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ST ANDREW'S UNITING CHURCH

Location

Coleraine-Balmoral Road BALMORAL, Southern Grampians Shire

File Number

432

Level

Stage 2 study complete

Statement of Significance

What is Significant?
St Andrew's Presbyterian Church is located on the northern side of the Coleraine-Balmoral Road, about one kilometre from the centre of the township of Balmoral. It was the first church to be built in Balmoral, reflecting the dominant Presbyterian faith of the early pastoralists and townspeople of the area. The Church was built in 1865, and the committee of Trustees comprised the most important and influential landholders and merchants in and around Balmoral. A simple stone and render church, St Andrew's is built in the Gothic revival style, of three bays with a vestry. The walls are built of local sandstone, deeply stained by iron, in coursed random rubble. The side windows are of interest being square-headed within Gothic arches. The church was designed by important local architect, John S. Jenkins, and built by Alex Mason and Archibald McQueen, of Hamilton. The church retains and excellent degree of integrity externally and high degree of integrity internally. It is in excellent condition.

How is it significant?
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church is of historical, social and architectural significance to the township of Balmoral and the Southern Grampians Shire.

Why is it Significant?
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church is of historical significance as an example of the importance of Presbyterian faith in the township of Balmoral and surrounding areas from the late 1850s. It is of further historical importance as the first church and for its quality of construction, reflected in the committee and trustee members. The complex is of social significance to the township of Balmoral as the focus for Presbyterians, who settled in the township in the mid nineteenth century, mostly large landholders, general merchants and pastoralists. It is of architectural significance as an excellent example of early and primitive construction materials used in the Gothic revival style to express religious values. It is of further significance for the range of memorials, and as a comparison with the churches of other denominations in Balmoral.

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