FORMER WESLEYAN CHURCH SCHOOL PARSONAGE
141-165 KOROIT STREET AND 89-105 LIEBIG STREET WARRNAMBOOL, WARRNAMBOOL CITY
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Statement of Significance
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FORMER WESLEYAN CHURCH SCHOOL PARSONAGE - History
The first Wesleyan Church in Warrnambool was constructed in 1850 on a land grant secured on the south western corner of Liebig and Koroit Streets.It was opened on the 4th May 1851 by the first resident minister, William Lightbody. Lightbody, who administered both Warrnambool and Port Fairy, was at the time one of five ordained Methodist ministers in Victoria.
Despite being a stone building, the initial church was made unstable because of excessive wombat burrowing. By 1857 the chapel was being supported by wooden props. A new and larger church was built in 1858 around the shell or footings of the original. By 1886 a schoolroom and parsonage had been erected on the church grounds. The church was used until 1939 when the existing church was built on Koroit Street, east of Liebig Street.
FORMER WESLEYAN CHURCH SCHOOL PARSONAGE - Interpretation of Site
The construction of the shops along Liebig and Koroit Streets would have severely impacted the remains of the earlier churches. The latter church was possibly demolished after 1939 as the buildings of 95-99 Liebig Street appear to have been built in the late 19th century. It is likely that the church was located closer to the corner of Koroit and Liebig Streets. It does not appear that any of the post 1939 buildings on the site have basements and so it is likely that the strip footings of both churches are likely to be present between the footings of the existing buildings.
FORMER WESLEYAN CHURCH SCHOOL PARSONAGE - Archaeological Significance
The archaeological significanceof the site lies in the potential of the remains to provide information on early ecclesiastical architectural and construction quality in Warrnambool. Of particular interest would be the first church on the site, which seemed to have been poorly built. Did wombat burrows ultimately make the building unstable? Archaeological deposits from refuse and cess pits may provide some insight into the health and living conditions of the clergy who first lived on the site.
Intact remains would be expected to be found in the sealed surfaces at the rear of the buildings, the pedestrian easement leading into Koroit Street and the north eastern portion of the car park. Other archaeological remains that could be expected to be present would be post holes from fences, footings and/or post holes of subsidiary buildings such as parsonage and/or school room, and refuse or cess pits.
FORMER WESLEYAN CHURCH SCHOOL PARSONAGE - Historical Significance
The site is historically signficant as it was the location of the first Wesleyan (Methodist) church in Warrnambool.
Heritage Inventory Description
FORMER WESLEYAN CHURCH SCHOOL PARSONAGE - Heritage Inventory Description
The site is located on the corner of Koroit and Liebig Streets, Warrnambool. Shop buildings front both streets and the south western corner of the site forms part of a car park. Pedestrian easements lead out from the car park to both Liebig and Koroit Streets.
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WARRNAMBOOL COURT HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H1674
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FORMER POLICE STATION COMPLEXVictorian Heritage Register H1698
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COTTAGEVictorian Heritage Register H0577
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