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ST NEKTARIO'S GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
138 MAJOR ROAD,, FAWKNER VIC 3060 - Property No 45382

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Merri-bek City
St Nektario's Greek Orthodox Church
St Nektario's Greek Orthodox Church
St Nektario's Greek Orthodox Church
ST NEKTARIOS
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ST NEKTARIOS ENTRANCE
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
St Nektario's Greek Orthodox Church at 144 Major Road, Fawkner designed by James Earle & Partners and built in 1974 is significant. The form, original external materials and detailing and siting of the church, which enables it to be viewed from all sides contributes to the significance of the place.

Other buildings on the site are not significant.

How is it significant?
St Nektario's is of local historic, architectural and social significance to the City of Moreland.

Why is it significant?
St Nektario's is historically and socially significant as church that demonstrates the growth of the Greek community within Moreland after World War II. First established in an earlier church on the same site, St Nektario's demonstrates the consolidation of worship amongst migrant communities in Moreland. (Criteria A & G)

St Nektario's is architecturally significant for the convincing manner in which a design traditionally executed in solid masonry material has been re-invented in concrete panels. The church displays elements of rich iconography in the circular mosaic motif and the metal window screens as well as the vernacular tradition of an outdoor water source as an important element. The interior is notable for its sculptural internal spaces created by the intersection of domes. St Nektario's Greek Orthodox church is an important and distinctive part of the prolific church architecture practice of Earle and Partners who are better known for their Wesleyan, Anglican and Presbyterian churches. (Criterion E)

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    • Physical Description 1

      ST NEKTARIO'S GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH - Physical Description 1

      St Nektario's is based on a traditional centralized church design originating from the ancient churches of the Byzantine Empire. This traditional form includes the use of a central domed space surrounded by subsidiary apses each with their own domed roof. The complex expression of domed forms exhibited in Byzantine churches were essentially solutions to building circular domes over square plans in thick walled masonry construction.

      The modern equivalent of this form at St Nektario's has been inventively designed in concrete panels with semi-circular 'buttresses' that conceal the joints between panels and provide additional modelling to the facade.

      St Nektario's is an interesting combination of traditional church design with structural materials of the twentieth century. There is considerable skill exercised in achieving the internal flow of space and volume with the restrictions of pre cast elements.

      St Nektario's also includes symbols and imagery of importance in the Greek Orthodox tradition a including gold icon circular motif centrally placed over the entrance, the metal screen windows with a Greek cross design, and a water tap decorated in blue and with shell mosaic designed like a small traditional spring.

      The church sits in an asphalted car park and landscaping includes a small palm tree and some low plantings delineating access roads and parking places.

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Moreland - City of Moreland - North of Bell Street Heritage Study

      Author: Context Pty Ltd
      Year: 2013
      Grading: Local

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