Local Government
Augusta/Margaret River
Region
South West
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.
Location
20 Wallcliffe Rd Margaret River
Location Details
Cnr Wallcliffe Rd & Farelly St
Other Name(s)
St Thomas More Church
Construction Date
Constructed from 1982
Demolition Year
N/AStatutory Heritage Listings
| Type | Status | Date | Documents | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage List | Adopted | 08 Aug 2012 |
Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP - Assessed - Consultation (Preliminary) | Current | 20 Apr 2007 |
Other Heritage Listings and Surveys
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | More information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Description | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 01 Jul 2012 | Considerable Significance |
Considerable Significance |
|
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 17 Jun 1996 | Criterion 4 |
Criterion 4 |
|
| Register of the National Estate | Indicative Place |
|
Heritage Council | ||
| Survey of 20th Ctry Architecture | Completed | 01 Mar 1988 |
|
Heritage Council | |
Statement of Significance
St Thomas More Catholic Church is of significance:
• As an excellent example of a late 20th century ecclesiastical architecture.
• As an excellent example of contemporary rammed earth architecture, an identifiable building material of the area in the late twentieth century.
• For its important associations with the local Catholic community, who built the church as a community project using local materials and with many hand crafted features.
• For its important role in the spiritual life of many of Margaret River’sresidents since the construction of the church in 1982.
• As a prominent landmark.
Physical Description
St Thomas More Catholic Church is a substantial, cruciform plan church constructed of rammed earth with a gabled clerestory roof, clad with Colorbond. At the Walcliffe Road frontage there is a prominent campanile (bell tower) which also provides an arched entry to the building and displays ecclesiastical artwork in the form of a bas relief. A circular entrance drive passes under a covered portico that links the campanile and an open loggia across the front of the church.Internally St Thomas More includes both areas of worship and parish meeting rooms and facilities.The perimeter of the site has been landscaped with mature shrubs and trees, above which the campanile and roof rise as landmark elements.
History
St Thomas More Roman Catholic Church was built by the local Catholic community as a community project. The clay for the rammed earth walls and the granite came from local farms. The altar piece of jarrah (2.4m x 2m) was carved by a local craftsman and the font and cross, also of jarrah, were done by another local craftsman. The floor was laid with Donnybrook stone. The stained glass windows were made locally and the Stations of the Cross, made of beaten copper, were made by local women. The children of the parish were involved in the cleaning up the building site.St Thomas More Roman Catholic Church was officially opened on Monday 24 January 1983, and the church was dedicated by Bishop Peter Quinn (Bunbury).It, like the comparable Lumen Christi Catholic Church at Augusta (Place # AU-13)(which also used rammed wall construction), was innovative and enterprising at its time.As at 2012, the place is a centre for the Catholic community and other groups in the town who use the building’s excellent facilities.
Integrity/Authenticity
High: The original use has been maintained.
High: The original/significant fabric is largely intact.
Condition
Good
Associations
| Name | Type | Year From | Year To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hodge and Wilcox, architects | Architect | - | - |
References
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal Heritage Inventory | 1996 | ||
| West Australian pp38-39 | 25/11/1982 | ||
| Busselton Margaret Times p4 | 27/1/1983 |
Other Reference Numbers
| Ref Number | Description |
|---|---|
| MR(T)-17 | MI Place No. |
| A3649 | LGA Site No. |
Place Type
Individual Building or Group
Uses
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | RELIGIOUS | Church, Cathedral or Chapel |
| Present Use | RELIGIOUS | Church, Cathedral or Chapel |
Architectural Styles
| Style |
|---|
| Inter-War Gothic |
| Late 20th-Century Ecclesiastical |
Construction Materials
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Roof | METAL | Corrugated Iron |
| Roof | METAL | Corrugated Iron |
| Wall | TIMBER | Weatherboard |
| Wall | EARTH | Pise {Rammed Earth} |
| Other | ASBESTOS | Fibrous Cement, flat |
Historic Themes
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Religion |
| PEOPLE | Innovators |
| DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Settlements |
| DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Immigration, emigration & refugees |
Creation Date
30 May 1989Publish place record online (inHerit):
ApprovedLast Update
01 Apr 2021Disclaimer
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.