Lara Uniting Church Complex

What is Significant?

The former Wesleyan Chapel and the former Temperance Hall (former Methodist Church, now Tuckers Funeral and Bereavement Service), 1B Flinders Avenue, Lara, have significance as the earliest surviving and moderately intact Church and public buildings in Lara. The former Wesleyan Chapel represents one of few mid 19th century Victorian Primitive Gothic styled Church buildings in the City of Greater Geelong. Built in 1865 for the newly-established local Wesleyan Church, the steeply-pitched and gabled limestone building has moderate integrity. Although the roof tiles and roughcast finish to the walls have been introduced, the original design is clearly discernible. In 1902, the Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan congregations amalgamated to form the Methodist Church of Australasia. At Lara, this was marked by the joining of the Wesleyan Church with the neighbouring Primitive Methodists who occupied the former Temperance Hall built in 1869. This building at the north end of the Uniting Church site, was purchased by John Spalding and he gave it to the Primitive Methodist congregation in 1891. The building became the principal location for local Methodist (and later Uniting Church) worship until 1980 when the existing late 20th century Church building on the site was built. The former Methodist Church building, earlier the social hub of community life in Lara until the opening of the neighbouring Public Hall in 1886, is a rare surviving example of its type. The gabled limestone building has original segmentally-arched windows with timber framed twelve-paned hopper sashes and an original door opening in the front porch. Although the gable roof of the front porch was added after 1921, it also contributes to the character and appearance of the building. To the south of the former Wesleyan Chapel is an early domed brick well/water tank. It is an important local historical legacy of 19th century water catchment, the unreliable supply of water having dogged the Lara area until the township was connected to the Geelong water supply in 1947.

How is it Significant?

The former Wesleyan Chapel, former Temperance Hall and brick well/water tank at the Uniting Church complex, 1B Flinders Avenue, Lara, are architecturally, historically, socially and scientifically significant at a LOCAL level.

Why is it Significant?

The former Wesleyan Chapel and former Temperance Hall are architecturally significant as moderately intact examples of mid Victorian church and public hall buildings (Criteria D & E). The former Wesleyan Chapel is one of few surviving Victorian Primitive Gothic styled churches in the City of Greater Geelong. The former Temperance Hall is also a rare surviving example of a rudimentary vernacular public building. Both buildings represent the earliest surviving church and public buildings in Lara. The limestone construction to both buildings contributes to the vernacular qualities of their designs. The introduced tiled roof cladding and roughcast wall finishes to both buildings has diminished their integrity, but they remain sufficiently intact that their original design qualities being clearly discernible.

Group

Religion

Category

Church