St Luke's Church Hall, Toowoomba

St Lukes Church Hall, Toowoomba
St Lukes Church Hall, Toowoomba
	Building exterior, 2014
Location	152 Herries Street, Toowoomba City, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	27°33′57″S151°57′11″E / 27.5657°S 151.9531°E Coordinates: 27°33′57″S151°57′11″E / 27.5657°S 151.9531°E
Design period	1900 - 1914 (early 20th century)
Built	1910 - 1911
Architect	Henry James (Harry) Marks
Architectural style(s)	Arts & Crafts
Queensland Heritage Register
	Official name: St Lukes Church Hall, St Lukes School and Parish Hall
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600866
Significant period	1910s (historical); 1910s (fabric); ongoing (social)
Significant components	roof/ridge ventilator/s / fleche/s, views to, church hall/sunday school hall
Builders	H. Andrews
	Location of St Lukes Church Hall, Toowoomba in Queensland St Luke's Church Hall, Toowoomba (Australia)

Last updated February 26, 2020

St Lukes Church Hall is a heritage-listed church hall of St Luke's Anglican Church at 152 Herries Street, Toowoomba City, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Henry James (Harry) Marks and built from 1910 to 1911 by H. Andrews. It is also known as St Lukes School & Parish Hall. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.^[1]

History

St Luke's Church Hall, constructed in 1911, is a large, single-storey building, designed by H.J. (Harry) Marks of the prominent family of Toowoomba architects. It forms part of St Luke's church precinct at the corner of Herries and Ruthven Street.^[1]

The site is part of a continuing tradition of Anglican worship established during the first years of European settlement on the Darling Downs. Until the separation of Queensland in 1859, the Darling Downs were part of New South Wales and fell within the Diocese of Newcastle. The Reverend John Gregor visited the area, holding services in camps and private homes from 1840 until his death in 1848. The energetic Reverend Benjamin Glennie succeeded him and was appointed the first Incumbent for the Darling Downs in 1850. A parsonage was built at the "Springs" (Drayton) in 1851 but by then the focal point of activity on the Downs had swung some six kilometres northwards to an area known as "The Swamp", later to become Toowoomba. Glennie approached his Bishop for permission to buy land for a church there. He envisioned four churches, each dedicated to one of the evangelists, in the four major towns of the Downs, St Matthew's at Drayton, St Mark's at Warwick, St Luke's at Toowoomba and St John's in Dalby. In 1854 he purchased two acres of land in Ruthven Street for £8/4/- at one of the first land sales held for St Luke's.^[1]

In 1856 a 2-room schoolmaster's house was built on the land, followed soon afterwards by a slab building which combined the functions of church and school. The first service was held in March 1857. The building was soon inadequate and was extended, but a new and larger church, named St James, was built on land donated at Mort Street in 1869 and became the main Toowoomba church by default, although St Luke's had been intended as the parish church. Services were conducted alternately at the two churches and St Luke's was used for the Sunday School until 1883 when weekly services were recommenced and the church was again extended. The school function ceased in 1880 when state aid to denominational schools ceased.^[1]

In 1891, because of the growth of Toowoomba, St Luke's was established as a Parochial District and a new incumbent was appointed by the Bishop. The Reverend Thomas St. John Parry Pughe immediately set out to raise funds for a more suitable church. Plans were commissioned from Diocesan Architect John Hingeston Buckeridge for a stone church in 1892 and the new building was dedicated in February 1897. The old St Luke's continued in use as the parish hall, but must have seemed inappropriate to the enhanced status of St Luke's as well being inadequate in size.^[1]

The need for a new parish hall had become urgent by 1908 and a venue to conduct classes for primary school children was also needed. A building committee was appointed and by August 1909, architect Harry Marks had submitted plans for a building which would act as both a hall and primary school, the drawings for which were carried in the October Parish Paper. Tenders were called in January 1910 and subsequently, a contract was signed by H. Andrews for the sum of £1436.^[1]

