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from John Maidment

During 2006 activities in the workshop of George Stephens Pty Ltd have concluded and the components of the organ moved to the hall where the organ is being placed. Key achievements have included:

• Completion of the barker lever action for the Great Organ, modelled upon the example at SS Peter & Paul's Cathedral, Goulburn, NSW (Hill & Son 1890).
  
• Construction of the intermanual and manual to pedal coupling actions
  
• Restoration of the roller boards and construction of new pedal roller boards
  
• Polishing of the console woodwork and insertion of the stop ferrules in the jambs
  
• Construction of metal components for the stop action
  
• Lowering of the stage floor to accommodate the organ
  
• Erection of the building frame
  
• Installation of the two double-rise reservoirs
  
• Installation of the console woodwork, keyboards and pedals
  

Work currently being carried out or completed includes:

• Erection of the C side (six pipes) of the 32ft Double Open Diapason. These huge pipes stand at the lower floor level and rise through the whole of the organ
  
• Partial erection of the C# side of the 32ft Double Open Diapason
  
• Completion of pedal transverse roller boards and related pedal action components
  
• Construction of the Swell Sub Octave and Swell Octave couplers
  
  

Over the next few months, the following tasks will be completed:

• Completion of pedal actions
  
• Construction of the stop and composition pedal actions
  
• Construction of the wind trunking and concussion bellows
  
• Sorting and reconstruction of pipework
  
  

The following images illustrate this:

1. Case detail and console in situ (minus drawstops)
   
2. Installation of the large double-rise reservoir - note the lowered stage floor
   
3. Reconstructed roller board and coupling actions
   
4. Reconstructed manual to pedal coupling action backfalls
   
5. Reconstructed inter-manual coupling actions behind keyboards
   
6. Reconstructed manual backfalls
   
7. Reconstructed barker lever detail showing pneumatic motor
   
8. Reconstructed barker lever in situ on new frame at base of organ
   
9. Reconstructed metal stop action components
   
10. George Stephens with the barker lever components
    
11. David Forward leathering and felting the rear of the keyboards
    
12. Reconstructed barker lever detail
    
13. Hill's special rolling pallet for the 32 foot pipes
    
14. Pedal transverse roller board and Barker lever
    
15. 32ft mouths and Barker lever bellows
    
16. Inter-manual coupling actions
    
17. Casework and 32ft C side from stage gallery
    
18. Casework from hall floor with C side of 32ft at rear
    
19. Reconstructed console
    

Illustrations by courtesy of Steve Kaesler, David Shield, John Maidment and the Friends of the Hill & Son Organ.

 

Organ Historical Trust
of Australia citation:

"A three manual organ, originally of 37 speaking stops built by the noted London firm of Hill & Son for the Adelaide Town Hall where it was opened in 1877. One of three organs built by the firm for Australian town halls, it remains the oldest concert organ on the Australian mainland and is notable for its impressive casework, with carved details, its generous tonal scheme and outstanding sound."

Project Patrons:

Emeritus Professor David Galliver AM Ashleigh Tobin, Principal Organist St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Adelaide, Former Adelaide Town Hall Organist Brian Hurn OAM, Mayor of The Barossa Jane Lomax Smith, Lord Mayor of Adelaide Neil Andrew MP, Federal member for Wakefield Ivan Venning MP, State member for Schubert Luise Krips John Radzevicius Peter & Margaret Lehmann Don Brown

Project Coordinators:

Steven Kaesler, David Shield

Consultancy Committee:

John Maidment OAM, John Stiller, Ray Holland

Supported by:

The Barossa Council Tanunda Soldiers Memorial Hall Committee

Photos of the hall and
organ restoration work in progress

Stop layout

August 2011 progress report
February 2009 progress report
April 2008 progress report
December 2006 progress report
March 2006 progress report
October 2004 progress report

Sponsorship information