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Former St John's Church of England & Organ - Port Fairy Historic Area

Other Name St John's Anglican Church Location 23 Regent Street,, PORT FAIRY VIC 3284 - Property No B0959 File Number B0959 Level Regional

[1/2] B959 ST Johns Anglican Church [2/2] B0959 St John's Anglican

Statement of Significance

One of Victoria's major churches of the 1850s, the first substantial work of the prominent architect Nathanial Billing, and allegedly the first in Victoria with a full chancel. It was built in 1854-55, was reported in the 'Illustrated London News' and 'The London Builder' and was described locally as "a thorough cathedral", though Billings tower and spire were not executed and the present tower of 1957 accords only approximately with the original design. Billing's drawings survive for the church itself and for the limestone font, which was carved by Walter McGill. The corbels of the chancel arch and the faces used as label stops to all the exterior openings were carved by McGill in the local tufa and, with the font, make this church the most important repository of early stone sculpture in the state.
Church Classified: 'Regional' 26/05/1988
Organ Statement of Significance: This two-manual organ was built in 1909 by Frederick Taylor of Hawthorn and remains little altered from the original, retaining its daipered facade pipes, casework, action and tonal scheme. The instrument is thought to be the only unaltered example of its builder's early work and one of the last instruments to be built at the period with mechanical key action.
Organ Classified: 'Regional' 06/04/1989