Wesley Sunday School, 124-148 (part complex) Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Wesley Sunday School, 124-148 (part complex) Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
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BIF-CITY 105754
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
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Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period: Early VictorianDATE: 1859;ASSOCIATIONS: Wesleyan Church Trustees;DESIGNER: Reed, Joseph;BUILDER: Hornby & Pigdon.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 78.VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORY H7822-1199https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/9114Site of many now demolished structures particularly towards Little Lonsdale Street. 1850 and 1855 maps - school. Architectural design competition for church 1857. Cost ₤26,000. Architect: Joseph Reed. Foundation stone laid 1st December 1857, building opened 1858. 1866 map - church; 1880 Panorama - shows large church and associated buildings. 1905 map - shows detail of church, associated buildings and yard areas.WESLEY CHURCH, 124-148 LONSDALE STREET, WAS ERECTED IN 1857-58. A DESIGN COMPETITION HAD CHOSEN JOSEPH REED ARCHITECT. THE CONTRACTOR WAS MR. FORSYTH.THE PRESENT BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED IN BLUESTONE WITH FREESTONE MOULDINGS AND IS DOMINATED BY A TOWER AND SPIRE. IT IS A MONUMENT TO DANIEL DRAPER, THE CHURCH CHAIRMAN FOR THE PORT PHILLIP AREA. HE INITIATED ITS CONSTRUCTION AND DEFENDED ITS GOTHIC STYLE WHICH WAS CONSIDERED BY SOME TO BE POPISH. WESLEY CHURCH HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF METHODISM IN VICTORIA SINCE 1858 AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH MANY NOTABLE CHURCHMEN, PARTICULARLY DANIEL DRAPER AND SIR IRVING BENSON. IT IS A DISTINCTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE PROTESTANT GOTHIC REVIVAL AND IS ESSENTIALLY A HALL CHURCH IN GOTHIC DRESS. THIS GOTHIC DRESS HOWEVER COMPRISES ONE OF REED'S FINEST COMPOSITIONS WITH ITS DISTINCTIVE SPIRE, CONICAL ROOF AND GABLES AISLES. THE ORIGINAL GALLERY (NOW PAINTED) ON FOUR SIDES OF THE CHURCH IS AMONG THE MANY NOTABLE INTERNAL FEATURES. SEVERAL MINOR INTERNAL ALTERATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE, THE SANCTUARY HAS BEEN MODERNIZED, THE ENTRANCE CORRIDOR IS NOW A CHAPEL WITH AN INTRUSIVE CERAMIC TILE FLOOR, THE REAR OF THE CHURCH PROPER HAS BEEN GLAZED IN TO BECOME A VESTIBULE. THE SPIRE, WHICH ONCE SUPPORTED A RIOT OF GABLES AND CROCHETS, HAS BEEN SHEATHED IN COPPER, TWO PINNACLES ARE MISSING FROM THE EAST ENTRANCE. OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. VICTORIAN CHURCH SURVEY - STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: WESLEY CHURCH COMPLEX IS THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL GROUP OF NINETEENTH CENTURY CHURCH BUILDINGS IN CENTRAL MELBOURNE AND OF GREAT IMPORTANCE HISTORICALLY AND ARCHITECTURALLY FOR THE THE SURVIVAL OF SUCH AN EARLY (1857-1860) MAJOR CHURCH GROUP, BUILT WITHIN JUST 20 YEARS OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENT AT MELBOURNE BY BATMAN AND FAWKNER. THE CHURCH, ORIGINAL PARSONAGE AND OLD SCHOOL HOUSE BUILDINGS ARE ALL STILL THERE, UNLIKE THE OTHER CENTRAL MELBOURNE CHURCH SITES. WESLEY CHURCH IS A FINE DESIGN AND OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE AMONG VICTORIAN CHURCHES FOR THE COMBINATION OF A GALLERY ON ALL SIDES WITH A CRUCIFORM FLOOR PLAN, THE FORMER BEING THE ADAPTATION OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY CLASSICALLY STYLED CHURCH OF ENGLAND CHURCHES TO THE WESLEYAN MEETING HOUSE, WHILE THE LATTER IS EXTREMELY RARE IF NOT UNIQUE FOR A METHODIST CHURCH IN THIS STATE. THE SPIRE IS THE OLDEST SURVIVING SUCH FEATURE IN CENTRAL MELBOURNE AND MOST PROBABLY IN VICTORIA AND WAS MOST LIKELY THE FIRST SPIRE TO BE BUILT IN VICTORIA. THE USE OF A GOTHIC STYLE FOR THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING INSTEAD OF THE SIMPLE CLASSICAL REVIVAL CHURCHES BUILT BY THE METHODISTS IN BRITAIN AND PORT PHILLIP PREVIOUSLY MARKED A MAJOR CHANGE AND WAS INFLUENCED BY THE EMERGING POPULARITY OF THE STYLE AND THE WISHES OF THE CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN, REV D J DRAPER. FIRST WESLEYAN SERVICES WERE HELD IN MELBOURNE IN THE SAME YEAR THAT THE SETTLEMENT WAS FOUNDED AND THIS COMPLEX, AS WELL AS OTHER CHURCHES, WERE BUILT OUT OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE SECOND CHURCH COMPLEX FOR ITS LAND VALUE IN THE ECONOMIC BOOM YEARS WHICH FOLLOWED THE DRAMATIC INFLUX OF POPULATION BROUGHT HERE BY THE LURE OF GOLD IN THE EARLY 1850'S. ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE SOMEWHAT DEPRESSED, LESS ATTRACTIVE PART OF THE CITY IN 1857, THE NATURE OF WESLEY CHURCH'S SURROUNDINGS HAS SEEN THIS BUILDING SURVIVE IN A SURPRISINGLY INTACT STATE, THOUGH ITS LANDMARK ROLE HAS BEEN LOST DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH RISE BUILDINGS ON ALL SIDES. THE REMOVAL OF ALL THE MOULDINGS AND COPPER SHEET CLADDING OF THE SPIRE, WHICH WAS EXPERIENCING SERIOUS DECAY PROBLEMS AS EARLY AS THE 1880'S, IS THE MOST EXTENSIVE AND UNSYMPATHETIC CHANGE. THE LATER ELABORATE CENTRAL ROSTRUM, WHICH REPLACED THE ORIGINAL SIDE PULPIT, CENTRAL COMMUNION TABLE AND OPPOSITE SIDE READING DESK HAS BEEN REMOVED, BUT OTHERWISE THE CHURCH IS VERY LARGELY INTACT. WITHIN THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH, THE WESLEY CHURCH WAS THE HEAD OF A VERY LARGE AND IMPORTANT CIRCUIT AND AT ITS GREATEST EXTENT INCLUDED ALL THE CHURCHES IN SOUTH AND PORT MELBOURNE, NORTH AND WEST MELBOURNE, CARLTON, FLEMINGTON, FOOTSCRAY AND SUNBURY. THIS CHURCH HAS FUNCTIONED AS THE CENTRAL MISSION SINCE CIRCA 1900._____________________________________________________________________.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 NameWesleyan Church School RoomAddress 124-148 Lonsda1e StreetDate Built 1859Architect Joseph ReedBuilder Original Use SchoolroomPresent Use Offices…IntactnessExterior completely intact apart from door opening and awning. Interior has been partitioned, other minor alterations, but largely intact.Construction Materials2 storey stone building, timber floor and roof framing....Environmental Area No. 5RecommendationThat the building be included on the Historic Buildings Register.1 HistoricalA Wesleyan School was built on the site by 1854 (1) and in Bibbs map c. 1860 is shown to the east of the present church, and would have been demolished for the Parsonage. The present building was occupied in 1859 (2) and used as a church day school until taken over by the Education Department c. 1873. The Education Department School was relocated at 275-285. Exhibition St. c.1878 and the Wesleyans used the building as a Sunday School.. It is presently occupied by Lifeline.2 Architectural2.1 Completed in 1859 to the design of Joseph Reed (3).2.2 A two storey bluestone building. But it is much less elaborate in its timber work. Windows picked out in cream brick with cream dressings down the sides.' Broadly scalloped but not pierced barge board. The ground floor has two sets of windows grouped in threes with engaged colonettes and a low projecting gable roof with supporting brackets over what must have been the entrance doorway. The back wing running north has five semi forma upstairs windows in which the gable windows break through above the eave of the main roof with lead lighting which is later in date. There is an external stairway of which the balustrade has been replaced in modern times. It has cream brick gothic arches stepping up the slope carrying the bluestone superstructure. The filler underneath is of modern cream brick. The low gothic arches or triangular heads are in keeping with Bateman's work who worked in Reed's office. The sloping brick string course between the storeys:~ of the back wing, which most interestingly rise into little points just above the ventilators although they .are only rectangular ventilators. The upper sash of the windows of this wing are horizontally pivoting ones.Internally, the chimney breast on the north wall has a gothic arcaded table on a very small scale apparently in cement or plaster. It is the only point of particular interest. .2.3 The south facade is reminiscent of Reed’s house for Clement Hodgkinson in Hotham Street, East Melbourne, but is less elaborate in its timber work. In particular, the low Gothic arches (or triangular heads) are an early example of an element often used by Reed.3 RecommendationsThat the building' be included on the Historic Buildings Register on the basis of architectural significance. The whole of the building should be specified.Footnotes (1) Sands and McDougall Directory c. 1854.