Baptist Church (present) including interior

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The former Aberdeen Street Baptist church erected in 1853 has associations with the earliest foundations of the Baptist Church in Victoria, being erected only sixteen years after establishment of the Church in Melbourne. The Aberdeen Street Church is the oldest surviving Baptist Church in Victoria outside the metropolitan area and one which is notable for the architectural composition and quality of the masonry craftsmanship. The Design derives from 1840's Italianate pattern books and is an important work of architect John Young.

REFERENCES:

Geelong Advertiser, 13th September 1853 tender for stonemasons.

25th November 1853, tender for carpenters and joiners.

11th November 1854, tender for plasterers and joinery for gallery and pewing.

16th September, 1865, tender called by JL Shaw, architects for additions; possibly the rooms which Wilkins states were added in 1856.

Brownhill, WR - History of Geelong and Corio Bay

Wilke and Co., Melbourne, 1955 PP> 175-177, 267

Wilkins. FJ - The Baptists in Victoria: Our First Centuary 1838 - 1938, Baptist Union of Victoria, Melbourne, 1939.

National Trust of Australia (Victoria), File No. 267

Aberdeen Street Baptists Church Minutes Book

Sutherland A - Victoria and It's Metropolis, Past and Present

2 Volumes, McCowan, Bird and Co., Melbourne, 1888, Vol 2 P. 153., biographical sketch of Alexander Dick. J.P.

Group

Religion

Category

Church