Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Presbytery, Parish Hall and St Aloysius Primary School, 34 Stevens Street, Queenscliff
34 Stevens Street QUEENSCLIFF, QUEENSCLIFFE BOROUGH
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Statement of Significance
Statement of Significance as recorded under the Queenscliff Heritage Study 2009
The Holy Trinity Church and the Roman Catholic complex is of historical, social and architectural significance to the Borough of Queenscliffe. Historically, the 1860s church dates to the earliest phase of development in the township, has been an important place of worship for the Roman Catholic congregation since 1867, and has evolved over time to meet the requirements of the congregation, including through provision of a presbytery, the new school building and extensions to the parish hall and the church itself. The association of the presbytery with Catholic Archbishop Daniel Mannix is also of interest. The complex additionally is of social significance for the Catholic congregation of Queenscliff, given its long-standing role in the community. Architecturally, the Holy Trinity Church is a fine example of primitive-style early-Romanesque ecclesiastical architecture, a relatively uncommon style in Victoria. The rendered walls with raised quoins are visually striking. The church also exhibits externally a range of early medieval characteristics including arched window heads, buttresses, parapeted gable end walls, and the distinctive square, buttressed tower with rendered pilasters and high pitched pyramidal roof. The double fronted and verandahed timber presbytery, and the timber church hall of simple form and detailing, albeit prominent within the streetscape, also contribute to the architectural values and heritage character of the complex.
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Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Presbytery, Parish Hall and St Aloysius Primary School, 34 Stevens Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 1
Extract from the 1982 study
Renovations, which included the building of a new altar, were carried out in 1900. A weatherboard presbytery to the design of J.G. Rigg, architect, was also built at that time. The extension of the church to the south of the tower was completed in 1925 during the pastorship of Fr. James Lee although Fr. Conlan had initiated the work.(3)
The simple quoined construction of the low walls, the arched window heads and the square, angle-buttressed tower with its high pitched pyramidal roof give Holy Trinity a primitive early Romanesque character. A corbel table which is placed under the eaves forms a string course on the tower, completes the range of early medieval characteristics which contrast with the more elaborate Gothic commonly found on churches in Victoria.
Extract from the 2009 study
(Note: Internal inspections of the Holy Trinity Church, Presbytery and Parish Hall were not carried out for Stage 1 of the Heritage Study. References to the interior and internal features in the following description derive from the 1984 study.)
Holy Trinity Church
The Holy Trinity Church is sited parallel with Stevens Street and is set slightly back from the build line of the neighbouring residential properties. The church is set on a large reserve which includes the parish hall, presbytery and the St Aloysius' primary school.
Built in an early-Romanesque style, the church is of simple construction withrendered walls with raised quoins, arched window heads and buttresses with a slate roof and parapetted gable end walls. A square, buttressed tower with rendered pilasters is positioned approximately halfway along the east elevation and has a high pitched pyramidal slate roof. Additional details such as the corbel table under the eaves, which forms a string course on the tower, complete the range of early medieval characteristics which contrast with the more elaborate Gothic commonly found on churches in Victoria.
During the extension of the south end in the 1900s, the elevational treatment was continued, including the repetition of the drip moulding to the windows.[i] The apse and vestry at the northern end of the building were added later.
[i] QHS, photograph of Royal Hotel, King Street (Holy Trinity at rear)
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Presbytery, Parish Hall and St Aloysius Primary School, 34 Stevens Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 2
Extract from the 1982 study
During the extension of the south end in the 1900's, little change took place to the elevational treatment: the existing windows group of three, and their drip moulds were repeated.(4) The apse and vestry of the northern end were added on a separate occasion. The presbytery is a double fronted timber house, with a verandah to the east face. The entry door with its side and toplights is asymmetrically placed in the facade whilst the verandah brockets are of an unusual stepped profile. The roof has a gambrel outline.
Extract from the 2009 study
Presbytery
The presbytery is a double fronted timber house, with a verandah to the east. The entry door with its side and top lights is asymmetrically placed in the facade whilst the verandah brackets are of an unusual stepped profile. The roof has a gambrel outline. The building was erected shortly after Queenscliff became a separate parish in November 1899.
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Presbytery, Parish Hall and St Aloysius Primary School, 34 Stevens Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 3
Extract from the 1982 study
Beside the presbytery is the church hall (J 902)(5) with its trussed gable and bracketed fascia; an inappropriate addition has been attached to the north side. Although of a simple design the hall is prominent and contributes to the streetscape. Fronting the hall and the church is a masonry and wrought iron fence, of more recent times which has replaced the previous pickets.
Holy Trinity shares the medieval character of St. Georges but lacks the latter's prominent sitting. Its primitive character is not common in Victorian church architecture and lends merit to the building.
Extract from the 2009 study
Parish Hall
To the south of the presbytery is the church hall (1902-05) with its trussed gable and bracketed fascia; an entry portico has been attached to the north side. Although of a simple design the hall is prominent in the streetscape. The hall was extended to the rear in 1981 in order to accommodate the inflated numbers attending mass during the peak holiday season.
Fronting the hall and the church is a modern wrought iron fence set between rendered masonry piers, and which replaced the previous picket fence.
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Presbytery, Parish Hall and St Aloysius Primary School, 34 Stevens Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 4
Extract from the 2009 study
St Aloysius' Primary School
Originally housed in the Parish Hall, the school moved into its new accommodation to the rear (west) of the Church building in 1975. The new brick school building had three classrooms, a kitchen, staff-room, administration block and small library. In 1979 an additional classroom was constructed and the library extended. In 1987 a new library was built with the previous library area being incorporated into the Infants classroom.[i]
[i] www.salsqclf.melb.catholic.edu.au
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Presbytery, Parish Hall and St Aloysius Primary School, 34 Stevens Street, Queenscliff - Intactness
GOOD
Heritage Study and Grading
Queenscliffe - Queenscliffe Urban Conservation Study
Author: Allom Lovell & Associates P/L, Architects
Year: 1982
Grading:Queenscliffe - Queenscliffe Heritage Study
Author: Lovell Chen
Year: 2009
Grading:
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LATHAMSTOWEVictorian Heritage Register H1052
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PILOTS COTTAGESVictorian Heritage Register H1618
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ROSENFELDVictorian Heritage Register H1134
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