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WESTGARTHTOWN LUTHERAN CHURCH COMPLEX
104-112 GARDENIA ROAD AND 104W GARDENIA ROAD LALOR, WHITTLESEA CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
Lutheran Church
Lutheran Church
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lutheran church gardenia road thomastown cemetery detail publication
Thomastown-Church
lutheran church gardenia road thomastown entrance publication
lutheran church gardenia road thomastown interior publication
lutheran church gardenia road thomastown pipe organ detail
1 lutheran church gardenia road thomastown rear view
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Statement of Significance

The Lutheran church, cemetery, drystone walls, and surrounding associated land are of outstanding historical significance to the state of Victoria for their association with the state's promotion of German settlement in Victoria. The Lutheran church, cemetery, drystone walls and surrounding associated land are the central element in the most intact German settlement surviving in Victoria. The Lutheran church at Westgarthtown (Thomastown) is the oldest surviving Lutheran church in Victoria and still conducts regular services. It represents an almost continuous tradition of worship since 1856, and reflects the pivotal role of the church in the devout Lutheran community in its location at the centre of the original 640 acres purchased by William Westgarth and captain john Stanley Carr. The church, cemetery and surrounding associated land have an important association with William Westgarth, MLC, a notable pioneer of Victoria, who was directly responsible for the immigrant communities in Victoria. The church, constructed of local bluestone in 1856 is a simple stone preaching-hall, embellished by half round arch-head windows and entry door. The entry door has been moved from the west to the east side, but the church is otherwise intact and in good condition. The church building reflects the craftsmanship of the early German settlers particularly in the working of bluestone. The cemetery contains the graves of many of the original German settlers. It is privately owned by the Thomastown Lutheran congregation and remains open to congregation members and descendants of the original settlers.
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    • History

      WESTGARTHTOWN LUTHERAN CHURCH COMPLEX - History

      Associated People: Assoc.People WILLIAM WESTGARTH MLC

      "In 1856 the Westgarthtown Lutheran Church was erected on land reserved at the centre of the settlement for a church, school, cemetery and shops. The simple bluestone church was built using 51 cm bluestone blocks cut from stone quarried just 30 metres north of the building. Construction of the church was undertaken by local stonemasons Mssrs Kringel and Einer at a cost of about 320 pounds.

      On 17 November 1856 the Westgarthtown Lutheran Church was dedicated by Pastor Goethe. Now the second oldest Lutheran Church in Australia (the oldest is in Lobethal, South Australia) it remains little changed since that time.

      The Lutheran cemetery , enclosed by a dry-astone wall, still remains and is one of only a handful of ethnic cemeteries in Victoria. The German origins of those laid to rest here is visible on the headstones - many are inscribed in German and some in both German and English.

      The cemetery, surrounded by Monterey pines and Italian cypresses planted in the 1860s and 1870s, is known to be the final resting place of 125 people. Estimates place the number of burials here at up to 200, with the first believed to be that of a stillborn baby in 1850.. The oldest headstone is from 1867.

      Source: 'Westgarthtown; a German Village in the Suburbs' , Australian Heritage, 2006, pp. 9-11.

      Permit Exemptions

      WESTGARTHTOWN LUTHERAN CHURCH COMPLEX - 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.

Public contributions

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