Christian Reformed Church of Geelong: the external façade
[photograph by John Maidment (22 August 2012)]
Christian Reformed Church of Geelong: the external façade
[photograph by John Maidment (22 August 2012)]
Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA, 2012 (last updated August 2012)
The Christian Reformed Church of Geelong was built in 1876 as the Newtown Methodist Church to a design by the prominent Geelong architectural firm of Davidson and Henderson. Incorporating French Gothic detailing. it is constructed of Waurn Ponds limestone with Barrabool sandstone dressings and built on the vesicular basalt foundations of the previous church. In 1891 the church underwent internal alterations and a pipe organ was installed. Stained glass windows (probably by Brooks, Robinson) and doors were added in 1947. In 1954 the interior was again altered with an enlargement of the choir stalls and a new sanctuary.1 The building has been used by the Geelong Christian Reformed Church since 1968.
Christian Reformed Church of Geelong: the organ viewed from the rear gallery
[photograph by John Maidment (22 August 2012)]
The organ was built in 1891 by Fincham & Hobday at a cost of £365. It was opened on 13 November 1891 by W.R. Bennetts.2 The instrument remains unaltered, retaining its three-tower case, largely identical to that at the former Methodist Church, Balaclava, built in the same year, and the splendidly decorated façade pipes. The elegant roll-top console is of blackwood and is attached to the organ case. The tonal design is very similar to the Balaclava organ, but with the addition of the Great Principal and Swell Fifteenth. The spotted metal interior pipework is fitted with tuning slides.
| GREAT ORGAN Gt: Open Dia Gt: Claribel Gt: Dulciana Gt: Principal Gt: Rohr-flöte Swell to Great SWELL ORGAN Sw: Open Dia Sw: Stop Dia Sw: Gemshorn Sw: Fifteenth Sw: Oboe PEDAL ORGAN Ped Bourdon Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal |
8 8 8 4 4 8 8 4 2 8 16 |
gvd.bass |
Compass: 56/30
Mechanical key and stop action
Trigger swell lever
3 composition pedals to Great
Attached drawstop console3
Christian Reformed Church of Geelong: the console
[photograph by John Maidment (22 August 2012)]
Christian Reformed Church of Geelong: left-hand stop jamb
[photograph by John Maidment (22 August 2012)]
Christian Reformed Church of Geelong: right-hand stop jamb
[photograph by John Maidment (22 August 2012)]
Christian Reformed Church of Geelong: composition and lever swell pedals
[photograph by John Maidment (22 August 2012)]
Christian Reformed Church of Geelong: organ case and façade pipe detail
[photograph by John Maidment (22 August 2012)]
Christian Reformed Church of Geelong: wind tell-tale
[photograph by John Maidment (22 August 2012)]
Christian Reformed Church of Geelong: main doorway
[photograph by John Maidment (22 August 2012)]
1 Victorian Heritage Database, heritage number H1145 and author's observations
2 E.N. Matthews, Colonial Organs and Organbuilders (Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1969), p.170, quoting GF letter 14/228
3 Specification noted John Maidment 1966, 2012