St Brigid's Church

Author

City of Perth

Place Number

01977

Location

Cnr Fitzgerald & Aberdeen Sts Northbridge

Location Details

Part of 2030 St Brigids Complex - RHP

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1904 to 1957

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
Heritage List Adopted 16 Dec 1991

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Catholic Church Inventory Completed 01 Jul 1998
Local Heritage Survey Adopted 28 Mar 2023 Category 1
Municipal Inventory Adopted 13 Mar 2001 Category 1
Local Heritage Survey Completed\Draft Category 1

Parent Place or Precinct

02030 St Brigid's Group, Perth

Statement of Significance

The place is a long-standing landmark in the district as a fine collection of buildings constructed at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth that collectively form an important historic group of places that is visually complex and harmonious. The place is a restrained and well executed example of a Federation Gothic style church. The place provides important evidence of the development of the Perth and West Perth district, its class and religious demographic, and the development of Catholic primary and more latterly secondary education in the State. The place is an early example of the work of the Sisters of Mercy who came to Western Australia in the 1800s to educate and mission, and established convent schools in a number of suburban and regional areas in the late 1800s and into the 1900s. The place is valued by the local and wider Catholic community for its continuing associations with the Catholic Church in general and the Sisters of Mercy in particular. The principal buildings at the place were designed by prominent Western Australian architects: Parish Hall (original primary school building) designed by J J Talbot Hobbs; Convent and Church designed by Cavanagh and Cavanagh; and, Convent School designed by R Dennehy.

Physical Description

Church designed in the Federation Gothic style with elements of Romanesque architecture also included in the design. Steeply pitched gable roof with tower and spire, arched windows with stucco decoration. Face brick construction general with rendered bonds. The church was extended to the west and a new alter constructed in 1957.

History

St. Brigid's Church located adjacent to St. Brigid's School was built in 1904 and designed by prominent architects Cavanagh & Cavanagh. In 1957, the building was extended to the west to include a new alter. The building features the 1905 pipe organ in the gallery, mahogany mews and large religious sculptures. Northbridge is an inner suburban area, named because it is just north of Perth across the railway bridge. It was approved as a suburb name in 1982.

Integrity/Authenticity

High integrity. High authenticity.

Condition

Good

Associations

Name Type Year From Year To
Cavanagh & Cavanagh Architect - -

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
HCWA Assessment

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
9609 St Brigid's church and presbytery, Northbridge: conservation management plan. Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} 2010

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use RELIGIOUS Church, Cathedral or Chapel
Original Use RELIGIOUS Church, Cathedral or Chapel

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Gothic

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall BRICK Face Brick
Roof TILE Terracotta Tile

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

10 Jun 2024

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.