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WESLEYAN CHURCH & SUNDAY SCHOOL (FORMER)
340 Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC 3056 - Property No 19384

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Statement of Significance

The former Wesleyan Sunday School and Church complex is of state historical and architectural significance. The church is of exceptional quality and integrity, and is the first in the important series of polychrome churches designed by Percy Oakden and is an early example of decorative polychromatic architecture in Melbourne. The use of Glew's cream bricks is locally important, particularly in this building where Glew was an active member of the congregation. The Sunday School derives additional significance from its innovative planning.
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    • Physical Description 1

      WESLEYAN CHURCH & SUNDAY SCHOOL (FORMER) - Physical Description 1

      The former Wesleyan Church is constructed of polychrome brick with a gabled slate roof, pierced by a number of dormer roof vents, and rendered copings and details. The building is distinguished by the quality of its brickwork, predominately brown with cream and red contrasts in diaper work and around openings. The west facade of the church, facing Sydney Road, is dominated by a series of four pointed arched windows at first floor level, enclosed within a large pointed arch with red and cream brick voussoirs . At ground floor level is a triple arched entrance loggia, which is flanked by brick buttresses with rendered copings, which continue around the north and south elevations of the building. The tower on the south-west corner is terminated by an open belfry with Gothic arcading and a slate spire with gabled vents. On the north-west corner, balancing the asymmetrical composition, is another much smaller open belfry and a small gabled secondary entrance with pointed arched openings. Between the buttresses on the side elevations are paired lancet windows. The brick and weatherboard east elevation at the rear of the church appears to indicate that the church was never finished.

      The former Wesleyan Sunday School is constructed of red brick with a gabled slate roof, pierced by iron roof vents, with rendered eaves, brackets, quoining and opening surrounds. The main section of the building is flanked by two wings on the north and south elevations. The Sydney Road elevation features a four double hung sash windows at first floor level within a rendered pointed arch which encloses a rose window surrounded by contrasting basket weave cream brickwork. Windows on the remaining elevations are a combination of double hung sashes and pivot windows.

      Key Architectural Elements: elaborate polychrome brick Gothic Revival church
      red brick Sunday school with rendered dressings ad cream brick infill panels
      slate roofs
      timber-framed windows
      rendered dressings

      Principal Historic Themes: establishment of permanent places of worship
      association with 19th century brickmaking and clay industries
      provision of education

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Moreland - Keeping Brunswick's heritage: A Report on the Review of the Brunswick Conservation Study

      Author: Context Pty Ltd
      Year: 1990
      Grading: State

      Moreland - City of Moreland Heritage Review

      Author: Allen Lovell and Associates
      Year: 1999
      Grading:

Public contributions

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