Christ Church Anglican Church

Mount Alexander Road, Essendon

Built 1929 Roberts Ltd.
2 manuals, 11 speaking stops, 5 couplers, tubular-pneumatic action




Christ Church Anglican Church, Essendon – exterior
(photograph by John Maidment [2006])


Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA, January 2022

The first service within the parish took place on 1 December 1889, and a brick church building was subsequently erected.1 The foundation stone of the present church, conceived as a war memorial, was laid on 8 May 19202 and the building dedicated on 15 October 1921.3 The tower commemorated the visit to Australia of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.4 The architect was Daniel R. Dossetor, of Napier Street, Essendon and the builder C.W. Ward.5



Christ Church Anglican Church, Essendon – interior with organ to left
(photograph by John Maidment [2006])

The organ was built in 1929 by Roberts Ltd, of Melbourne and Adelaide, job number 145a, at a cost of £1060.6 It was dedicated on 16 June 1929 and a recital was given by Mr. F. Nott, A.R.C.O.7 It remains the only example of its builder’s work in Victoria that has survived mechanically and tonally unaltered and is classified by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).

GREAT
Open Diapason
Clarabel Flute
Dulciana
Principal
Swell to Great
8
8
8
4


    
SWELL
Lieblich Gedact
Viol d’Gamba
Suabe Flute
Oboe
Sub Octave
Octave
Tremulant
8
8
4
8




    
PEDAL
Sub Bass
Echo Bourdon
Flute
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
16
16
8
A
[derived from A?]
A


  

Compass: 61/30
Tubular-pneumatic action
Attached drawstop console
Balanced swell pedal
Thumb & toe pistons (fixed)

Two additional swell stops are prepared for at the console: Open Diapason 8 and Voix Celeste 88



Christ Church Anglican Church, Essendon – organ case
(photograph by John Maidment [2006])

1 https://essendonanglican.org.au/history/ accessed 21 January 2021

2 The Age, 10 May 1920, p.8 3 https://essendonanglican.org.au/history/ accessed 21 January 2021

4 The Argus, 17 July 1920, p.19

5 An earlier design for a more lavish building with central tower was prepared by North & Williams

6 List of organs built by W.L. Roberts compiled by David Shield from the firm’s order books


7 The Argus, 19 June 1929, p.16

8 Specification noted 1966 John Maidment