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UNITING CHURCH, ORIGINALLY METHODIST CHURCH
810 MAIN ROAD ELTHAM, NILLUMBIK SHIRE

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Nillumbik Shire
Uniting Church Main Rd Eltham Colour 1 - Shire of Eltham Heritage Study 1992
Uniting Church Main Rd Eltham Colour 1 - Shire of Eltham Heritage Study 1992
Uniting Church Main Rd Eltham Colour 1 - Shire of Eltham Heritage Study 1992
Uniting Church Main Rd Eltham Colour 2- Shire of Eltham Heritage Study 1992
206 - Uniting Church Main Rd Eltham - Shire of Eltham Heritage Study 1992
206 - Uniting Church Main Rd Eltham 02 - Old photograph of this church - note the timber picket fence and the site planting (ELHPC No. 646?) - Shire of Eltham Heritage Study 1992
206 - Uniting Church Main Rd Eltham 03 - Shire of Eltham Heritage Study 1992
206 - Uniting Church Main Rd Eltham 04 - Shire of Eltham Heritage Study 1992
206 - Uniting Church Main Rd Eltham 05 - Shire of Eltham Heritage Study 1992
Uniting Church Main Rd Eltham Black & White 1 - Shire of Eltham Heritage Study 1992
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Statement of Significance

RERVISED STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE, CONTEXT, 2010

What is significant?
The 1880 bichromatic brick church and the surrounding site to the title boundaries.

How is it significant?
The church is architecturally, historically, socially and spiritually significant to the Shire of Nillumbik.

Why is it significant?
The church is architecturally significant as a finely detailed example of a brick 19th century rural community church, one of only four in the Shire (Criteria E & B). The church is historically significant as an important link with the time when Eltham was a small, insular country settlement. Also for the historical evolution visible in the complex, with the modest 1880s church and larger red brick rear hall from the early 20th century as a reflection of population growth in the area (Criterion A). The church is historically, spiritually and socially significant because it has played, and continues to play, an important part in the spiritual and social life of the community (Criterion G).

BUTLER STUDY, 2001
The Eltham Uniting Church is significant to the Nillumbik Shire:

. as a finely detailed example of a brick 19th century rural community's church, one of only four in the Nillumbik Shire;

. as an important link with the time when Eltham was a small, insular country settlement.

. for the historical evolution visible in the complex, with the modest 1880 church and larger red brick rear hall from early this century as a reflection ofthe population growth of the area.

BASIS OF SIGNIFICANCE:

SOCIAL

ILLUSTRATION OF THE THEMES

HISTORY

ARCHITECTURE

STREETSCAPE

DEGREE OF SIGNIFICANCE: LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE

EXTENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
ENTIRE BUILDING AND SITE

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    • Historical Australian Themes

      UNITING CHURCH, ORIGINALLY METHODIST CHURCH - Historical Australian Themes

      TOWNSHIP DEVELOPMENT

      The church is one of four 19th century brick churches in the Shire: see St. Margaret's Church of England Church, 1861; former Wesleyan Church, 1880, both Eltham; St Johns Church of England, 1867, Diamond Creek.

      REFERENCES:

      Reference 1: Chris Allan (Ed.), "Eltham Methodist Church One Hundred and Twenty-five Years 18501975", Mimeographed typescript, 1975, in Uniting Church Archives, Melbourne.

      Reference 2: Author not known, Invitation and Souvenir Eltham Methodist Church Centenary Celebrations, Spectator Publishing Co., Melbourne, 1950.

      Reference 3: D.V. Bick, "Victorian Church Survey", Uniting Church, 1988-1989, pp.264-270.

      Reference 4: Old photograph in ELHPC, no. 646? - copy attached.

      8.6.1 Worshipping together

      8.6.2 Maintaining religious traditions and ceremonies

      8.6.4 Making places for worship

      8.14 Living in the country and rural settlements

      Physical Description 1

      UNITING CHURCH, ORIGINALLY METHODIST CHURCH - Physical Description 1

      Style Victorian.

      Design standard.

      Plan now T-shaped (after addition of rear hall) originally rectangular

      Single storeyed.

      Walls solid duochromatic face brickwork with rubbed brick, dressings.

      Roof gabled with no eaves, slate clad. Features are the duochromatic brick walls with their framed bay arrangement, buttresses, eaves corbels, front porch (now disused) with its finial, gable with its finial, decorated slate roof, ridge vents and the stained glass in the church and rear hall.

      Usage/Former Usage

      UNITING CHURCH, ORIGINALLY METHODIST CHURCH - Usage/Former Usage

      Original Use: Methodist Church

      Present Use: Uniting Church

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Nillumbik - Shire of Eltham Heritage Study

      Author: David Bick
      Year: 1992
      Grading:

Public contributions

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