Uniting (formerly Methodist) Church
cnr. Semaphore Road and Young Street, Semaphore

B 1882 P.C. Conacher & Co, Huddersfield, UK for 'Rippon Lea',
residence of Sir Frederick Sargood, Elsternwick, Victoria (job no 596);
installed present location 1903 J.E. Dodd.
3 manuals, 19 speaking stops, 5 couplers, tracker action

From 1986 OHTA Conference booklet.

Semaphore became the residential area for those with interests in shipping. The Methodist church erected in 1867 was the only one of the Peninsula and grew quite large.

The organ was built in 1882 by P C Conacher & Co of Huddersfield (job no 596) for Rippon Lea, the residence of Sir Frederick Sargood, where it was first located in the drawing room & later in the Victorian Ball Room (since demolished). The arch above the console between the two sections of the case originally contained a mirror which can be seen in this picture of the organ in the ballroom.

It was purchased from his estate in 1903 at a cost of £275 with cartage & re-erection by J E Dodd costing a further £254. An electric blower was installed in 1929. The organ was unveiled in 1903 by Mrs J Dunn as a memorial to Mr J Burton and Mr G Shorney. [1]

Photos: TB 1986

The specification is:

Great Lieblich Bourdon Open Diapason Stopped Diapason Pierced Gamba Principal Harmonic Piccolo Swell Violin Diapason Stopped Diapason Salicional Voix Celestes Gemshorn Harmonic Flute Hautbois Choir Ducliana Violin Flute a cheminee Stopped piccolo Pedal Bourdon Flute

16 8 8 8 4 2 8 8 8 8 4 4 8 8 8 4 2 16 8

TC

Compass 56/30
located east wall

Notable case in Italian Renaissance style


[1] Centenary of Methodism at Semaphore 1865-1965 (Adelaide)