Nicholas Hall, part WESLEY CHURCH COMPLEX, 124-148 (part) Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Nicholas Hall, part WESLEY CHURCH COMPLEX, 124-148 (part) Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105756
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:
RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period: Inter-WarDATE: 1938-9;ASSOCIATIONS: Wesleyan Church Trustees;DESIGNER: Norris, Harry A ?;BUILDER: Langford, Clement.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 77 and RAIA 20th C. Register.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 Nicholas HallAddress 124-148 Lonsdale StreetDate Built 1938.….Original UseHallPresent UseHall1 HistoricalThe building was a gift of A.M. and G.R. Nicholas as were many other Methodist buildings of that period, and has been used for social and cultural gatherings connected with the church and the general sessions of the annual Conference (1), apart from the few years c. 1940-5 when it was used as a National Technical College (2).2 Architectural2.1 Building during 1938 on the site of earlier offices and tearooms and opening in February 1939 (1).Has similarities with buildings designed by Norris and Partners for the Nicholas family during the period, but Norris and Partners have no record of it.2.2 2 Storey building brick and concrete with three light tall windows with a label mould at the top, no doubt designed to harmonize with the church, but misses out by a few centuries, and two cantilevered concrete porch rooves (sic).Footnotes(1) Methodist Church Records.(2) M.C.C. Rate Book) Gipps Ward 1940; M.C.C. Rate Book, Gipps Ward 1945..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1939The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Monday 20 February 1939 - Page 10Lady Huntingfield performed the opening ceremony of Nicholas Hall, Wesley Church. Lonsdale street, and later opened a fair in aid of the funds of Tally Heritage Overlay Boys' Training Farm, on Saturday afternoon.The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Tuesday 28 November 1939 - Page 7Red Cross branch of the Royal Society of St George will hold a short meeting followed by a crazy whist party to-night at Nicholas Hall Proceeds for Red Cross fund1947https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22521063CHRISTIANITY AND COMMUNISMDr Donald Soper, of the West London Methodist Mission, will address a public meeting in Nicholas Hall, next to Wesley Church. Lonsdale st, on Christianity and Communism at 8 tonight. It will be an open forum, and the speaker will invite questions from the audience. Dr Soper has been addressing audiences of up to 2,000 weekly on Tower Hill, London, for the last 14 years. He is a man of great wit and with a gift of repartee. He will also speak to ministers of all denominations on Friday after- noon at Nicholas Hall, and will leave for Adelaide on Saturday.
Related material link:
Topics:
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1251805
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105756 | 1 PDF : 1,127 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |