Queensland

37th Annual Conference

Organ Historical Trust of Australia

Monday 22 September - Saturday 27 September 2014

Brisbane City Hall organ (Photograph: Simon Pierce)

The 37th annual conference of the Organ Historical Trust of Australia was held in Queensland from 22-27 September 2014.

Our principal overseas guest was the internationally renowned improviser Nigel Allcoat who performed for us at several venues. See his website at: http://www.nigelallcoat.org/

The conference also commemorated the completion of the restoration of the Henry Willis & Sons organ at Brisbane City Hall carried out by Pierce Pipe Organs Pty Ltd. This project started at the end of 2009 and has seen its complete removal from the hall, its refurbishment, and reinstatement in the restored hall 2013-2014 which now has superlative acoustics. Details of the organ are at: http://www.ohta.org.au/organs/organs/BrisbaneTownHall.html

There were visits to many significant organs, such as the Norman & Beard instrument at St John's Cathedral, which has received a major tonal revision since our last visit, and to a number of organs by the local firm of Whitehouse Bros. together with others by Pierce Pipe Organs, Knud Smenge, Roger Pogson, J.W. Walker & Sons and Kenneth Tickell. Papers were also delivered that were relevant to the themes of the conference.

St John's Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane (Photograph: John Maidment)

Hotel accommodation was reserved in Brisbane and in the Gold Coast, bus transportation was provided, and a number of meals scheduled. The conference brochure was posted out with the April OHTA News and is available for downloading by clicking on the link below.

2014 OHTA Conference brochure

Participants at the 2014 conference on the steps of St Mary's Church, Ipswich (Hugh Knight)

The proposed itinerary was as follows, starting in Brisbane and then proceeding west to Hatton Vale, Minden and Ipswich and finally south to Southport and Murwillumbah:

Saturday 20 September

Nigel Allcoat - recital at St John's Cathedral 6.00 pm (part of the Cathedral's TIOS recitals, doubling as a pre-conference recital)

St John's Anglican Cathedral, Ann Street, Brisbane Norman & Beard Ltd, London & Norwich, 1909 Installed 1910 B.B. Whitehouse & Co., Brisbane Additions 1912, 1914, 1915 & 1924 3 manuals, 30 speaking stops, tubular-pneumatic action Rebuilt & enlarged 1972 Hill, Norman & Beard, Melbourne 4 manuals, 81 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic & electro-magnetic action Tonally redesigned and revoiced 2008-10 W.J Simon Pierce, Brisbane 4 manuals, 82 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic & electro-magnetic action

Monday 22 September

St Paul's Presbyterian Church, St Paul's Terrace (registration followed by visit)
St Patrick's Church, Fortitude Valley
St Margaret's School, Ascot
Nazareth Lutheran Church, Woolloongabba
Wesley Uniting Church, Kangaroo Point
Evening: open console at St John's Cathedral

	St Paul's Presbyterian Church, St Paul’s Terrace Hill & Son, London, 1882 (job no 1834) Installed 1883 T.C. Christmas in Presbyterian Church, Creek Street Installed 1889 in apse of present church Removed 1891 to present location in transept 2 manuals, 18 speaking stops, mechanical action Rebuilt with additions 1963 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane 2 manuals, 22 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action
	St Patrick's Catholic Church, Morgan Street, Fortitude Valley T.C. Christmas, Brisbane, for W. Horatio Wilson, Brisbane, c.1881 Installed in this location, 1882 3 manuals, 13 speaking stops, mechanical action
	St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School, Petrie Street, Ascot B.B. Whitehouse & Co., 1905, for Presbyterian Church, Ithaca Installed at Baptist Church, Greenslopes, 1934 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane Additions 1972 H.W. Jarrott, Brisbane Installed in present location 1994 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane 1 manual, 4 speaking stops, mechanical action, no pedals
	Nazareth Lutheran Church, Hawthorne  Street, Woolloongabba W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane, 2005 2 manuals, 14 speaking stops, mechanical action
	Wesley Uniting (formerly Methodist) Church, Linton Stree, Kangaroo Point B.B. Whitehouse & Co., Brisbane, 1903 Restored 1953 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane Restored with additions 1989 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane 2 manuals, 13 speaking stops, mechanical action
	St John's Anglican Cathedral, Ann Street, Brisbane Norman & Beard Ltd, London & Norwich, 1909 Installed 1910 B.B. Whitehouse & Co., Brisbane Additions 1912, 1914, 1915 & 1924 3 manuals, 30 speaking stops, tubular-pneumatic action Rebuilt & enlarged 1972 Hill, Norman & Beard, Melbourne 4 manuals, 81 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic & electro-magnetic action Tonally redesigned and revoiced 2008-10 W.J Simon Pierce, Brisbane 4 manuals, 82 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic & electro-magnetic action

