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ST JAMES CHURCH AND PRESBYTERY
73 NORTH ROAD BRIGHTON, BAYSIDE CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
ST. JAMES CHURCH AND PRESBYTERY SOHE 2008
ST. JAMES CHURCH AND PRESBYTERY SOHE 2008
ST. JAMES CHURCH AND PRESBYTERY SOHE 2008
ST. JAMES CHURCH AND PRESBYTERY SOHE 2008
ST. JAMES CHURCH AND PRESBYTERY SOHE 2008
1 st james church gardenvale front view jul1992
st james church gardenvale north entrance jul1978
st james church gardenvale front view of rectory jul78
H0748 H0748 plan
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

It is a fine complex of Roman Catholic church, rectory and church close, mostly dating from the last century but with additions made in 1908 and in the 1920s. The church was built in two stages. The nave was built in 1891 to the design of the architect Edgar J Henderson followed by the transepts and chancel in 1924, designed by Schreiber and Jorgensen. 

How is it significant?

The St James Church Complex stands on a site which has great importance in the early history of Catholicism in Victoria as the place where the mission to Brighton was established circa 1854. The mission covered a vast territory extending from Gippsland in one direction to Mornington Peninsula in the other. 

The nave is of interest for its facade, with traceried window, comparable to Henderson's earlier design for St Mary's Cathedral, Sale and the large sexfoil clerestory windows.
Also of architectural importance is the unusually elaborate 1934 decoration of the chancel with Roman mosaic flooring, opus sectile tiling and marble altars and rails. The pipe organ by Alfred Fuller of Kew, placed centrally in the rear gallery, is a rare example of his work.
[Source: Report to the Minister]

Why is it significant?

St James Church, Gardenvale, built in two stages in 1891 and 1924, stands on a site which has importance in the early history of Catholicism in Victoria as the place where the mission to Brighton was established circa 1854. (Criterion a.4)
The church is of architectural importance for the unusually elaborate 1934 decoration of the chancel with Roman mosaic flooring, opus sectile tiling and marble altars and rails. (Criterion f.1)
The pipe organ, placed centrally in the rear gallery, is a rare example of the work of Alfred Fuller of Kew. (Criterion b.2)
[Source: Melbourne Backlog Study. Prepared for the Australian Heritage
Commission, January 1997.]

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    • History

      ST JAMES CHURCH AND PRESBYTERY - History

      Associated People: Assoc.People ALFRED FULLER-PIPE ORGAN
      Assoc.People ALFRED FULLER-PIPE ORGAN
      Assoc.People ALFRED FULLER-PIPE ORGAN

      Permit Exemptions

      ST JAMES CHURCH AND PRESBYTERY - 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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