St John's Lutheran Church

Author

City of Perth

Place Number

01943

Location

16 Aberdeen St Perth

Location Details

Includes Hall & Offices Also part of Northbridge Urban Renewal Area 14590

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1936

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
Heritage List Adopted 06 May 2022
Heritage List Adopted 20 Dec 1985
Heritage List Adopted 31 Aug 2021
State Register Registered 20 May 2003 HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument, HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Classified by the National Trust Classified 09 Sep 1996
Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 YES 31 Dec 1999
Art Deco Significant Bldg Survey Completed 30 Jun 1994
Local Heritage Survey Adopted 28 Mar 2023 Category 1
Municipal Inventory Adopted 13 Mar 2001 Category 1
Local Heritage Survey Completed\Draft Category 1

Statement of Significance

The place is State Registered refer to the Register Entry Assessment Documentation The place is of aesthetic significance as a finely detailed Inter-War Gothic style building. The place is of historic significance as it is closely associated with the growth and development of the Lutheran Church in Western Australia. The place is valued by the Lutheran Church community of Perth as a centre for their religious activities. The building is one of two churches designed in the Inter-War Gothic Style by Spanney that feature the use of Darlington Laterite Stone. The place is representative of small churches dating from the early to mid-twentieth century, particularly in its use of elements of the Gothic style.

Physical Description

Church with stone walls and tiled roof; building features short tower and pyramidal roof.

History

OSt John's Church was designed by the architect Richard Spanney (Spangenberg) in c1934 using ironstone from Darlington. Prior to this, the Lutherans had a church and school in Fitzgerald Street, on a block of land granted to them for this purpose by the Government. This was soon after the arrival of their first pastor E. Fischer, in April 1901, who established the first Lutheran congregations in Western Australia. During the First World War, the Lutherans suffered considerable hostility because of their German ancestry. This resulted in a number of families returning to Europe after the War. Those who remained, undertook to build a new church with funds from the sale of some property, and with the help of members. Building materials used in the original church were re-used in the construction of the new church in Aberdeen Street. The new Church was dedicated on Sunday June 7th, 1936.

Integrity/Authenticity

Largely as originally intact with detail intact.

Condition

Fair

Associations

Name Type Year From Year To
Richard Spanney Architect - -

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
The Village Northbridge Heritage Inventory Develop WA - MRA Aug 2002
Central Perth Heritage Inventory Develop WA - MRA 2016
Burswood Bridge and Road Project Northbridge Tunnel Area Heritage Assessment and Report Ronald Bodycoat AMLFRAIA Duncan Stephen and Mercer Architects

Other Keywords

Normalisation effective from 6 May 2022 upon the gazettal of City Planning Scheme No. 2 Amendment No. 46 and Local Planning Scheme No. 26 (Normalised Redevelopment Areas) Amendment No. 4 (refer to Council Ordinary Meeting held on 31 August 2021)

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
11560 St John's Lutheran Church Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} 2017

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

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

Architectural Styles

Style
Inter-War Gothic

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall STONE Laterite
Wall CONCRETE Concrete Block
Roof METAL Corrugated Iron
Roof TILE Terracotta Tile

Historic Themes

General Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Religion
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY Land allocation & subdivision

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

27 Nov 2023

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.