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Merklin - Schutze Organ

Location

66 Orrong Road, ELSTERNWICK VIC 3185 - Property No B4671

File Number

B4671

Level

State

[1/5]
EB4671 Elsternwick Cato
[2/5]
B4671 Elsternwick Cato Uniting
[3/5]
B4671 Elsternwick Cato Uniting
[4/5]
B4671 Elsternwick Cato Uniting
[5/5]
B4671 Elsternwick Cato Uniting

Statement of Significance

SEE B0459

Built circa 1870 by Merklin-Schutze in Brussels for St John's Anglican Church, Toorak, this instrument is the only large example of the French symphonic romantic school of organbuilding surviving in Australia in substantially original form. It is an ideal medium for the performance of music of the French romantic organ school.
Since Australia possesses so few instruments which are principally designed around a particular style of organ composition this instrument should be regarded as a national treasure.
The external appearance of the organ pipework and soundboards are substantially original. However between 1877 and 1898 two ranks of pipe were changed and in 1919 a new console was installed and the action changed to tubular pneumatic. The instrument at the present time is virtually unplayable.
Classified: 18/06/1990

Group