H.J. (Harry) Marks was one of a remarkable family firm of architects which had a lasting effect on the appearance of Toowoomba, being responsible for a large number of public, private and commercial buildings. James Marks arrived in Queensland in 1866 and first set up in practice in Dalby, moving to Toowoomba in 1874. He entered into partnership as James Marks and Son with his eldest son Harry, who joined his father's practice in 1903, and Reginald who joined in 1910. Charles Beresford Marks, James grandson was also an architect working in Toowoomba and died in 1966. Harry Marks was innovative in his approach to design and patented several ideas for building systems and components. He was interesting in providing good ventilation and natural lighting and these are features buildings designed by him.^[1]

The foundation stone for St Luke's hall was laid by the Archdeacon of Brisbane Henry le Fanu on 28 May 1910 in the presence of a large and representative assembly of people and is inscribed "To the Glory of God and in memory of Benjamin Glennie, B.A., sometime Rector of Toowoomba." The Rector's Warden, Mr Frank Hooper, referred to the devotion of Canon Glennie who was virtually the founder of St Luke's from a material and temporal point of view. The late Canon Glennie had, he said, 54 years before purchased for £8 the two acres of land, and that day they saw the outcome of his foresight.^[2] The completed hall was opened on 11 April and dedicated on 15 May 1911 by the Archbishop of Brisbane St Clair Donaldson at a cost of £1554.^[1]^[3]

Description

St Luke's hall stands at the corner of Herries and Ruthven Street to the south of the church and parallel to it. It is an unusual building and has a number of Marks trademark features and innovations including the use of extensive provision for light and ventilation, a patented construction method and flamboyant decoration.^[1]

The hall is single storey and is 80 feet (24 m) long and 40 feet (12 m) wide with a plan suggestive of that of a church, having a nave and side aisles. There are bays at each end which are flanked by pairs of gable roofed porches. The foundations are brick and the building is constructed of cement applied over chicken wire on a timber framework. This technique was also used by Marks for the Taylor Memorial Institute at St James' Church and the main building at The Glennie School, both contemporary with this hall. The main roof is hipped, clad with corrugated iron and has ventilating gables spaced right around the roof edge and along the side aisles. The ridge of the roof is capped with unusual ventilators reminiscent of Byzantine cupolas surmounted by crosses. Shallow triple casement windows are placed under the eaves beneath the gables forming a clerestory and larger sets of triple casements line the side aisles. Those in the western bay have flat heads with arched mouldings above them. The eastern bay has been extended to incorporate toilet facilities and a store. The four entry porches are supported on timber columns with elaborate capitals and are reached by low steps.^[1]

The interior of the hall is a large and well lit space with a timber floor and vaulted ceiling lined with timber. The nave has square timber posts on each side supporting the clerestory and is continuously arcaded. There is a modern kitchen in the western end and a stage at the other.^[1]

Heritage listing

St Lukes Church Hall was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.

As a large and elaborate Parish Hall designed by Toowoomba's most distinguished architectural firm, St Luke's Hall is a demonstration the development of the Anglican Church on the Downs and the importance of Toowoomba in the early twentieth century.^[1]

The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.

The hall forms part of the St. Luke's church group consisting of St. Luke's Church, the Hall, Rectory and Bell Tower and has high aesthetic value in its own right, making an important contribution to the character of the city of Toowoomba.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.

The hall features a number of Harry Marks innovative and patented design features from its basic construction method to finishing details such as ventilators.^[1]

The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

It has strong social links to the Anglican community in Toowoomba as the venue for many functions over the years.^[1]

The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.

St Luke's Hall has strong associations with the life and work of Harry Marks, one of a family of prominent architects in Toowoomba, and is also an outcome of the work of the Reverend Benjamin Glennie, an important figure in history of Drayton/Toowoomba who laid the foundations for the development of the Church on the Darling Downs.^[1]

Related Research Articles

Drayton is a rural locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Drayton had a population of 1,710 people.

Toowoomba City is an urban locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It is the central suburb of Toowoomba, containing its central business district. In the 2016 census, Toowoomba City had a population of 2,088 people.

The Reverend Benjamin Glennie was a pioneer Anglican clergyman in the Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia.

