CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, designed by TA Payne and opened on 11 December 1904, at 18 Foster Road, Fish Creek, is significant. It is a Federation Carpenter Gothic Church of typical design with a gabled nave, a project gabled chancel and the gable front porch. Contributory features include: 

Internally, the building is lined with v-jointed tongue and groove boarding, vertical to the dado mould, diagonal to the body of the wall to the picture rail level and with a horizontal panel above to the pitching line. The ceiling is lined diagonally, possibly in Kauri timber, and there is an exposed frame of stop-chamfered posts with neck moulds, dressed rafters with collar tie frames reinforced with steel T section arches. Around the walls, the timber-framed Stations of the Cross have painted panels. 
Non-original alterations including the cement sheet weatherboards are not significant.

The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception is of local historic, aesthetic and social significance to South Gippsland Shire.

Historically, this building is one of the oldest buildings in Fish Creek and is associated with the development of the town and district in the early twentieth century. As the second oldest surviving Catholic Church in the Shire, it demonstrates the early development of the church within South Gippsland. (Criterion A) 
Aesthetically, it is a fine example of a Carpenter Gothic church with typical form and detailing including the steep pitched roof, gabled porch, and lancet windows and doors. Of note are details such as the quartrefoil window, Celtic crosses and the fine timber interior. Situated on a prominent elevated site, it is an historic landmark within Fish Creek. (Criterion E) 
Socially, it is significant for its continuous use as a church for over 110 years and has played an important role in the development of the Fish Creek community. (Criterion G)