563-567 Glen Huntly Road
563-567 Glen Huntly Road ELSTERNWICK, Glen Eira City
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Statement of Significance
It is aesthetically significant (Criterion E) as a prominent complex of early twentieth century religious buildings united in purpose and choice of materials and/or architectural forms. The church is especially noteworthy as an example of the Gothic Revival Style incorporating Arts and Crafts elements in moderation but demonstrating the architects' leanings towards this mode. The Greek cross form and sloping floor are representative of the Presbyterian Church's worship traditions and the Foster Street hall (west side) is aesthetically of interest for the manner in which its facade treatment corresponds with that of the church. The complex is socially significant (Criterion G) as a long standing place of worship in the community and for the way of life which it continues to demonstrate. Finally, the Fincham organ is understood to be of scientific (technical) importance (Criterion F) whilst the association of the place with the highly successful architectural practice of H.W. and F.B. Tompkins is unique in the Municipality.
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563-567 Glen Huntly Road - Physical Description 1
An Arts and Crafts influenced Gothic Revival Church in red brick with cement dressings having the form of a Greek cross on plan with the angles occupied by splayed extensions of the floor area. The former porch, now glazed in, is given emphasis by means of castellated and faceted bays on either side of the entry. There is a steeply pitched slate roof with fleche at the crossing and a rose window to the facade with flanking buttresses terminated by spheres with castellations re-iterating the motif at the entry and demonstrating Arts and Crafts principles. There are sympathetic additions at the rear and recent additions on the east side.
Inside, the floor slopes to the table and pulpit and there is a varnished-v jointed dado and lined ceiling with exposed ornamented trusses, the upper sections above the ties being concealed from view. There is a hammer beam treatment at the lower intersections of the trusses which are supported on slender clustered columns in the Gothic manner with Arts and Crafts foliated enrichment to the caps. There is a Fincham organ.
A Sunday School hall at the rear is of utilitarian form and has a presumed later terra cotta tiled roof, moulded weatherboards and later porch at the front. The main barges have partly removed Gothic terminations. Inside, the timber ceiling linings follow the slope of the roof and the timber trusses are exposed. There is a painted timber dado and plastered walls.
There is a plainly treated red brick hall with stuccoed dressings opposite. It has a castellated porch at the front. The facade is subdivided by pilasters into three parts with a central timber vent, the pilaster terminations being carried above the coping line with moulded terminations capped by orb finials with imposed cross motifs. There is a timber addition at the rear. Inside, the ceilings and fills have sheet linings with strapwork.563-567 Glen Huntly Road - Physical Description 2
Integrity: High, Sunday School hall (medium), Original gates to church porch conserved on site.
563-567 Glen Huntly Road - Physical Description 3
Condition: sound
563-567 Glen Huntly Road - Historical Australian Themes
Plaques etc. at site. Melbourne University Architectural index
Heritage Study and Grading
Glen Eira - City of Glen Eira Heritage Management Plan
Author: Andrew Ward, Architectural Historian
Year: 1996
Grading:
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FORMER ELSTERNWICK POST OFFICEVictorian Heritage Register H0640
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FORMER UNION CHURCHVictorian Heritage Register H0704
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FORMER ELSTERNWICK FIRE STATIONVictorian Heritage Register H2376
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