ST JOHNS UNITING CHURCH

38 CAMPBELL STREET STREATHAM, ARARAT RURAL CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

ST JOHNS UNITING CHURCH SOHE 2008

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    ST JOHNS UNITING CHURCH - History

    History of Place:
    The one acre site now occupied by the bluestone church was gazetted as a temporary reserve for public worship for the Presbyterian Church in 1869. (Victorian Government Gazette No 39 1869 p 1228). In 1874 tenders were called by architect George Harriott of Wickliffe. The work was superintended by a local policeman, H S Saville. (Through the Corridors of Time, Centenary of St John’s Presbyterian Church Streatham 1875 – 1975).
    
    The local squatting property of Fiery Creek was run by John Ritchie from 1853 to 1900. Ritchie, a Presbyterian Scotsman, donated funds towards the building of the church and insisted that it be built of bluestone. The limestone for the dressings was quarried locally from the property of Mr Meeks at Cullen Lakes.
    
    In 1977 bush fires swept through the area and almost destroyed the church. The bluestone and some of the limestone dressings survived but all other parts, including the roof and all fixtures and fittings, were destroyed. These parts were accurately rebuilt based on documentary sources. Imported white Oamaru limestone was used to replace the destroyed dressings. A new single storey hall in a contemporary style and with direct access to the church was added at the rear.
    Associated People: John Ritchie

    Permit Exemptions

    ST JOHNS UNITING CHURCH - 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:

    * Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.

    Permit Exemption Policy

    ST JOHNS UNITING CHURCH - Permit Exemption Policy

    The purpose of the permit exemptions is to allow works that do not impact on the significance of the place to take place without the need for a permit. Repairs and maintenance which replace like materials with like are permit exempt.
    
    The primary significance of the site is the church. The modern building to the rear is excluded from the registration. The church was extensively damaged in the 1977 bushfires, and was rebuilt accurately based on documentary sources as a result of community pressure. Permits should take account of the intact form of the 1874 design.
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