Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Auburn viewed from the north-east
[photograph by John Maidment (8 July 2014)]
Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA (last updated July 2014)
Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Auburn viewed from the north-east
[photograph by John Maidment (8 July 2014)]
This brick church with stucco dressings, in the Gothic style, was designed by architects Ward and Carleton and built by Meyer and Mills. The foundation stone was laid on 9 March 1901 by the Hon. Wm Knox MLC.1
Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Auburn: organ façade
[photograph by John Maidment (21 June 2014)]
The organ was built by Geo. Fincham & Son at a cost of £386 and opened in July 1911.2 It appears to incorporate older components, such as the outer towers of the casework. There are some tonal enigmas too, such as the Great Wald Flute which is placed over a veneered upperboard, clearly intended to accommodate something else. The second Flute 4ft on the Swell may have been intended to be a Harmonic Piccolo 2.
The Great and Swell are placed side by side and speak very clearly into the building. The console retains the original Hope-Jones style rocking stopkeys. The original tubular-pneumatic action was converted to direct electric in the 1990s by members of the congregation. The vertical bellows inside the organ appears to be unoriginal.3
| GREAT Open Diapason Stop Diapason Wald Flute Dulciana Principal Great Super Octave Swell to Great Sub Swell to Great Swell Octave to Great SWELL Open Diapason Gedacht Viol d'Orchestre Voix Celeste Suabe Flute Flute Oboe PEDAL Ped Bourdon Ped Echo Bourdon Ped Bass Flute Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal |
8 8 8 8 4 8 8 8 8 4 4 8 16 16 8 |
A A |
zinc bass in facade, trebles unplaned heavy metal mid C up zinc bass in façade, trebles sm sm zinc bass, trebles unplaned heavy metal sm gvd.bass sm TC metal, harmonic derived A at ½ wind |
Compass: 60/30 (top note disconnected as electrical system couldn't allow for this)
3 thumb pistons to Great (removed)
3 thumb pistons to Swell (removed)
Balanced swell pedal4
1. Details from foundation stone
2. George Fincham letters 22/939, 23/376, per E.N. Matthews, Colonial Organs and Organbuilders (Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1969), p.121
3. Internal inspection by John Maidment 21 June 2014
4. Specification taken from images taken 21 June 2014 by John Maidment
Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Auburn: console
[photograph by John Maidment (21 June 2014)]
Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Auburn: stop keys
[photograph by John Maidment (21 June 2014)]
Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Auburn: nameplate
[photograph by John Maidment (21 June 2014)]
Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Auburn: Great Organ pipework
[photograph by John Maidment (21 June 2014)]
Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Auburn: Swell Organ pipework
[photograph by John Maidment (21 June 2014)]
Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Auburn: foundation stone (John Maidment)
[photograph by John Maidment (8 July 2014)]