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REFORMED CHURCH OF GEELONG
233 PAKINGTON STREET GEELONG WEST, GREATER GEELONG CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
FORMER NEWTOWN METHODIST CHURCH SOHE 2008
FORMER NEWTOWN METHODIST CHURCH SOHE 2008
FORMER NEWTOWN METHODIST CHURCH SOHE 2008
FORMER NEWTOWN METHODIST CHURCH SOHE 2008
FORMER NEWTOWN METHODIST CHURCH SOHE 2008
1 former newtown methodist church pakington street geelong front view aug1995
h01145 plan h1145
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Statement of Significance

The Reformed Church of Geelong was built in 1876 as the Newtown Methodist Church to a design by the prominent Geelong architectural firm of Davidson and Henderson. The elaborately detailed church is constructed of Waurn Ponds limestone with Barrabool sandstone as rock faced ashlar and built on the bluestone foundations of the previous church. In 1891 the church underwent internal alterations and a pipe organ was installed. Stained glass windows and doors were added in 1947. In 1954 the interior was again altered with an enlargement of the choir stall and a new sanctuary. The building has been used by the Geelong Reformed Church since 1965.

The Geelong Reformed Church is of architectural and historical significance to the state of Victoria.

The church is of considerable architectural importance as an extraordinary example of a Gothic style church. Details such as the form of the finials, the curved decorations of the porch and the decorated frieze of the string course reflect the influence of French architectural writer Viollet-le-Duc on the work of the architects Davidson and Henderson. The church is also architecturally significant for the fine craftsmanship and decoration it demonstrates in its decorative use of stone, the elaborately detailed front facade, the finely crafted timber ceiling and the stained glass windows.

The Reformed Church of Geelong is of historical interest for its associations with the Methodist Church in Victoria. The church was built after the Methodists had moved away from John Wesley's original concept of the church as a "plain and decent" preaching-house to an acceptance of more elaborate and substantial Gothic style structures. Nevertheless, the nonconformist tradition is reflected in the building's hall-like spatial composition and its emphasis on the pulpit, choir stall and pipe organ.

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    • Permit Exemptions

      REFORMED CHURCH OF GEELONG - 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.

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