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FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH
3 ABERDEEN STREET NEWTOWN, GREATER GEELONG CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH SOHE 2008
FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH SOHE 2008
FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH SOHE 2008
former baptist church aberdeen street newtown chapel front view
former baptist church aberdeen street newtown front elevation publication
former baptist church aberdeen street newtown side view
former baptist church aberdeen street newtown interior
Diagram 426.JPG
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The former Baptist Church was erected in Aberdeen Street, Newtown in 1853-4, to designs by Geelong architect, John Young. It was built on donated land only sixteen years after the establishment of the Baptist Church in Victoria, and only eight years after the first Baptist church opened in Collins Street. It continued to be used as a church until 1876 when a larger church was constructed in Aberdeen Street, and the earlier building became the Sunday School.

The Italianate style church is built of random coursed Barrabool Hills sandstone, with fine axed mouldings, quoins and reveals. It is a simple rectangular gabled building with wide eaves supported on rows of consoles. Acroteria originally decorated the gable end of the front facade. A central, arch-headed entrance is flanked by arch-headed window openings, which also line the nave. Simple mouldings and quoining are employed to emphasise the openings and corners of the building.

An addition was made to the rear of the building in 1972, replacing an earlier addition containing a vestry and meeting room. Internally the roof truss structure and lined ceiling are largely intact, however the original gallery has been removed.

How is it significant?
The former Baptist Church, Newtown is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The former Baptist Church, Newtown is of historical significance due to its association with the earliest foundations of the Baptist Church in Victoria, as it was erected only sixteen years after the establishment of the church in Melbourne. It is one of the six earliest Baptist churches in the colony and would appear to be the oldest country Baptist church remaining in Victoria.

Its significance is enhanced by being part of a complex of buildings which have been in continual use by the Baptist church. These include this building, the adjacent manse (1891) and the present church (1876).

The former Baptist Church is of architectural significance as an important work of the Geelong architect, John Young, as derived from 1840s pattern books. He designed other churches in the region and the Jewish Synagogue in Geelong. It is notable for its simple architectural composition and the quality of masonry craftsmanship.
[Online Data Upgrade Project 2004]
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    • History

      FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH - History

      The former Baptist Church was erected in Aberdeen Street, Newtown in 1853-4, to designs by Geelong architect, John Young. It was built on donated land only sixteen years after the establishment of the Baptist Church in Victoria, and only eight years after the first Baptist church opened in Collins Street. It continued to be used as a church until 1876 when a larger church was constructed in Aberdeen Street, and the earlier building became the Sunday School.

      The draft statement of significance and the above history were produced as part of an Online Data Upgrade Project 2004. Sources were as follows:
      F. J. Wilkin. Baptists in Victoria. 1838-1938
       A.Willingham. Geelong Region Historic Buildings and Objects Study. Vol. 3. Geelong 1986

      Permit Exemptions

      FORMER BAPTIST CHURCH - 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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