High Street, Eaglehawk
B 1886 Alfred Crook for his residence in Brunswick;
later installed in a residence at Lockwood and the Congregational
Churches in Forest Street and Olinda Street, Bendigo.
Res & inst present loc 1971 R.A. Anderson and others.
2 manuals, 10 speaking stops, 4 couplers, tracker action
Gt: 8.8.4. Sw: 8.8 divided.8.4.2-2/3.2. Ped: 16.
From the 1985 OHTA Conference handbook:
The first St Peter's Church was designed by W.C. Vahland and opened in 1862. This sandstone building survived until the 1960s when it was replaced by a new hall. The second church to be built for the congregation was opened in 1872 and was possibly designed by its builder. It is a simple gothic-style building in brick on granite foundations. The nave is incomplete; it was originally intended to double its existing length of 40ft., and the height was intended to rise to about 75ft from the floor to the apex of the ceiling, resulting, had it been completed, in an impressive exterior. The church has been re-arranged to meet modern liturgical requirements; the altar has been brought forward and the former sanctuary made into a chapel, with an open screen dividing it from the nave. [1]
This organ was built in 1886 by Alfred Crook, of Brunswick, for use in his residence. [2] Later, Crook brought the instrument to the country town of Lockwood before its installation in the Congregational Church, Forest Street, Bendigo. [3] In 1938 it was placed in the Congregational Church, Olinda Street by Cyril Cowling. [4]
Following an extensive restoration by a number of members of the Society of Organists in Bendigo, and members of the local parish, in asscoiation with Hill, Norman & Beard, the organ was opened in St Peter's Church early in 1971. [5] At the time, the keys were recovered, the pipework and action reparied, a new blower provided, and the casework and diapered front pipes restored. A former string rank on the swell was transposed to form a Twelfth and the whole organ revoiced. [6]
| Great Open diapason Dulciana Principal Swell Open diapason Stopped bass Clarabella Gamba Flute Twelfth Fifteenth Tremolo Pedal Bourdon Couplers Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal Swell to Great Swell sub |
8 8 4 8 8 8 8 4 2-2/3 2 16 |
open wood bass TC CC-BB TC TC TC* disconnected |
Compass: 56/30
4 composition pedals
trigger swell lever
mechanical action
* transposed Keraulophon [7]
Photos: Trevor Bunning (Aug 1985)
[1] Notes, the Rev Des Benfield (former Rector)
[2] "Organ restored". Bendigo Advertiser, 24 March 1971
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid. & personal comment. R.A. Anderson to John Maidment 1971
[7] Spec. noted John Maidment, June 1966 and subsequent notes