ST ANDREWS UNITING CHURCH
502 STURT STREET BALLARAT CENTRAL, BALLARAT CITY
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
The foundation stone of St Andrew's Kirk, Ballarat was laid in 1862 and construction of the bluestone building with freestone detailing was completed in 1864, on the corner of Sturt and Dawson Streets, to designs by Charles D. Cuthbert of Ballarat. The porch and vestry were added in 1873, the tower and spire in 1884 to designs by Figgis and Caselli, and the transepts in 1889 to designs by Figgis and Molloy. Finally the choir vestry was added in 1926.
The congregation had its origin in 1855 when the Free Presbyterian Church appointed a minister to the Ballarat goldfields. The first regular minister, the Rev William Henderson, had been sent out by the Free Church of Scotland to meet the needs of the colony and he held the position for 26 years. He was the Moderator of the Free Church in 1855 and of the Presbyterian Church in 1872, and was a pioneer minister of the State, who wrote extensively on religion and was actively involved in the community. He also founded Ballarat College, the oldest public school for boys in Ballarat in 1864. He died during the construction of the spire of St Andrew's Kirk, and black bands were inserted in the pinnacles to commemorate this event.
Both the Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches secured prime corner sites in Sturt Street and the first building on the Presbyterian site was a small timber church opened in 1858. This was used as a Sunday School after the new church was erected, but was sold and removed in 1875. The present Sunday School building was opened in 1885, situated to the north of the church, and the manse was erected in 1886-88 to the west of the Sunday School in Lyons Street. Both buildings remain on the church property, the latter however was replaced post 1960. Ballarat College was also built on the Presbyterian site at the corner of Sturt and Lyons Streets, occupying this position from 1874 to 1912. Designed by Henry R. Caselli, the building was used for part of the Sunday School after it was vacated by the school. The school building was demolished in c.1949.
The original church building consisted of a broad six bay nave with side aisles. Nave arcading defines the three spaces internally, which all contain timber lined ceilings. This original section, the later tower and transepts are Norman Romanesque in style and they incorporate a number of well executed Romanesque details. Described as the largest and most complete Norman style church in Victoria (Lewis), freestone details include elaborately decorated concentric orders, blind arcading, arcaded corbel tables, stilted arches, wheel windows, scallop and cushion capitals, chevron moulding and interlaced arches. The last feature, particularly common in Romanesque work in England, can be seen externally in the freestone blind arcading above the entrance and in the cast iron fence, and internally on the timber baptismal font and gallery. The main south portal is of particular note with a profusion of finely carved elements and a centrally placed figure of St Andrew, bearing a Saltire cross. Some of this detail, including rosettes, was added to this elaborate doorway in 1883-4.
The use of textured bluestone blocks and smooth freestone detailing provides the building with both textural and colour contrasts. This is evident throughout the exterior, particularly in the buttresses, where bluestone blocks are embedded in freestone masonry.
The tower, above the wheel window, and spire were added in 1884, and the latter is the only element of the church building that is Gothic in character. It incorporates pinnacles and lucarnes with pointed arch openings, and rests on a Romanesque tower with blind arcading, arcaded corbel table and round headed arch openings. Designed in conjunction with the spire, the tower retains the Norman character of the rest of the building, with the upper level of windows appearing to be altered before construction from the original pointed arch design shown in drawings.
A cast iron fence, by White?s Eagle Foundry, Ballarat, was constructed along the Sturt and Dawson Street boundaries in 1902. It reflects the style of the Norman church by incorporating interlaced arches in its design. A pair of cast iron lamps, executed by the Victoria Foundry in Leith, Scotland, were erected in the grounds at an unknown date.
How is it significant?
St Andrew's Kirk, Ballarat is of architectural, historical and aesthetic significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
St Andrew's Kirk, Ballarat is of architectural significance as a large Norman Romanesque church, which has been described as the largest and most complete Norman style church in Victoria. The adoption of the Romanesque style was unusual, the Gothic style being more commonly adopted for ecclesiastical buildings throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Lombardic and Norman Romanesque were occasionally adopted, with Norman examples including the former Wesleyan Church in Palmerston Street, Carlton, designed by Reed and Barnes in 1869, and a much later example, the third church for St John's Roman Catholic church in East Melbourne, designed by W. P. Connolly in 1930. At St Andrew's, the spire, added in 1884, is the only section of the building to display Gothic characteristics.
St Andrew's Kirk, Ballarat is of architectural significance for the fine detailing incorporated both internally and externally. Freestone mouldings, stained glass and wood carving have all been finely executed by a range of craftsmen. The variety of mouldings, as illustrated in the main portal to the south, is indicative of the attention given to detail throughout the building. The concentric arches incorporate chevron mouldings, rosettes, flowers and animals, and side colonnettes are decorated individually with distinctive shafts. Such individual treatment can be seen throughout, for example above the entrance in a blind arcade, internally in the capitals of the nave columns, in the carved timberwork of the pulpit, railings and baptismal font, and in the surrounding cast iron fence. Stained glass windows, dating from the early twentieth century, were executed by significant firms such as Ballantyne and Sons, Edinburgh; Brooks Robinson, Melbourne and Ferguson and Urie, Melbourne. As examples of the work of important masters of the craft, and as a record of the people who contributed to the beginning and development of the church, these windows add significance to the church.
St Andrew's Kirk is of architectural significance as an example of the work of three Ballarat architects who between them designed many of the city's significant religious and secular buildings from the 1860s to the 1880s. The original architect, Charles D. Cuthbert, also designed the Gothic St Peter's Anglican Church in Sturt Street (1864-7) and Caselli and Figgis designed the Gothic Congregational Church (1881). Henry R. Caselli himself designed a large number of churches in Victoria, with two Lombardic Romanesque examples in Ballarat, the Ebenezer Presbyterian church, Armstrong Street South (1862-3) and the Lutheran Church in Doveton Street (1876).
St Andrew's Kirk, Ballarat is of historical significance as an illustrative example of a building which resulted from the wealth generated by the gold rushes in Ballarat. Many Scots were attracted to Ballarat in the search for gold, and this, as well as the wealth generated by large pastoral runs, is reflected in the construction of this church.
St Andrew's Kirk is of historical significance as a church which has been in continual use as a place of worship since the completion of the nave in the 1860s. It is significant for its association with Rev. William Henderson, a prominent pioneer Presbyterian minister in nineteenth century Victoria, and the presence of black bands in the pinnacles of the church spire provide a permanent record of his death.
St Andrew's Kirk is of historical significance due to the retention of much of its original site in Sturt Street from Dawson Street to Lyons Street, and to the presence of the adjacent 1885 Sunday School building. The Sunday School is of historical significance for its contribution to the spiritual life of the congregation and the religious education of its young people.The manse on the site replaced an earlier building. Both St Andrew's Kirk and St Patrick's Cathedral, either side of Sturt Street, retain their spacious grounds, illustrating the importance of these churches when land was reserved in the 1850s.
St Andrew's Kirk is of aesthetic significance as a major ecclesiastical landmark in Ballarat and as one of the principal buildings in an important and cohesive precinct. It is one of a number of churches erected in Dawson Street, at the western end of Sturt Street, in the latter half of the nineteenth century. These include the former Congregational church (Caselli and Figgis,1881), St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral (1857-63) and the former Baptist church (1866-7), and together these form a coherent group of ecclesiastical buildings.
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ST ANDREWS UNITING CHURCH - History
Associated People:
ST ANDREWS UNITING CHURCH - Permit Exemptions
General Exemptions:General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions. Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.Specific Exemptions:General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component. General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it. Note: The existence of a Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan endorsed by Heritage Victoria provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan. General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable. Regular Site Maintenance :
The following site maintenance works are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995, a) regular site maintenance provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; b) the maintenance of an item to retain its conditions or operation without the removal of or damage to the existing fabric or the introduction of new materials; c) cleaning including the removal of surface deposits, organic growths, or graffiti by the use of low pressure water and natural detergents and mild brushing and scrubbing; d) repairs, conservation and maintenance to plaques, memorials, roads and paths, fences and gates and drainage and irrigation. e) the replacement of existing services such as cabling, plumbing, wiring and fire services that uses existing routes, conduits or voids, and does not involve damage to or the removal of significant fabric. Note: Surface patina which has developed on the fabric may be an important part of the item’s significance and if so needs to be preserved during maintenance and cleaning. Note: Any new materials used for repair must not exacerbate the decay of existing fabric due to chemical incompatibility, obscure existing fabric or limit access to existing fabric for future maintenance. Repair must maximise protection and retention of fabric and include the conservation of existing details or elements. Weed and Vermin Control :
The following weed and vermin control activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995, a) Weed and vermin control activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; Note: Particular care must be taken with weed and vermin control works where such activities may have a detrimental affect on the significant fabric of a place. Such works may include the removal of ivy, moss or lichen from an historic structure or feature, or the removal of burrows from a site that has archaeological values.Landscape Maintenance :
Public Safety and Security :
The following landscape maintenance works are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995, a) landscape maintenance works provided the activities do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; b) watering, mowing, top-dressing and fertilising necessary for the continued health of plants, without damage or major alterations to layout, contours, plant species or other significant landscape features; c) pruning to control size, improve shape, flowering or fruiting and the removal of diseased, dead or dangerous material, not exceeding 20% of the crown of the tree within a period of two years; d) tree surgery by a qualified horticulturalist or tree surgeon necessary for the health of those plants.
The following public safety and security activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995, a) public safety and security activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground structures or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; b) the erection of temporary security fencing, scaffolding, hoardings or surveillance systems to prevent unauthorised access or secure public safety which will not adversely affect significant fabric of the place including archaeological features; c) development including emergency stabilisation necessary to secure safety where a site feature has been irreparably damaged or destabilised and represents a safety risk to its users or the public. Note: Urgent or emergency site works are to be undertaken by an appropriately qualified specialist such as a structural engineer, or other heritage professional. Signage and Site Interpretation :
The following Signage and Site Interpretation activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995, a) signage and site interpretation activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground structures or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; b) the erection of non-illuminated signage for the purpose of ensuring public safety or to assist in the interpretation of the heritage significance of the place or object and which will not adversely affect significant fabric including landscape or archaeological features of the place or obstruct significant views of and from heritage values or items; c) signage and site interpretation products must be located and be of a suitable size so as not to obscure or damage significant fabric of the place; d) signage and site interpretation products must be able to be later removed without causing damage to the significant fabric of the place; Note: The development of signage and site interpretation products must be consistent in the use of format, text, logos, themes and other display materials. Note: Where possible, the signage and interpretation material should be consistent with other schemes developed on similar or associated sites. It may be necessary to consult with land managers and other stakeholders concerning existing schemes and strategies for signage and site interpretation. Minor Works :
Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works may submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.
Works including demolition and internal modification, but not additions, to the existing Manse
Refurbishment and replacementof existing toilets and kitchen in the Sunday School building.ST ANDREWS UNITING CHURCH - Permit Exemption Policy
The purpose of the permit exemptions is to allow works which do not impact on the significance of the place to occur without the need for a permit. Repairs and maintenance which replace like materials with like are permit exempt.( e.g. replacing defective corrugated galvanised iron roofing sheets with corrugated galvanised iron).
The importance of the place lies in the architecture and decoration of the church and its original fittings and furniture. The pulpit and font design repeats the pattern of arches of the exterior. The relationship of the church to the adjacent Sunday School is important to the understanding of the social history of the church. The cast iron fence, gates and lamps of 1902 defining the perimeter of the church land are important. The setting of the church in Sturt Street within the church precinct of Ballarat and the view lines from various vantage points are significant and should be protected.
The area is considered to have the potential to contain archaeological material relating to the former Ballarat College of 1874 on the cornerof Sturt and Lyons Streets, demolished c. 1949. Although nothing remains of the structure above ground, it is likely that the demolition process will not have removed all traces of the building foundations and associated deposits. The site has potential to retain archaeological material relating to education in the mid to late nineteenth century.
Future development to the west of the site could take place, subject to a permit,provided it does not detract from the cultural heritage significance of the church and Sunday School or from views of the church from neighbouring areas. The church stands in a religious precinct centred in Dawson, Sturt and Mair streets containing St Patrick's Cathedral (1857-63) and Hall, the former Congregational Church (1881), and the former Baptist Chapel (1866-67). Works including demolition and internal modification, but not additions, to the existing Manse are permit exempt, however a permit would be required to replace it as the building is on registered land.
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FORMER POLICE STATION, BALLARATVictorian Heritage Register H1544
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BALLARAT TRADES HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0657
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PRIMARY SCHOOL NO.33Victorian Heritage Register H1714
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'CARINYA' LADSONS STOREVictorian Heritage Register H0568
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1 Alexander StreetYarra City
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1 Botherambo StreetYarra City
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Tours involving this place See all tours
15/01/14
Ballarat Railway Complex - Fine Art Gallery - Alexandria Tea Rooms - Eureka Flag - Former Mining Exchange - Ballarat Trades Hall - Titanic Memorial Bandstand - Ballaarat Mechanics Institute - Her Majesty's Theatre - Craig's Royal Hotel - Ballarat Town Hall - St Patricks Cathedral And Hall - St Andrews Uniting Church
Public contributions
Tours involving this place See all tours
15/01/14
Ballarat Railway Complex - Fine Art Gallery - Alexandria Tea Rooms - Eureka Flag - Former Mining Exchange - Ballarat Trades Hall - Titanic Memorial Bandstand - Ballaarat Mechanics Institute - Her Majesty's Theatre - Craig's Royal Hotel - Ballarat Town Hall - St Patricks Cathedral And Hall - St Andrews Uniting Church