Salem Lutheran Church

Alma Park Road, Alma Park, NSW

Built 1960 Davis & Laurie
2 manuals, 3 ranks, + Mixture extension, electro-pneumatic action

Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA (last updated April 2023)




Salem Lutheran Church, Alma Park – church exterior
[photograph by James Flores (15 April 2023)]



The first church at Alma Park, constructed from timber, was opened in 1892, and was extended several times owing to rising congregations.  The present church, constructed in brick, was opened on 15 March 1925.  The architect was W.T. Thorn A.I.A., from Albury, and the builder Chas. Hardy & Co, Wagga.  The cost was estimated at £3,000.1 The building includes an apse at the rear of the church. 



Salem Lutheran Church, Alma Park – organ façade
[photograph by James Flores (15 April 2023)]

The organ was the second new organ constructed by Steve Laurie after he joined Keith Davis in partnership as Davis & Laurie Pty Ltd, setting up their factory in Roberna Street, Moorabbin.  It was constructed on the extension principle which Laurie would have known well from his training at the John Compton Organ Company Ltd in London during the 1930s. 

The organ is placed on a platform at the rear of the building with the bass of the Principal 8ft on display flanked by panelling and pierced screens. It has a classical disposition, unusual at the time for an extension instrument, with German nomenclature for the stops and liberal provision of upperwork and mutations.  The use of Rohrflöte and Gemshorn ranks is also rare for an extension organ.   The pipework is fully enclosed apart from the basses of the Principal and Sub Bass. The detached stopkey console is located on the left hand side of the nave, at the front.




Salem Lutheran Church, Alma Park – console and nave
[photograph by James Flores (15 April 2023)]

The specification is:

Great
Principal
Gemshorn
Rohrflöte
Octave
Flote
Super Octave
Mixtur
Positiv to Great
Pedal Bass to Great
8
8
8
4
4
2
IV
A
B
C
A
C
A
Positiv
Gemshorn
Rohrflöte
Gemshorn Principal
Flöte
Nasat
Terz
Cymbel
Tremolo
8
8
4
4
2-2/3
1-3/5
II
B
C
B
C
Pedal
Sub Bass
Octave
Rohrflöte
Octave Quint
Cornet
Great to Pedal
Positiv to Pedal
16
8
8
5-1/3
III
C
A
C
C

Compass: 61/32

Electro-pneumatic action
Balanced swell pedal
Detached stopkey console
Voltmeter
General crescendo pedal
3 thumb pistons to Great
3 thumb pistons to Positiv
Reversible thumb pistons for Great to Pedal, Positiv to Pedal
Reversible toe piston for Great to Pedal2


















Salem Lutheran Church, Alma Park – console and stop key details
[photographs by James Flores (15 April 2023)]


1 Daily Advertiser, 3 March 1925, p.6. 

2 Specification and other details noted from images taken by James Flores


 



Photos: James Flores (April 2023)