FORMER ST FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH
10 MULVHAIL ROAD, WOODVALE - PROPERTY NUMBER 197958, GREATER BENDIGO CITY
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Statement of Significance
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FORMER ST FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH - Physical Description 1
(The following description is limited due to the restricted visibility of the building from the main road frontage, including restricted views of the side elevations, and of the rear.)
The former St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, built in 1935, is a vernacular Gothic-influenced timber church with 'bungalow' and Arts and Crafts touches. It is located on a large allotment to the east of the Loddon Valley Highway. The original building is essentially T shaped in plan with a small gable ended porch to the front (north) and projecting transepts (or porches) at the south. Although adapted to residential use, the church retains its original nave and side and front porches.
The aerial photograph included above indicates that additions have been added to both the east and west sides of the building, apparently enveloping (or partly enveloping) the original building elevations. The west addition(s) is not visible from the street, and views of the east addition are also limited, but some description is included below.
The walls of the church are clad with bull nosed weatherboards and asbestos cement sheeting. The weatherboards are generally painted white, with the asbestos sheeting painted green. The timber framed windows are lancet-arched. It is possible that the original side walls associated with the east and west additions have been partially removed/penetrated to open up to the additions.
A triangular window with six lights in a radial arrangement around a central glazed bullseye is located to the north gable end, over the front porch. The glazed bullseye features the lettering 'HIS' (1) in leadlight work; the leadlight to the six surrounding lights have simple diamond patterns.
The works to the east include a brick structure (wall) which begins at the front porch and continues along the east elevation. It may incorporate an enclosed outdoor space. The transept at the east end also appears to have been clad (or reconstructed) in brick. To the east side of the front porch and awning has been added, with a plain fascia; this cuts across the lancet window so that the top light reads as a curved triangle above the awning, and as a simple double-hung sash below.
The ridge-mounted crosses, evident in the historic image above, have been removed. The origins of the church are remembered in a sign fixed to a timber board facing Mulvahil Road reading 'St Francis Xavier Catholic Church'.
(1) 'HIS' (Iesous Hominum Salvator) is a monogram used by the Roman Catholic Church, meaning 'Jesus, saviour of man'. Catholic Encyclopaedia online, www.newadvent.org
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Bendigo - Heritage Policy Citations Review
Author: Lovell Chen P/L
Year: 2011
Grading: Local
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