859__________________________________________________.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)Spectator and Methodist Chronicle (Melbourne, Vic. : 1914 - 1929), Wednesday 21 August 1918, page 833https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154260650Competitive designs were invited for the buildings, in Lonsdale-street, with three premiums, £100, £7 5, and £35, for the first, second, and third designs respectively; finished drawings to be sub mitted, and not merely sketches. A committee, consisting of Messrs. N. Guthridge, O. Parnham, and W. Little, with Revs. D. J. Draper and W. L. Binks, was appointed to arrange this, ? and it was decided to ask the Victoria Chapel Building Committee to co-operate in deciding on the plans. Sixteen architects sent in designs …The winner was Mr. Joseph Reed, the second Messrs. Webb and Taylor, and the third Mr. Ross. The premiums were awarded m that order. Mr. Reed was asked to submit plans and specifications, and the .trustees reserved the right to select any design, if the first premiated plan proved too costly. The result of the competition was advertised. On September 21st, Mr. Reed submitted working plans, and attended to give explanations as needed. He suggested leaving out one bay in the nave, as the desired accommodation would be provided without it. This, he said, would not mar the general effect, and the trustees agreed. This omitted bay would have been useful in Central Mission days. Mr. Reed was instructed to prepare the specifications and call for tenders. In the short space of one week this was done, and on September 28th the trustees met to receive the tenders.For the whole of the buildings the tenders were: —Linacre £26,410Miller 25,740Cornish 23,931Derrick 22,630Forsyth 22,168Allen 21,500For the chapel alone:— Jarvis £17,424Parnham 16,850Derrick 14,800Forsyth 14,681Separate tenders for the residence, the school-house, and the book-room (which is referred to as the ' 'repository') were also received…The Contract Let.Forsyth's tender for the chapel was accepted, at ₤14,681…The foundation-stone was laid on December 2nd, 1857, by His Excellency Sir Henry Barkly, the Governor of the Colony… Mr. E. Derrick, who tendered for the work, was the father of the present writer. He took the position of contractor's foreman, as far, at any rate, as the stone work was concerned, and as a member of the church took pleasure in placing the first stone in the foundation, and the finial on the spire
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105758 | 1 PDF : 738 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |