Holy Trinity Church of England Complex

The Holy Trinity Church complex is of local historic, social, aesthetic and scientific (horticultural) significance to the City of Hobsons Bay.

Historically, Williamstown was one of the first Anglican Parishes created in Victoria and the complex illustrates the significant period of civic and community development of Williamstown during the mid to late nineteenth century associated with the prosperity of the port when Nelson Place was the civic and commercial centre of the town. The complex is also important for its strong associations with locally important individuals such as Rev. George Wilkinson, while the Vicarage was for a long period the residence of the noted Australian writer and poet, Ada Cambridge, during the production of many of her important and provocative literary works. The historic development of the complex is also demonstrated by the mature trees, most notably the Karoo Thorn that is thought to have been planted at the time of the construction of the first church and by its great age is evocative of the earliest phase of development. (AHC criteria A4, D2 and H1)

Socially, the complex demonstrates the importance of the church to the Williamstown community over a long period. (AHC criterion G1)

Aesthetically, the complex is significant as an intact example of a nineteenth century ecclesiastical complex, which comprises:

- A near original church designed in an uncommon but simple Gothic Revival form by the prominent architect, Leonard Terry; it appears to be Terry's largest church commission as diocesan architect in this period. It has a fine and original interior with stained glass windows designed by Napier Waller and objects that are associated with Williamstown's maritime past.

- The Vicarage is a relatively successful and near complete design within the limited medieval revival carried out in the late Victorian period and thus gains distinction as an easily identifiable ecclesiastical residence, also part of a medieval inspired church complex which in turn is related to the important Nelson Place commercial streetscape.

- An intact timber Carpenter Gothic Sunday School hall with notable original detail.

- The mature trees, which complement the picturesque Victorian era setting created by the buildings.

(AHC criteria E1 and F1)

Scientifically, the Karoo Thorn is of horticultural significance as one of only three known examples of this species in Victoria. (AHC criterion B2)

Note: Included on the Victorian Heritage Register as VHR H1734.

Group

Religion

Category

Church