St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican-Catholic Church, Malvern East – exterior
[photograph by John Maidment (9 January 2023)]
Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA (last updated March 2021, January 2023)
St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican-Catholic Church, Malvern East – exterior [photograph by John Maidment (9 January 2023)] Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment © OHTA (last updated March 2021, January 2023) |
St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican Catholic Church moved to its present site in June 2020 from a previous location in a former Uniting (Methodist) Church in Kooyong Road, South Caulfield. The East Malvern church was formerly a Uniting (Methodist) Church and had been constructed in 1958 to the design of noted architect Keith Reid (1906-1999). The foundation stone was laid on 29 March 1958.
 St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican-Catholic Church, Malvern East: the organ case [photograph by John Maidment (2 May 2014)] |
The organ is understood to have been built around 1886 by Alfred Crook, of Brunswick, for use in his residence.1 Later, Crook brought the instrument to the country town of Lockwood before its installation in the Congregational Church, Forest Street, Bendigo where it was opened on Friday 8 December 1893.2
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ORGAN RECITAL.
An organ recital and sacred concert, celebrating the opening of the new pipe organ, was given in the Congregational Church last night, when there was a crowded attendance. The organ is a very fine one, and is built on the latest principle by Messrs. Crook Bros. (late of Melbourne). The metal pipes have been specially imported from London, whilst the wooden pipes and all the mechanisms are made of well seasoned clear pine, consisting of the following:- Two manuals and full range of pedals, CCC to F; two open diapasons, great and swell; gamba 8 feet; keraulophon 8 feet; dulciana 8 feet; clarabella 8 feet; tremolo principal, 4 feet; flute 4 feet; fifteenth 2 feet; self acting coupler: bourdon 16 feet; couplers, great to swell; great to pedals; swell to pedals; four composition pedals and swell pedal.3
In 1938 it was placed in the Congregational Church, Olinda Street by Cyril Cowling and following an extensive renovation by members of the Society of Organists in Bendigo headed by Rae Anderson, and members of the local parish, in association with Hill, Norman & Beard (Australia) Pty Ltd, the organ was opened in St Peter's Church, Eaglehawk early in 1971.4 At the time, the keys were recovered, the pipework and action repaired, a new BOB blower and single-rise sprung reservoir provided, the casework repainted and the diapered front pipes restored. A former string rank on the swell was transposed to form a Twelfth and the whole organ revoiced.5 The rear wall of the swell box was moved backwards to accommodate the passage board. Departmental labels were placed on the console (some from the 1913 Norman & Beard organ at Melbourne Grammar School).6
The casework is delightfully designed and the façade pipes beautifully stencilled. The basses of the Open Diapason and Dulciana are placed at the side and surrounded by woodwork. The console shows a sense of care in its design and construction. One can see the influence of Melbourne organbuilder Alfred Fuller, who had built two organs in Brunswick at the time of Alfred Crook's work.
The organ was removed from Eaglehawk in 2013 as the church now serves as a neighbourhood centre. The whole was expertly restored by Wakeley Pipe Organs Pty Ltd in 2013-2014, this work including:
The gilding of the façade pipes was refurbished by Marc Nobel who also expertly grained the whole of the organ case and the two flats of wooden Dulciana pipes placed at the side. It now presents a most elegant appearance and the overall sound is delightful.7
| GREAT Open Diapason Dulciana Principal SWELL Open Diapason Stopd Bass Clarabella Gamba Flute Twelfth Fifteenth Tremolo PEDAL Bourdon COUPLERS Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal Swell to Great Swell Sub |
8ft 8ft 4ft 8ft 18ft 8ft 8ft 4ft [2-2/3] 2ft 16ft |
open metal bass open wood bass TC CC-BB1 TC TC open wood TC* removed removed |
* transposed Keraulophon
Compass: 56/30
2 composition pedals to Great
2 composition pedals to Swell
Trigger swell lever
Mechanical key & stop action8
The relocation of the organ was advised in 2021 and confirmed by the organist Rowan Kidd January 2023.9
1 'Organ Restored', Bendigo Advertiser 24 March 1971
2 'Organ Recital', Bendigo Advertiser 9 December 1893, p.4
3 Bendigo Advertiser 10 December 1893, p.5
4 'Organ Restored', Bendigo Advertiser 24 March 1971
5 Personal communication Rae Anderson to John Maidment 1971
6 Details noted by John Maidment 28 September 2012
7 Details of restoration noted during visit by John Maidment 2 May 2014 in discussion with Ian Wakeley
8 Specification noted John Maidment June 1966, September 2012 and May 2014
9 Email to John Maidment 8 January 2023
 St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican-Catholic Church, Caulfield South: view of casework and console from right [photograph by John Maidment (2 May 2014)]  St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican-Catholic Church, Caulfield South: the console [photograph by John Maidment (2 May 2014)]  St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican-Catholic Church, Caulfield South: left hand stop jamb [photograph by Trevor Bunning (September 2017)]  St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican-Catholic Church, Caulfield South: right hand stop jamb [photograph by Trevor Bunning (September 2017)]  St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican-Catholic Church, Caulfield South: Alfred Crook nameplate [photograph by Trevor Bunning (September 2017)]  St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican-Catholic Church, Caulfield South: view of internal pipework viewed through rear panels in swell box [photograph by John Maidment (2 May 2014)]  St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican-Catholic Church, Caulfield South: detailed view of internal pipework [photograph by John Maidment (2 May 2014)]  St Mary-the-Virgin Anglican-Catholic Church, Caulfield South: case detail [photograph by John Maidment (2 May 2014)] |