Tuesday 23 September

St Andrew's Anglican Church, South Brisbane (OHTA annual general meeting followed by visit)
Brisbane City Hall - lunchtime concert (part of regular BCC series) followed by open console
University of Queensland: Forgan Smith Building
University of Queensland: St John's College

	St Andrew's Anglican Church, Vulture Street, South Brisbane J.W. Walker & Sons, London, 1884 Installed 1885 T.C. Christmas, Brisbane 2 manuals, 16 speaking stops, mechanical action. Restored with additions 1961 Charles Dirksen Organ Co., Brisbane Rebuilt and enlarged 1970 Laurie Pipe Organs, Melbourne 3 manuals, 30 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action
	Brisbane City Hall, King George Square, Brisbane Henry Willis & Sons, London, 1891-92, for the Exhibition Building, Bowen Park, Brisbane. 4 manuals, 45 speaking stops, tubular pneumatic action Rebuilt, enlarged & installed in present location 1927-29 Henry Willis & Sons Ltd, London & Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane 5 manuals, 76 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action Renovated with additions 1988-91, Brown & Arkley, Sydney 5 manuals, 79 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action. Removed to storage for restoration 2010 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane
	Forgan Smith Building, University of Queensland
	St John's College Chapel (Anglican), University of Queensland Kenneth Tickell & Co., Northampton, UK, 2011 2 manuals, 16 speaking stops, mechanical action

Wednesday 24 September

All Hallows School Chapel, Ann Street
St John's Cathedral, Ann Street
St Andrew's Lutheran Church, Wickham Terrace
All Saints' Anglican Church, Wickham Terrace
St Andrew's Uniting Church, Creek Street
Ann Street Presbyterian Church
Albert Street Uniting Church

	All Hallows' Convent Chapel, Ann Street, Brisbane B.B. Whitehouse & Co., Brisbane, 1911, for Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Mackay Restored & installed in present location with additions c.1921 B.B. Whitehouse & Co., Brisbane Restored 2011 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane 2 manuals, 10 speaking stops, mechanical action
	St John's Anglican Cathedral, Ann Street, Brisbane Norman & Beard Ltd, London & Norwich, 1909 Installed 1910 B.B. Whitehouse & Co., Brisbane Additions 1912, 1914, 1915 & 1924 3 manuals, 30 speaking stops, tubular-pneumatic action Rebuilt & enlarged 1972 Hill, Norman & Beard, Melbourne 4 manuals, 81 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic & electro-magnetic action Tonally redesigned and revoiced 2008-10 W.J Simon Pierce, Brisbane 4 manuals, 82 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic & electro-magnetic action
	St Andrew's Lutheran Church, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane Knud Smenge, Melbourne, 1990 2 manuals, 17 speaking stops, mechanical action
	All Saints' Anglican Church, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane T.C. Lewis, London, 1873, for St John's Pro-Cathedral, Brisbane 2 manuals, 11 speaking stops, mechanical action Installed with additions 1903 at St Luke's Anglican Church, Brisbane, B.B. Whitehouse & Co., Brisbane Rebuilt, electrified & installed in this location 1957 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane Rebuilt & enlarged 2007 W.J.Simon Pierce, Brisbane (opus 5) 2 manuals, 24 speaking stops, mechanical action
	St Andrew's Uniting (formerly Presbyterian) Church, Creek Street Walter G. Rendall, Sydney, 1905 3 manuals, 30 speaking stops, tubular pneumatic action Rebuilt with addition 1908, B.B. Whitehouse & Co., Brisbane 3 manuals, 31 speaking stops, tubular pneumatic action Additions 1922, and console moved 1935 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane Electrified 1941 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane Addition 1959 J.W. Walker & Sons, UK 3 manuals, 38 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action Rebuilt 1984 J.W. Walker & Sons (Australia) Pty Ltd, Sydney 3 manuals, 40 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action
	Presbyterian Church, Ann Street, Brisbane Charles Richardson, Sydney, 1903 Console moved and pneumatic action reversed 1921 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane Additions 1929-30 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane Restored 2004 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane 2 manuals, 17 speaking stops, tubular-pneumatic action
	Uniting (formerly Methodist) Church, Albert Street, Brisbane George Benson, Manchester, 1889. 3 manuals, 26 speaking stops, mechanical & tubular pneumatic action Addition 1895 B.B. Whitehouse, Brisbane. Rebuilt with tubular pneumatic action 1911 B.B. Whitehouse & Co., Brisbane Additions 1928 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane Rebuilt & enlarged 1951 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane 3 manuals, 41 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action Rebuilt 1985 J.W. Walker & Sons. 3 manuals, 37 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action

