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ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL
95 KING WILLIAM STREET FITZROY, YARRA CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
H2172 All Saints Hall King William Street Fitzroy April 2008 compressed
H2172 All Saints Hall King William Street Fitzroy April 2008 compressed
H2172 All Saints Hall King William Street Fitzroy April 2008 compressed
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

All Saints Church Hall was erected no later than 1855. It appears in the 1855 Fitzroy Ward rate book as a cast iron store owned by Charles Black and occupied by Henry Hyslop, a horsehair manufacturer. In the later 1850s it was owned by Edward Mills, a blacksmith, who sold it in 1862 to John Davies, builder and contractor and MLA for North Melbourne. The building passed through ownership of the Wesleyan Methodist and Fitzroy Rechabites, and back to the Wesleyan Methodist by the 1880s. The Methodists called it the Wesleyan Jubilee Hall. The Methodists sold it to the Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation in 1936.

The building is approximately 25m x 8m and the walls comprise a cast iron stanchion frame with heavy gauge corrugated iron cladding. The heavy cast iron stanchions, which are cast with the name 'Edwin Maw, Liverpool' on their external face, sit on bluestone plinths. The building has been modified by addition in masonry of a simple Doric style temple front with pediment, central door with fanlight and pair of sash windows. It was probably added in the 1860s by the Methodists. Internally, exposed king post timber trusses over the stanchions carry the ceiling of timber lining boards. The roof has been recently reclad with galvanised metal. Side windows are also timber sashes and likely to date from at least the 1860s. Internally the hall is plain, with timber dado and plaster walls, possibly over original calico lining, and a more recent timber floor.

Although the Methodists and other religious groups imported buildings and occasionally entire prefabricated iron churches, there is no historical evidence that this building was imported specifically as a chapel. It is more likely that it was an example of the numerous prefabricated iron buildings imported for general commercial purposes into the colony of Victoria from England and Scotland during the 1850s.

How is it significant?

All Saints Church Hall is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

All Saints Church Hall is of architectural significance as an example of a prefabricated iron building of the early 1850s. It has typical prefabricated construction of cast iron stanchions and walls of heavy gauge corrugated iron. It is the only known example of an Edwin Maw building in the State.

All Saints Hall is of historical significance as a rare survivor of a prefabricated iron building imported into Victoria during the early gold rushes. Hundreds of prefabricated iron buildings, houses, churches and government buildings were imported during the 1850s and although a few prefabricated iron government buildings survive, most known surviving prefabricated iron buildings in Victoria are dwellings. This example is one of a few known prefabricated iron commercial buildings.

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    • History

      ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL - History

      Prefabricated iron houses were amongst the thousands of prefabricated iron and timber buildings imported to Victoria following the first gold rushes of 1851. Prefabricated buildings overcame the problem of scarce and expensive labour in the colony. Not only houses, but warehouses, shops and churches were imported to Victoria. Several substantial iron houses imported by migrants have survived including mansion sized buildings Corio Villa in Geelong and Tintern, Toorak. Three smaller cottage size residences by three different manufacturers survive in Coventry Street, South Melbourne, two of which have been relocated from other sites. Other prefabricated iron houses survive at Swan Hill and two storey examples survive at Yapeen and Moe.

      All Saints Church Hall was erected no later than 1855. It appears in the 1855 Fitzroy Ward rate book as a cast iron store owned by Charles Black and occupied by Henry Hyslop, a horsehair manufacturer. In the later 1850s it was owned by Edward Mills, a blacksmith, who sold it in 1862 to John Davies, builder and contractor and MLA for North Melbourne. The building passed through ownership of the Wesleyan Methodist and Fitzroy Rechabites, and back to the Wesleyan Methodist by the 1880s. The Methodists called it the Wesleyan Jubilee Hall. The Methodists sold it to the Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation in 1936.

      Plaque Citation

      ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL - Plaque Citation

      Erected before 1855 and formerly a store, this prefabricated iron building by Edwin Maw, Liverpool is a rare survivor from numerous examples imported into Victoria during the early gold rush period.

      Permit Exemptions

      ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL - 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:

      General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component. General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and plan endorsed by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it. Note: The existence of a Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan endorsed by the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan. General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this determination prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable. Regular Site Maintenance : The following site maintenance works are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995: a) regular site maintenance provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; b) the maintenance of an item to retain its conditions or operation without the removal of or damage to the existing fabric or the introduction of new materials; c) cleaning including the removal of surface deposits, organic growths, or graffiti by the use of low pressure water and natural detergents and mild brushing and scrubbing; d) repairs, conservation and maintenance to plaques, memorials, roads and paths, fences and gates and drainage and irrigation. e) the replacement of existing services such as cabling, plumbing, wiring and fire services that uses existing routes, conduits or voids, and does not involve damage to or the removal of significant fabric. Note: Surface patina which has developed on the fabric may be an important part of the item's significance and if so needs to be preserved during maintenance and cleaning. Note: Any new materials used for repair must not exacerbate the decay of existing fabric due to chemical incompatibility, obscure existing fabric or limit access to existing fabric for future maintenance. Repair must maximise protection and retention of fabric and include the conservation of existing details or elements. Public Safety and Security : The following public safety and security activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995, a) public safety and security activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground structures or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; b) the erection of temporary security fencing, scaffolding, hoardings or surveillance systems to prevent unauthorised access or secure public safety which will not adversely affect significant fabric of the place including archaeological features; c) development including emergency stabilisation necessary to secure safety where a site feature has been irreparably damaged or destabilised and represents a safety risk to its users or the public. Note: Urgent or emergency site works are to be undertaken by an appropriately qualified specialist such as a structural engineer, or other heritage professional. Signage and Site Interpretation : The following Signage and Site Interpretation activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995, a) signage and site interpretation activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground structures or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; b) the erection of non-illuminated signage for the purpose of ensuring public safety or to assist in the interpretation of the heritage significance of the place or object and which will not adversely affect significant fabric including landscape or archaeological features of the place or obstruct significant views of and from heritage values or items; c) signage and site interpretation products must be located and be of a suitable size so as not to obscure or damage significant fabric of the place; d) signage and site interpretation products must be able to be later removed without causing damage to the significant fabric of the place; Note: The development of signage and site interpretation products must be consistent in the use of format, text, logos, themes and other display materials. Note: Where possible, the signage and interpretation material should be consistent with other schemes developed on similar or associated sites. It may be necessary to consult with land managers and other stakeholders concerning existing schemes and strategies for signage and site interpretation. Minor Works : Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works may submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.

      Internal painting of hall

      Permit Exemption Policy

      ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL - Permit Exemption Policy

      It is the purpose of the permit exemptions to protect the prefabricated iron structure and external corrugated iron wall. Changes should avoid cutting through the corrugated iron walls. The repainting of the hall internally is permit exempt. The windows and doors are all likely to be later 19th century modifications and not as critical to the significance of the place as the prefabricated material.

Public contributions

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