Church of the Holy Rosary (RC)

Child Places

• 13099 Holy Rosary Parish Centre

Statement of Significance

The Church of the Holy Rosary has aesthetic, historic, representative and social cultural heritage significance.
It is a fine representative of a Gothic Revival Church built between 1930-1937. For over sixty years it has
been the centre of the Catholic faith in Nedlands.

Physical Description

This is a large brick and tile Church in Gothic revival style with buttresses to the main nave ~~\I projecting
aisles. Small stained glass windows are to the east end, on either side of the altar. The foundation stone is
dated 25 October, 1936.

There is a horizontal string course wilh quoins and moulding around the window heads, as well as the other
rendered moulding to cappings and pinnacle. They are all rendered grey to match the stonework. The
window mullions and window frames surrounding the steel opening casements and leadlights are in stone,
can·ed in Gothic style. The stained glass is simple rectangular leadlight for the majority of the windows with
a cross in the top portion of the window head.

The OYerall appearance of the Church is Gothic with pinnacles on either side of the west end and south
transits. The windows appear larger as a result of the quoin rendering. The brick plinths steps in two places
to the main body of the brickwork and continues around the whole building. The buttresses at the east end
and sides of the building are stepped in with concrete rendered detailing.

History

From I 918 to l 930 Nedi ands formed part of St Joseph's Parish, Subiaco and for the first five years Mass was
celcbrntcd on special festival days. like Christmas, at the home of Mr and Mrs Thomas Fitzpatrick in Cook
Street Ncdlands. The first Sunday School in Nedlands was also held at the Fitzpatrick home. Instruction
was gh·cn by Sister Mary Bernadene who had to traYel by trnm from Perth.

In 1922 an old limber church on the corner of Edward Street and Broadway (now the site of Robert Muir's
Old and Rare Books) was purchased and served for the purpose of celebration of Sunday Mass for some lime.
The building was eventually sold. Mass was celebrated for a short while in the Broadway Picture Theatre
{situated where Broadway Fair is now located). It then moved to the Church of the Holy Rosary which was
built in 1930. The name was chosen by Father O'Brien and the design completed by architect Edgar Le B
Henderson. The opening mass performed by Father O'Brien, took place on the first Sunday in October. In
1936 a meeting of parishioners was called owing to the pressing need to enlarge the Church. A foundation
stone to mark the beginning of this work was blessed and laid on 25 October 1936 by Archbishop Prendiville.

The opening of the completed Church took place on the last Sunday in May, 1937. Mass was again led by
Archbishop Prendiville. In 1952 a Shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour was erected. Further additions
included the bell which was first rung on 13 October 1952, the extension of the porch in 1955 and the Chapel
of St Joseph in 1956. The Holy Rosary Parish is still very active today (1998). Events, reflections and
reminiscences are printed in the Church's Monthly Newsletter, Beads.

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.