(2) M.C.C. Rate Book, Gipps Ward, 1859.(3) M.U. Urban Conservation Project Index..LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX:Record 75620 Wesleyan Church Trustees Melbourne VIC Houses; Religious Buildings; Schools Hornby & Pigdon - Franklin St 1859 09 20 614, MCC registration no 614 [Burchett Index]. No fee chargeableparsonage & schools, Lonsdale - Wesleyan Church.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERhttps://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/773The School House(1859), a two storey, symmetrically formed bluestone Gothic Revival building, also designed by Joseph Reed, was built to replace a previous school building. The exterior is characterised by two flights of stairs leading to separate boys and girls entries, one on the east, and the other on the west, each supported by three equally spaced cream brick arches. The building has been altered internally however the internal form is discernible and the original roof trusses remain, as do a series of cast iron columns on the ground floor supporting a first floor bearer. The church is unusual for it's combination of a gallery on all sides with a cruciform floor plan (the former being the adaptation of the eighteenth century classically styled Church of England churches to the Wesleyan meeting house, while the latter is extremely rare if not unique for a Methodist church in Victoria.)..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1853https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4794808WESLEYAN EDUCATIONAL MEETING. -A Tea meeting of the members of the Wesleyan connection took place last evening, under the direction of tho Rev. Messrs. Butters and Harding, at the Wesleyan Schoolroom, Lonsdale street, for the purpose of raising a sum of five hundred pounds, to procure a schoolmaster and school mistress from England, trained at the Wesleyan Normal School at Westminster, with the view of establishing a normal school in Melbourne, in affiliation with that in Westminster, where Wesleyan teachers may be more efficiently trained for the instruction of children of both sexes in the colony of Victoria. It is also intended to build a large schoolroom adjoining the Wesleyan Chapel in Collins-street, and to erect offices for the more extensive distribution of Wesleyan publications. It is scarcely necessary to say that these objects were cordially approved of. This scheme indicates on the part of the Wesleyans, a most praise- worthy desire to transplant into this new country, all the improvements, in furtherance of popular education, which the greater facilities of their friends at home enable them to develop and bring to maturity. Great credit is due to the Rev. Messrs. Butter and Harding for making this movement in the educational progress of the colony.1857The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954)Wednesday 2 December 1857 - Page 5https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154836192It is understood that the foundation of the new Wesleyan Church, in Lonsdale street east, will be laid this afternoon, and that His Excellency the Governor has consented to perform the ceremony. The building is from a magnificent design by Mr Joseph Reed, architect, and will form one of the handsomest adornments to the metropolis.
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
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| Original | 105754 | 1 JPEG : 473 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |