Mickvah Yisrael Melbourne Synagogue also Hebrew Congregational Synagogue & School, 275-285 Exhibition Street & 95-107 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
Mickvah Yisrael Melbourne Synagogue also Hebrew Congregational Synagogue & School, 275-285 Exhibition Street & 95-107 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103608
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
Part of:
Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedOpen access.
Use restrictions:
UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:Period: Early VictorianConstruction date: 1859-1860.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryFrom the erection of the first Melbourne synagogue in Bourke Street West (1844), the rise and recognition of the minority Jewish faith became more evident in the colony, culminating in the arrival from Sydney of the Rev. Moses Rintel, in 1849, as minister to the Melbourne congregation. Rintel resigned from the Melbourne Hebrew congregation in 1857 to establish `The Mickvah Yisroel Melbourne Synagogue' with Solomon Solomon as president and a temporary place of worship was established first at the former Melbourne Grammar School in Spring Street and later in Lonsdale Street East. After personally securing a land grant for a denominational school as available to other denominations, the group's treasurer, M Nelson, laid the foundation stone of this building in December 1859 followed by its opening for worship in 1860. The architects were Knight and Kerr the builder, George O'Connor.The growing unsavoury reputation of Exhibition Street north, the parallel growth of the congregation and the original reserve's stipulation that its use should be for educational purposes only, inspired the congregation to build the present synagogue in Albert Street (1877), after the new site's purchase in 1873. Rintel's Hebrew School opened in the old building during 1873, transferring to the new in 1877 and causing its simultaneous acquisition by the Education Department for a `gutter school'. After additions, the new government school (SS 2030) opened in 1878, replacing two other reformist schools, one in Lonsdale Street and the Gospel Hall in Little Bourke. By 1889 the school and its ragged pupils had fallen into disfavour `...it is too distinctively a slum school to be of much moral good to the scholars...' Its attendance included `...many from the slums and poorly clad; but they were all quiet and well behaved'. Nevertheless it was closed in 1889.Under a leasehold by the Salvation Army it was a Free Labour Bureau in the early 1890s, later a place of refuge for the unemployed and, in the late 1890s, a hostel for destitute women. The Melbourne Central Mission leased the school from 1908 as one of the many used by the mission to serve the surrounding slum dwellers.A combined central mission and kindergarten of the 1920-1930s was followed by a free kindergarten and creche by 1940.DescriptionThe former synagogue is L-shape in plan and finished at each end with a gabled and bracketted roof form, in the manner of a classical pediment. Pilastered brickwork walling accommodates quoined and keystoned and arched window openings, symmetrically arranged to complete the temple form. The previous two-tone colour scheme, applied to the walls, suggests original two-colour brickwork with quoins, pilasters and string- moulds picked out in cream. A sexagon, set in a diamond, is probably the original window division and survives on one north facing sash.Educational precedents for the design approach would include Poeppel's Castlemaine National School (1856) although typically schools followed the medieval manner as did their ecclesiastical counterparts. Methodist and Baptist churches are the exception as was the neo- Egyptian Bourke Street west synagogue.The Greek revival prefabricated All Saints Catholic Hall, Fitzroy (erected c1860) is stylistically comparable as are early court houses. Other examples include St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Port Fairy, 1854; Baptist Sunday School, Newtown, 1853; Church of Christ La Trobe Terrace, Geelong; and the Thomastown Lutheran Church, 1856.IntegrityWindows have been extended and new sashes added; bricks have been painted and new openings created; additional rooms have been added in an intrusive manner; and the fence replaced.StreetscapeIsolated but on a corner site, allowing both pedimented elevations to be seen.SignificanceThe oldest former synagogue in Victoria, designed in a classical style which is relatively uncommon among 19th century churches or schools..VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0766Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The Former Mickveh Yisrael Synagogue and Hebrew School was constructed in 1859 to a design by the architects Knight and Kerr. It was used as such until 1877 when a new Synagogue was built in Albert Street, East Melbourne. It then became State School No 2030 until 1892, and subsequently had a number of educational, social welfare and child care uses. The building is a simple single storey brick structure on a basalt plinth, with pedimented gables, brick pilasters and arched windows with brick dressings.How is it significant?The Former Mickveh Yisrael Synagogue and Hebrew School is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Former Mickveh Yisrael Synagogue and Hebrew School is of historical significance as one of the oldest synagogues in Melbourne and as a testament to the contribution of the Jewish community to the development of Melbourne from the city's very early days.The Former Mickveh Yisrael Synagogue and Hebrew School is of historical significance for its associations with the early provision of social welfare in Victoria. In 1892 it was used by the Salvation Army, first as a free labour bureau, then as a men's industrial home and, following additions in 1897, as a women's shelter. From 1909 it was tenanted by the Methodist Central Mission, which, in addition to providing bible classes and services, established, under the patronage of the lady mayoress, a free kindergarten for children of poor parents. The need for such care became particularly acute during WWI when many women entered the workforce. In 1916 the City Crèche for mothers visiting hospitals or doctors was added to the services provided. In 1948-50 the City Free Kindergarten was relocated to East Melbourne and the building was modified by the Melbourne City Council to provide a crèche and nursery facility. The history of the former Synagogue is thus intimately bound up with the history of the provision of social welfare, particularly catering to the needs of impoverished women and children and the unemployed in the formerly deprived north-eastern quarter of the city. As such, it is also a reminder of the character of this part of the city in the late-19th century and early 20th century: the area around Lonsdale, Little Lonsdale and Stephen Street (as Exhibition Street was originally known) was thought of as a slum area, inhabited by the poor and vice-prone. Now much of the small-scale fabric of this area has disappeared, giving the former Synagogue added significance.The Former Mickveh Yisrael Synagogue and Hebrew School is of architectural significance as an interesting example of the conservative Classical style, unusually applied to a Synagogue, and of the small scale work of Knight and Kerr. The conservative Classical style was more commonly used by the Methodists and Baptists and this rather austere version suggests an emphasis on economy, probably reflecting the beginnings of the Jewish community in the city. The small scale of the Synagogue provides an interesting comparison with Knight and Kerr's major work of the period, Parliament House, the first stages of which were designed in 1856..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 77, page 73;.HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSThis simple gabled brick building was constructed as a Jewish School in 1859-60 for the Michveh Yisrael Synagogue. It was designed by the architects for Victoria's Parliament House, Knight and Kerr. It became a kindergarten in 1920. It is an important indicator of the cultural diversity of early Melbourne society..NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)The City Free Kindergarten is a simple brick structure with pedimented gables, brick pilasters and arched windows with brick dressings. It was constructed in 1859-60 as a Jewish School for the Michveh Yisrael Synagogue. The architects were Knight and Keer who also designed Parliament House, Melbourne. The building was used for worship until 1877 and since then has served several uses. It became a kindergarten in 1920.This was one of the earliest synagogues in Melbourne and a surviving example of early building in the C.B.D.It is an interesting example of the conservative classical style and of the small scale work of Knight and Kerr. The projecting pediments with trapezoidal brackets are a distinctive and important motif and can be compared, with the same usage at 'D Estaville' in Kew, also by Knight and Kerr and erected in 1857. The building is essential to the character and historic quality of the neighbouring area.Windows on the Exhibition and Little Lonsdale Street facades have been deepened; windows down the other side remain intact. From an 1870 photo it seems that part of the pedimented end to Exhibition Street facade has been removed. The brickwork has been painted.Classified: 31/07/1958Revised: 24/08/1989.VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORYH7822-1191Synagogue constructed 1858/9. Oldest surviving synagogue in city. Used as a synagogue and State school. 1891 - Salvation Army Women's shelter.1901 - Melbourne Central Mission. From 1920 used as a kindergarten
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Mickvah Yisrael Melbourne Synagogue also Hebrew Congregational Synagogue & School, 275-285 Exhibition Street, Melbourne (Butler13756\\)Mickvah Yisrael Melbourne Synagogue also Hebrew Congregational Synagogue & School, 275-285 Exhibition Street, Melbourne (Butler13758\\)Mickvah Yisrael Melbourne Synagogue also Hebrew Congregational Synagogue & School, 275-285 Exhibition Street, Melbourne (Butler13757\\)
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Research and reports
Record number:
1207841
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103608 | 1PDF : 1,608 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |