UNITING CHURCH COMPLEX
506-508 NAPIER STREET, WHITE HILLS, GREATER BENDIGO CITY
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
The 1903 timber hall is an excellent example of the Gothic revival style expressed in the Edwardian period, blending aesthetic characteristics of timber friezes, decorative weatherboard claddings, barge boards and finials. The roof ventilators are distinctive in their metalwork and of high quality. The other church hall is a representative example of a timber hall of a relatively common type. (Criteria D & E)
The Uniting Church complex including the church and two halls provides social connections within the White Hills community, having been used and in continuing to be used by a range of social, religious and recreational groups. (Criterion G)
-
-
UNITING CHURCH COMPLEX - Physical Description 1
The Uniting Church complex at 506-508 Napier Street is situated on a large site with three buildings comprising different periods of development. The earliest building on the site is the small brick structure located behind the church. It has a chimney and a pair of arch headed windows. The low pitch gable roof is clad in corrugated iron and is finished with a parapet wall and is used as the vestry.
The church built in front of the vestry c.1870 demonstrates the architectural characteristics of the Gothic Revival style in the steeply pointed gable roof, lancet windows set between the wall buttresses and parapet walls. The front elevation has triple lancet windows between a pair of buttresses and a brickwork cross at the top of the gable. A modern porch and ramp has been constructed at the front of the church.
The 1913 weatherboard clad timber hall is decorated with a small porch (partially infilled) at the front, the use of diagonal weatherboard cladding to the gable end and a turned finial at the roof apex. The timber frieze to the porch is notable as an attractive feature, along with the front triple window with diamond pattern lead lighting. The gable roof is decorated by a row of three square roof ventilators of particularly finely detailed metalwork. Windows have top light opening sashes with fixed panels beneath and are evenly located along the side elevations. There is a small skillion-roofed extension at the rear of the hall. The design is very similar to Arnold Street Uniting church hall of 1915, designed by John Beebe, brother of architect William Beebe. It is highly likely from the features including the porch and tri-partite windows, that John Beebe is also the designer of the White Hills hall.
The small timber hall built n the 1940s as a kindergarten is a plainer version of this building typology and has a modern brick annexe built to one side. It has roof ventilators of a more standard design, weatherboard cladding and double hung sash windows.
The site is gravelled and at the front of the site a low red brick fence of Post-war origin has been constructed. The once larger site contains contemporary aged care homes.
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Bendigo - Eaglehawk & Bendigo Heritage Study
Author: Graeme Butler & Associates
Year: 1993
Grading: CGreater Bendigo - White Hills & East Bendigo Heritage Study 2016
Author: Context P/L
Year: 2015
Grading: Local
-
-
-
-
-
WHITE HILLS CEMETERYVictorian Heritage Register H2136
-
WHITE HILLS BOTANIC GARDENSVictorian Heritage Register H1915
-
DAWSON CACTUS GARDENSVictorian Heritage Register H1406
-
"1890"Yarra City
-
"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
-
"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
-
'Boonderoo', House and OutbuildingsGreater Bendigo City
-
'Riverslea' houseGreater Bendigo City
-
1 Adam StreetYarra City
-
-