St Andrews Sunday School & Peace Memorial Hall

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

St Andrew's Sunday School and

Peace Memorial Hall

25 McIntyre Street

This combined building has local significance for its architectural interest as a Federation style Sunday School designed by Frank Hammond, Hamilton's Town Clerk and Engineer, who has associations with a number of major local buildings, and which was later extended as a "a memorial [hall] to those who served and those who died in two World Wars". ([i]) The architect for the loosely Gothic Revival extension in 1957 was Leighton Irwin & Co. The contractors were Allen & Erry and W J Henry & Sons respectively. It has historical importance as a critical part of the St Andrew's Presbyterian church complex in the prestigious Church Hill precinct. The former junior Sunday School, which dates from 4 October 1916, and cost 1700 pounds, according to a number of church histories ([ii]), was constructed from a design by the Reverends W Goyan and R C Foyster and Mrs Foyster and `improved in its architectural detail by Mr Frank Hammond'. It was seen at the time as making a significant contribution to Sunday School architecture in Victoria. ([iii]) It was the second Sunday School built for St Andrew's, the first building (1890) at 18 Gray Street being used now as St Andrew's Presbyterian Hall. Other Hamilton buildings designed by Hammond include the splendid towered Palmer residence at 4 McIntyre Street (1902), additions to the Mechanics' Institute at 47 Gray Street (1903), work on the Hamilton Hospital (1897), the Masonic Temple at 116 Lonsdale Street (1915) and additions and alterations to St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 136 Lonsdale Street (1902, 1916) ([iv]) Leighton Irwin & Co was a leading Melbourne firm of architects.

The building remains significantly intact and in good condition. It contributes to the streetscape for its siting, scale and as part of the St Andrews complex.