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FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH HOUSE
486-492 ALBERT STREET EAST MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY
WORLD HERITAGE ENVIRONS AREA

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Victorian Heritage Register
FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH HOUSE SOHE 2008
FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH HOUSE SOHE 2008
FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH HOUSE SOHE 2008
FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH HOUSE SOHE 2008
1 former baptist church house ext front
former baptist church house front elevation
former baptist church house ext roof
former baptist church registration plan
On this page:

Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The first Baptist service in the colony was held in 1838 in a tent on the site where the Regent Theatre now stands. The land for the first chapel on this site was bought from the Crown in 1852, and in 1853 a building intended as a schoolroom and seating 250 people was constructed at a cost of 700 pounds. It was set back from the street to allow a church in front. The chapel was designed by the architect Thomas Watts and was constructed by Huckson and Co in 1858-59. The front portion of the chapel was added in 1863-5 in accordance with the original design. Two intended towers were never constructed. A major fire on 6 October 1983 resulted in the collapse of the roof and the gutting of the auditorium or nave. An office building was subsequently constructed behind the facade, and the facade substantially restored.


How is it significant?
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The former Baptist Church House is of architectural and historic importance to the state of Victoria.


Why is it significant?

While only the front portion of the building remains, it is of architectural importance as a classical facade with fine Corinthian portico, projecting dentillated cornice and entablature, and a substantial remnant of one of only a small number of classical style buildings constructed in the mid nineteenth century.

The former Baptist Church House is of historic importance as a representation of one of Victoria's oldest non- conformist churches. The Baptists support of the classical style reflected their desire to be seen as separate from the Gothic or medieval traditions of the mainstream churches.
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    • History

      FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH HOUSE - History

      Associated People: Thomas Watts;

      Permit Exemptions

      FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH HOUSE - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

      Specific Exemptions:

      Nil

      Permit Exemption Policy

      FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH HOUSE - Permit Exemption Policy

      The registered place is located within the declared World Heritage Environs Area for the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens. In accordance with the permit considerations set out in the Heritage Act 1995, proposed works to the registered place must consider:

      - the effect of the works on the World Heritage values of the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens; and

      - the approved "World Heritage Environs Area Strategy Plan: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens" (Department of Planning and Community Development, 2009).

      The Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000, as they relate to actions that may impact on World Heritage values, must also be considered.

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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