Thursday 25 September

Apostolic Cathedral, Hatton Vale
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Minden
Lunch at Railway Museum
St Thomas' Anglican Church, North Ipswich
St Mary's Catholic Church, Ipswich

	Apostolic Cathedral, Niemeyer's Rd, Hatton Vale Installed 1950 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane, incorporating case, soundboard & action of original organ at the Methodist Church, Wooloowin, and pipework from first organ at All Saints' Anglican Church, Brisbane 1 manual, 6 speaking stops, mechanical action, no pedals Enlarged 2008 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane 1 manual & pedals, 12 speaking stops, mechanical action
	Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tallegalla Road, Minden FIRST ORGAN: Unknown builder, installed c.1881. PRESENT ORGAN: Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane, 1931. 1 manual, 3 speaking stops, tubular-pneumatic action, no pedals.
	St Thomas' Anglican Church, Lawrence Street, North Ipswich James Cole, Manchester, c.1878 Installed 1878 Wesleyan Church, Albert Street, Brisbane 2 manuals, 12 speaking stops, mechanical action Installed in present location with addition 1892 W.H. Paling & Co., Brisbane 2 manuals, 13 speaking stops, mechanical action Restored 1937 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane Partially rebuilt 1968 John Hamer-Howorth 2 manuals, 12 speaking stops, mechanical action
	St Mary's Catholic Church, Elizabeth Street, Ipswich B.B. Whitehouse & Co., Brisbane 1915 Addition c.1917 Restored 1987-96 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane 2 manuals, 19 speaking stops, tubular-pneumatic action

Friday 26 September

Bethesda Lutheran Church, Beenleigh
St George's Anglican Church, Tamborine Mountain
St Peter's Anglican Church, Southport
St Hilda's School Chapel, Southport

	Bethesda (formerly St Peter's) Lutheran Church, City Road, Beenleigh Knud Smenge, Melbourne, 1983 2 manuals, 8 speaking stops, mechanical action
	St George's Anglican Church, Dapsang Drive, Tamborine Mountain W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane, 1993 Additions 1997-2000 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane 1 manual, 11 speaking stops, mechanical action
	St Peter's Anglican Church, Nerang Street, Southport Original builder unknown Probably installed 1866 at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Ipswich Installed c.1921 in St Alban's Chapel, The Southport School, Southport, 1924 in former St Peter's Church, Southport, and 1959 in present church. 2 manuals, 7 speaking stops, mechanical action Rebuilt with electro-pneumatic action 1976 Walter Emerson, Toowoomba Additions 1982 Walter Emerson, Toowoomba; 1990 Australian Pipe Organs, Melbourne and 2010 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane 2 manuals, 10 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action Enlarged 2014 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane 3 manuals, 18 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action
	St Hilda's (Anglican Girls') School, High Street, Southport J.W. Walker & Sons, Brandon, Suffolk, 1985 Installed 1986 David Hudd, Brisbane 2 manuals, 8 speaking stops, mechanical action

Saturday 27 September

All Saints' Anglican Church, Murwillumbah
St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Murwillumbah
The Southport School Chapel, Southport

	All Saints' Anglican Church, Byangum Road, Murwillumbah C.W. Leggo, Sydney, 1926 2 manuals, 18 speaking stops, tubular-pneumatic action Moved to present church 1960, and electrified 1973 H.W. Jarrott, Brisbane 2 manuals, 20 speaking stops, electric action Restored 1998 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane Additions 2010 W.J. Simon Pierce, Brisbane 2 manuals, 22 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action
	St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Wollumbin Street, Murwillumbah William Stone, Melbourne, 1884, for St Columb's Anglican Church, Hawthorn, Victoria Installed in present location 1924 W.L. Roberts, Melbourne 2 manuals, 8 speaking stops, mechanical action Rebuilt in organ loft 1955 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane 2 manuals, 9 speaking stops, tubular-pneumatic action Electrified c.1986 H.W. Jarrott, Brisbane 2 manuals, 9 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action
	The Southport School (Anglican), St Alban's Chapel, Winchester Street, Southport Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane, 1925 Addition 1925 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane 2 manuals, 23 speaking stops, tubular-pneumatic action Electrified 1979 Whitehouse Bros, Brisbane 2 manuals (3-manual console), 23 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic action

Enquiries should be directed to OHTA councillor Dr Phillip Gearing [email protected]