St Joseph's Catholic Church

Arundel Street, Benalla

Built 1971 Geo. Fincham & Sons Pty Ltd.
Damaged by fire 7 February 1989.
Organ removed by Australian Pipe Organs Pty Ltd and
parts used in organs at Box Hill and Shepparton.
2 manuals, 13 speaking stops, 3 couplers, electro-pneumatic action

St Joseph's Catholic Church, Benalla – exterior
(photograph from Wikimedia Commons, accessed 4 February 2024)


Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA (last updated February 2024)

St Joseph's Church was opened in June 1908 and consecrated in December 1912. The architects were Kempson & Connolly and the contractor F. Shillabeer. It was constructed in brick with cement dressings in a fusion of Romanesque and Baroque styles.¹ The impressive façade incorporates two octagonal towers 100 and 70 feet in height and the 124 feet long interior has a plaster barrel vault.² It incorporates signed stained glass by "Gustav von Treek Munich Germany".³

St Joseph's Catholic Church, Benalla – organ
(photograph by John Maidment [late 1970s])

The organ was built in 1971 by Geo. Fincham & Sons Pty Ltd. The instrument was placed on the rear gallery, the Great and Pedal Organs flanking the centrally placed Swell Organ with visible shutters. The console was placed on the left side of the sanctuary steps, at the far end of the building. It was designed without any reed stops, given the distance from Melbourne and regular tuning visits. On 7 February 1989 the church was badly damaged internally in a fire and the organ was damaged. The parts were removed by Australian Pipe Organs Pty and used in the firm's rebuildings at St Peter's Anglican Church, Box Hill and Wesley Uniting Church, Shepparton. It was not replaced at Benalla.

Compass: 61/30
Detached stopkey console
Balanced swell pedal
Electro-pneumatic action⁴

1 The Age, 8 June 1908, p.6

2 North Eastern Ensign, 5 June 1908, p.3

3 Information kindly supplied by Dr Bronwyn Hughes, February 2024

4 Specification supplied by Robert Heatley 1970s