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HOLY NAME CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL & CHURCH COMPLEX
2-26 ROBB STREET, RESERVOIR, DAREBIN CITY

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Darebin City
Holy Name Catholic Primary School & Church, 2-26 Robb Street, Preston
Holy Name Catholic Primary School & Church, 2-26 Robb Street, Preston
Holy Name Catholic Primary School & Church, 2-26 Robb Street, Preston
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The Holy Name Church complex at 2-26 Robb Street, Reservoir, built in stages from 1939 to 1966, is significant. The following elements contribute to the significance of the place:

- The interior and exterior of the church, designed by J.P. Saraty and constructed by 1964 and and the mural and artworks created for the church by Voitre Marek. The Modernist form of the church and its setting behind an open forecourt is integral to the significance of the place.
- The 1939 School and 1953 additions to the School and the first Presbytery.

The later additions to school and church and the 1966 Presbytery are not significant.

How is it significant?
The Holy Name Church complex at 2-26 Robb Street, Reservoir is of local historic, architectural, aesthetic and social significance to Darebin City.

Why is it significant?
Historically, the Holy Name Church complex at 2-26 Robb Street, Reservoir is significant as a place that reflects in its stages of its development the evolution of Reservoir into a residential area of Darebin in the mid twentieth century. The expansion of the complex in the post-war era reflects the growth in Catholic congregations in Melbourne as a result of migration. It is also important for its associations with the Catholic church as the parish centre in East Preston and with Father Anthony J. Cleary who was appointed Parish Priest in 1952 and during his time expanded the church and its facilities. The design of the 1964 church reflects the revolutionary changes in Catholic church design as a result of the reforms made by the Second Vatican Council and is important as an early example of the work of architect J.P. Saraty (AHC criteria A.4, D.2, H.1)

The Holy Name Church at 2-26 Robb Street, Reservoir is architecturally and aestheticallysignificant as a fine example of a Modernist church. The building's form and scale is of particular note and other elements in the complex including the artworks by Voitre Marek and the Bell Tower are of aesthetic value and contribute to the significance of the complex. The significance value of the church and the Marek artworks are enhanced by their rarity value (AHC criteria B.2, F.1).

Socially, the Holy Name Church complex at 2-26 Robb Street, Reservoir is significant as a church and school that is known, used and valued by the local community.

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    • Physical Description 1

      HOLY NAME CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL & CHURCH COMPLEX - Physical Description 1

      Holy Name at East Preston is a Catholic church and school complex built in stages from 1939. The site extends along the east side of Robb Street, and the earliest part of the complex is the red brick school building, which is like a chapel in appearance. It has additions at its northern end that were completed in 1953 and larger windows have been fitted to the west elevation since the building's completion. The interior of the 1939 school has also been altered and now forms the administrative offices of the school.

      To the south of the school is Cleary House, which is the former Presbytery. It was built around 1940 and is a cream brick villa with a gabled roof clad in terracotta tiles, set back from Robb Street behind a mature garden. The building no longer serves as a Presbytery and is now used by the church as a day care centre for children. A new Presbytery at the north end of the site, erected in 1966, replaced this building.

      The church was erected in 1964 and is designed in a Modernist style. It is constructed of a steel frame, with brick and stained glass walls, and its form has a strong geometric emphasis executed as a parabolic nave and gallery. The building is set back some distance from Robb Street behind a mature garden. Remnants of a fountain outside the front of the building remain, however this is now used as the walls of a flowerbed. A tall concrete Bell Tower, erected in 1980, in a Modernist design that is sympathetic to the adjacent church, is also situated in this forecourt of the church, as is the mural Our Lady of Knock designed by the artist Voitre Marek and completed in 1969. Marek also designed other elements on the church including the Stations of the Cross, which have since been relocated in the church, and the cross above the altar.

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Darebin - Darebin Heritage Study

      Author: Context P/L
      Year: 2011
      Grading: Local

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