Shenton Methodist Church & Timber Hall (Now Geelong High School)

STATEMENT OF SIGNFICANCE

The former Shenton Methodist Church and Hall buildings at 379 Ryrie Street, Geelong have significance as a legacy of the development of the Methodist Church in the area in the early 20th century, and as important examples of the interwar Gothic and Federation Carpenter Gothic architectural styles respectively. With the hall built originally in 1863 (and altered and extended in 1868 and 1903) and the Church in 1937, both buildings appear to be in good condition when viewed from the street.

The former Shenton Methodist Church building at 379 Ryrie Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of an interwar Gothic style. These qualities include the steeply pitched gable roof forms that project towards the street frontages, curved apse that projects towards the Garden Street frontage, porch on the Ryrie Street facade, projecting side entrance to the north of the main building, tiled roof cladding, narrow eaves and the unpainted brick wall construction. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the diagonally-oriented, unpainted brick piers that punctuate the main gables and building corners, projecting brick courses near the rooflines of the gable ends, battlemented parapets to the apse and projecting porches, pointed windows and the diamond leadlights.

The former Shenton Hall at 379 Ryrie Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although altered and extended with the incorporation of the former North Geelong multi-purpose building at the rear, the hall still demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian and Federation Carpenter Gothic style. These qualities include the dominant broken back gable roof form, horizontal weatherboard wall cladding, galvanised corrugated steel roof cladding and the front projecting gable porch surmounted by the small timber framed bellcote. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the timber framed, multi-paned pointed windows, timber shingling, timber porch gable infill and the rear gable form and construction of the former North Geelong Primary School multi-purpose building.

The former Shenton Methodist Church and Hall at 379 Ryrie Street are historically significant at a LOCAL level. They are associated with and are a legacy of the development of the Methodist Church in the local area from 1863 until c.1975. The Church building also has associations with the Geelong architect, Frederick Purnell.

The former Shenton Methodist Church and Hall at 379 Ryrie Street are socially significant at a LOCAL level. Although no longer functioning as church buildings, they are still recognised by some sections of the Geelong community for their past religious purposes. They are now also recognised and valued for educational reasons, being associated with the Geelong High School.

Overall, the former Shenton Methodist Church and Hall at 379 Ryrie Street are of LOCAL significance.

Group

Religion

Category

Church