St Peter's Anglican Church

Statement of Significance

St. Peter's Church is significant as one of the earliest surviving buildings in the town of Balingup, for its early use as a school building and its long term use as a church. The building has aesthetic significance as a small simple Federation Gothic building in the Balingup townsite.

Physical Description

Situated on the corner of Roberts Street and Jayes Road, the church is a simple gothic church building, originally of mud bricks later cement rendered with a gabled corrugated iron roof in the Federation Gothic Style. Each gable end has a smaller gabled structure attached. Each of the long walls contains two gothic arched timber windows.

History

This brick building in the Federation Gothic style, at the corner of Roberts Street and Jayes Road, was built to serve as a church and school for the small community at Balingup. Edmund Moore, who arrived in the district c. 1890-91, recollected making and carting the bricks for the building, which his brother, Lewis Moore, F. Cleveland, F. Lukis, and other early settlers helped to build. On 31 October 1895, the school opened with Miss Anne Campbell as the first teacher and 15 pupils enrolled. The railway from Donnybrook to Bridgetown officially opened in late 1898, the townsite of Balingup was gazetted, and more settlers came to the district. With the increasing population, the school enrolment grew. A school site opposite the railway station was reserved in 1903, where the initial building comprising a classroom and quarters was duly erected. In May 1904, the school transferred to the new building. In 1908, the 1895 building was transferred to the Church of England and consecrated as St Peter’s Anglican Church and has continued in this use ever since. At some date the building was cement rendered and painted white.

Integrity/Authenticity

Modifications: Additions and rendered walls

Condition

Fair-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.