St Paul's Cathedral & Organ
22-40 Swanston Street, cnr Flinders Street, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B1163
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Statement of Significance
Church Statement of Significance:
One of the later and larger works of the important English architect William Butterfield, who never visited Australia. The cathedral dates from 1880 to 1891, and as conceived had an octagonal crossing tower and two saddle - backed west towers which would have given it a High Victorian Rhenish air. These were not built, and the present conventional Gothic spires are the work of the Sydney architect James Barr. Characteristic Butterfield details including the contrasting texture of the Waurn Ponds and Barrabool stone cladding, and the horizontally striped interior ultimately derived from Siena Cathedral (though used by Butterfield at Rugby and elsewhere).
The interior is lavishly fitted out with encaustic tile floor and wainscoting, stained glass by Clayton & Bell of London, a reredos of Derbyshire spa, Devonshire marble and Venetian glass mosaic, organ by T.C. Lewis, and furniture and fittings of blackwood. What had not been completed at the time of Butterfield's premature resignation in 1888 was carried forward with sympathy and competence by the Melbourne architect Joseph Reed. The classification also embraces the vestry, administrative and Chapter House complex, shop frontages, covered walkways, and iron railings on stone plinths.
Classified:State: 08/12/1977
St Paul's Cathedral Organ, Statement of Significance:
A four-manual organ, originally of 50 speaking stops, built by the renowned London organbuilder Thomas C Lewis in 1890. The instrument was among the largest creations of its builder and is comparable with his later organ in Southwark Cathedral (1897). It is of note for its lavish use of materials, spacious layout and the excellence of its voicing. It includes a massive case in American walnut designed by Joseph Reed. The pipework, windchests and wind system remain essentially intact, although the action and console (which incorporates woodwork from a 1929 rebuilding) date from the major restoration of Harrison & Harrison in 1989-1990 as do three additional reed ranks and the stencilling of the facade pipes, after a design by Lyon, Wells, Cottier & Company. This instrument has enjoyed a long assoication with the music of the Cathedral, under the hands of leading musicians, and has been widely used for recitals, broadcasts and recordings. It is the most notable surviving 19th century organ in Victoria.
Classified: 21/03/1994 International significance
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MITRE TAVERNVictorian Heritage Register H0464
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MELBOURNE SAVAGE CLUBVictorian Heritage Register H0025
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FORMER LONDON CHARTERED BANKVictorian Heritage Register H0022
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