St Matthew's Anglican Church is a heritage-listed church at Beatrice Street, Drayton, once a town but now a suburb of Toowoomba in Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by James Marks and built from 1886 to 1887 by Seath, Hobart and Watson. It is also known as St Matthew's Church of England and is the second church of that name in Drayton. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

St Mark's Anglican Church is a heritage-listed church at 55 Albion Street, Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It is the second church of that name on that site. It was designed by Richard George Suter and built in 1868 by John McCulloch. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

St Luke's Anglican Church is a heritage-listed church at 152 Herries Street, Toowoomba City, Queensland, Australia. It is the second church on the site and was designed by John Hingeston Buckeridge and built in 1897. It is also known as St Luke's Church of England. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 July 2000.

St John's Anglican Church is a heritage-listed church at 153 Cunningham Street, Dalby, Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It is the third church of that name on the site and was designed by Henry James (Harry) Marks and built in the 1920s. It is also known as St John's Church of England. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 14 August 2008.

St Anne's Anglican Church is a heritage-listed church at Evanslea Road, Jondaryan, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It is also known as the Jondaryan Homestead Church and St Anne's Church of England. It was built in 1859 by Hugh Bradford as a private chapel for the former Jondaryan pastoral station, and the first service was held by preacher Benjamin Glennie late that year. The church also served the new township of Jondaryan, and was moved to its present site, with alterations, in 1893.

Alexandra Building is a heritage-listed commercial building at 451-455 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Toowoomba architect Henry James (Harry) Marks and built in 1902 by James Renwick. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 16 October 2008.

The Exchange Building is a heritage-listed commercial building at 245-253 Margaret Street, Toowoomba City, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It consists of two storeys, with a row of four shops on the first floor with office space above. It was built by 1905, and designed by Toowoomba architect Harry Marks. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 October 2000, and is considered significant for its aesthetic contribution to the streetscape of Margaret Street, for its status as surviving evidence of the early development of the commercial centre of Toowoomba, and for its association with Marks. As of February 2013, it was tenanted by a number of shops facing Margaret Street, with offices on the second floor.

St James Church is a heritage-listed Anglican church at 145 Mort Street, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Richard George Suter and built from 1869 to 1953. It is also known as St James Church of England. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 July 2000.

St James Parish Hall is a heritage-listed church hall at 112 Russell Street, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Henry James (Harry) Marks and built in 1912. It is also known as Taylor Memorial Institute. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 March 1995.

St Patrick's Cathedral is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic cathedral on James Street, South Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Toowoomba architect James Marks and was built from 1883 to 1935. It is also known as St Patrick's Church School. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Henry (Harry) James Marks (1871–1939) was an architect in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. He was the architect of numerous buildings, many now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.

James Marks (1834–1915) was an architect in Queensland, Australia. A number of his buildings are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.

St Davids Anglican Church is a heritage-listed church at 1 Church Street, Allora, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built from 1887 to 1901. It is also known as St David's Church of England. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 March 2000.

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The Glennie School is a girls' school in Newtown, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. It caters for primary and secondary schooling from K-12. It has boarding house facilities and is owned and operated by the Anglican Church.

William Hodgen (1866–1943) was an architect in Queensland, Australia. Many of his works are now heritage-listed. He is also known as William Hodgen, junior.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "St Lukes Church Hall (entry 600866)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
↑ "ST. LUKES PARISH HALL". Darling Downs Gazette . LII (9014). Queensland, Australia. 30 May 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 16 April 2017– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "ST. LUKES PARIS HALL". Darling Downs Gazette . LII (9014). Queensland, Australia. 30 May 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 16 April 2017– via National Library of Australia.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on "The Queensland heritage register" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 7 July 2014, archived on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the "Queensland heritage register boundaries" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 5 September 2014, archived on 15 October 2014).

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[qhr-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "St Lukes Church Hall (entry 600866)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.

[2] "ST. LUKES PARISH HALL". Darling Downs Gazette . LII (9014). Queensland, Australia. 30 May 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 16 April 2017– via National Library of Australia.

[3] "ST. LUKES PARIS HALL". Darling Downs Gazette . LII (9014). Queensland, Australia. 30 May 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 16 April 2017– via National Library of Australia.