St Margaret's Anglican Church

Statement of Significance

SI Margaret's Cburch has aesthetic. historic and social cultural heritage value. The Church was the first of its
particular width to be built without supporting pillars to take the thrust of the roof. Hence. the outside
buttressed wall<; give it particular distinction. It is a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture. lIS
dominating facade give the Church srreetscape value. St Margaret's adds to the history of the development of
the Nedlands community as it was built in a period of rapid population increase in the TI1OO1'- War period. It is
also notable as another example of WG Bennett's architectural design. Bennett WaJ< involved In a number of
projects in UID Nedlands district, Some of these include the Peace Memorial Rose Garden, the Nedlands
Council Offices and the Child Health Clinic.

Physical Description

The wbole Church is set in a comer site with grass and simple concrete paving up 10 the entrance. The east
end has brick walling with steel fencing. This appears to have been added at a later date. fhere is no east end
window, but a blank wall behind the altar. There is a very simple central pitched clay tiled roof over the altar
and aisles. It is a rectangular building. The west end faces the road, whilst the heavy brick detailing is typical
of the 1930s. The windows are stone and in Gothic style. They are in rectangular form at the "ides and head.
Glazing within the windows is in traditional Gothic perpendicular style for the west end window, with infill
detailing over it. The entry into the Church from the corner is symmetrical at the west end, with low entrance
porticos on either SIde of a slightly higher entrance that projects out lrom the main body of the Church.

The main body of the Church has vertical windows of Gothic Renaissance style. bUJ with rectangular stone
surrounds. These nrc built into brickwork side walls between vertical brick buttresses, The brick plinth 11'
simple. The brickwork detailing is good wlth tile inserts below the parapet line. vertically at the heads of the
buttresses and below ehe vertical windows to form air vents. Ihe east end projects out 10 form the altar recess.

History

The history of the Anglican Church in the Nedlands district i. linked to the development of both Subiaco and
Claremont. Over time sorviccs were held in various places. including private homes and Mission Halls. JIl
1922 it. was decided to sell the Mission Hall to raise funds for a church. Five blocks or Land were purchased
at the corner of Tyrell and EIlzabeth Streets by the Reverend H G Barnacle, On this property a small church
caJled St Mary's was built 111 1923. (The Foundation Stolle was laid by Archbishop C Riley.) With an
expanding population the St Mary's Church was extended by a verandah and the rervices of a hall buill next
door. In 1930 Nedlands was made into a separate parish.

Requiring a bigger church, a building fund was set up in 1930 by Reverend Canon BUl1.011 and the job of fund
raising was continued by Reverend Jaquet on his arrival in 1935. Building started in 1937 and In 1938 the
new church was consecrated and dedicated to SI Margaret. (The name change was decided owing to other
churches in the diocese dedicated to St Mary.) The foundation stone of the old St Mary's survives along with
the new foundation stone laid by Archdeacon CL Riley, the son of the Archbishop who laid the first stone.
The total cost of the church was £4.626118/6. The architect was Mr WG Bennett, who designed a number of
public buildings in the Nedlands district. including the Nedlands Council Offices and the Infant Health Clinic.
The building contractor was AN Hill. A stained glass window can be seen in St Margaret's commemorating
Reverend Jaquet's services to the Nedlands parish, (This was donated by his family 111 1975.)

The old parish hall continued In use for youth groups and Sunday school. Music In St Margaret's has a long
and upstanding tradition, excellent choirs of state level performed on various occasions. ln 1959 the organ
was seriously in need of replacement. The new organ was in..stalledby Messrs Walter and Sons of London
who were at the time installing the organ at Winthrop l1all. University of Westem Australia.

Today (1998) the Angl ican parish of St Margaret's is 51iII very active, Many acti vilies are recorded in their
newsletter, St Margaret's News. Sunday school, youth group. Ladies GUIJd and SI Margaret's Women's groups
are some of the many facets of St Margaret's in J 998.

Integrity/Authenticity

Good

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.