St Matthew's Anglican Church

High Street, Prahran

First organ, built by George Fincham; installed 1872.
1 manual, 6 speaking stops, 1 coupler. Present location unknown.
Second organ, built by George Fincham; installed 1878.
2 manuals, 18 speaking stops, 3 couplers.
Moved 1934 to St James' Anglican Church, Glen Iris and later rebuilt.
Third organ, built 1867 and enlarged 1883 George Fincham
for St John's Anglican Church, La Trobe Street, Melbourne.
Rebuilt 1924 Keith M. Lavers (new electric action and console, tonal additions)
and reconstructed 1927 Roberts Ltd.
Installed 1934 W.L. Roberts in St Matthew's Church, Prahran.
Removed c.1976 to storage and subsequently broken up.
3 manuals, 37 speaking stops, 10 couplers, tubular-pneumatic action.



St Matthew's Anglican Church, Prahran – exterior from south
[photograph by John Maidment (23 November 2023)]


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

The foundation stone of the present church, designed by Terry & Oakden, was laid on 1 September 1877.1 The church was constructed in bluestone with freestone dressings and designed in a decorated Gothic style. A tower and spire were envisaged at the left hand corner of the façade facing High Street, but these were never constructed.2 The building was partially destroyed by fire in 1982 and has since been rebuilt with a reconfigured interior.

St Matthew's Church had three Fincham organs. The first was installed in 1872 and its present location is unknown. The second was opened in 1878 and sold to St James' Church, Glen Iris in 1934 where it was subsequently rebuilt and altered.3 The third organ in St Matthew's Church was built in 1867 for St John's Church, La Trobe Street, Melbourne. It was noted at the time that the organ was divided on either side of the chancel.4 The instrument was opened on 3 July 18675 and in 1883 George Fincham enlarged the instrument through the addition of a Choir Organ and a Double Open Diapason stop for the Great Organ.6



St Matthew's Anglican Church, Prahran - organ viewed from the nave
[photograph by John Maidment (1975)]

The St John's organ was rebuilt and enlarged in 1924 by K.L. Lavers at a cost of nearly £1000 with electric action, tonal additions and a detached drawstop console.7 The organ was moved at this time into a new church building designed by Irwin & Stevenson in association with Sale & Keage.8 The instrument was reconstructed in 1927 by Roberts Ltd at a cost of £696.9 The organ was moved in 1934 to St Matthew's Church by W.L. Roberts at a cost of £330.10 Dedicated on 1 July 1934,11 the instrument was placed to the left of the chancel arch, the windchests facing down the building. The Great and Swell were placed at impost level and the enclosed Choir Organ stood on top of the swell box. The new case was made from Queensland Maple.12 When inspected by the author in 1975, the Pedal Trombone and Great Trumpet had been removed.

Around 1976 the organ was dismantled and placed in storage and some parts were utilised in other organs. Had the organ remained in the building, it would have been destroyed in the subsequent fire.

GREAT
Double Diapason
Open Diapason I
Open Diapason II
Horn Diapason
Claribel
Dulciana
Principal
Flute
Twelfth
Fifteenth
Sesquialtera 17.19.22
Trumpet
Swell to Great
Choir to Great
16
8
8
8
8
8
4
4
2-2/3
2
III
8

A









B
1-12 stopped
1924: on separate chest: heavy pressure









on separate chest: heavy pressure



SWELL
Bourdon
Open Diapason
Stopped Diapason
Viol d'Orchestre
Celeste
Gemshorn
Flute
Fifteenth
Mixture 17.19.22
Cornopean
Oboe
Sub Octave
Octave
Tremulant
16
8
8
8
8
4
4
2
III
8
8



















1924
1924 TC

[Chimney Flute]


1924
CHOIR (enclosed)
Gedeckt
Keraulophon
Dulciana
Harmonic Flute
Piccolo
Clarinet
Tremulant

Open Diapason
Trumpet
Sub Octave
Octave
Swell to Choir
8
8
8
4
2
8


8
8








A
B














PEDAL
Open Diapason
Bourdon
Principal
Bass Flute
Trombone
Trumpet
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
16
16
8
8
16
8
C
D
C
D
B
B




1924

compass: 61/30
tubular-pneumatic action
balanced mechanical swell pedals
reversed and detached drawstop console
slider and unit windchests13



St Matthew's Anglican Church, Prahran – organ from rear gallery
[photograph from Stonnington Libraries archive PH12600]




St Matthew's Anglican Church, Prahran - organ viewed from rear of nave
[photograph by John Maidment (1975)]




 St Matthew's Anglican Church, Prahran - organ console
[photograph by John Maidment (1975)]




St Matthew's Anglican Church, Prahran – the intended design by Terry & Oakden
[engraving from Australasian Sketcher 11 May 1878, p.28]

1. The Argus, 3 September 1877, p.6

2. Illustrated in The Australasian Sketcher, 11 May 1878, p.28

3. Further details are given in E.N. Matthews, Colonial Organs and Organbuilders (Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1969), p.145

4. The Argus, 1 February 1867, p.5

5. Ibid., 3 July 1867, p.4

6. The Age, 19 October 1883, p.6

7. The Argus, 21 February 1924, p.10; on 29 November 1923, Geo. Fincham & Sons quoted to K.M. Lavers to revoice a Cornopean from TC and a Trumpet from CC on 8 inch wind

8. The Herald, 2 February 1924, p.17

9. Roberts order book, job number 100, March 1927; it appears that the electric action may have been replaced with tubular-pneumatic at this stage

10. Ibid, job number 150, 1 July 1934

11. The Age, 3 July 1934, p.4

12. Ibid., 29 June 1934, p.7

13. Specification noted by John Maidment c.1972