MORELAND BAPTIST CHURCH COMPLEX

How is it significant?
Moreland Baptist Church complex is of local historic, representative and aesthetic significance to the City of Moreland.

Why is it significant?
Moreland Baptist Church complex, formerly West Moreland Baptist Church, formed during the 1920s is historically significant as it reflects the outward growth of Brunswick and Coburg immediately after World War One when the north-west region of Melbourne was expanding rapidly. Whilst nineteenth century churches were located along the Sydney Road spine, the Interwar period is noted for the growth of smaller suburban churches that reflected the needs of their communities and were located within residential areas. Moreland Baptist Church complex, originally built in 1922 and subsequently added to in 1924, 1931, 1952 and 1963 is significant as a reflection of the needs of the community through the provision of church, kindergarten and Sunday School facilities, a youth hall and associated kitchen and other meeting rooms. These are all present on the site. (Criterion A)
Moreland Baptist Church is significant as part of a group of Interwar suburban church complexes. It is a relatively early and representative example following the move away from Sydney Road to the developing suburbs. Later examples of churches from the 1930s and 1940s show evidence of the work of established architects, however Moreland Baptist is a good example of a timber church based on a simple rectangular hall and built to a style and with materials commonly used at the time. Whilst quite conservative in its design for the period in which it was built, the 1922 church, 1924 kindergarten with extensions in 1929, and the 1931 porch and front additions represent an excellent and quite intact example of an Interwar church complex. (Criterion D)
Moreland Baptist Church is aesthetically significant for its lively frontage to Moreland Road, created from the 1931 addition of a pair of gables with timber strapping that reflect the gable end detail of the original church. This is also enhanced by the added porch with three distinctive cross motif windows. The triple light windows to the frontage are an important part of the front elevation. Aesthetically the combination of weatherboard below window sill level and cement sheet cladding above, combined with vertical timber strapping adds additional detail and interest to the building. The extension to the main church is aesthetically very close to the original building, forming a seamless composition. The later Post-war buildings including the 1959 toilets and 1962 youth hall make a lesser contribution to aesthetic significance and are representative buildings of their time. (Criterion E)

Group

Religion

Category

Church