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St Luke's Lutheran Church & Organ

Other Names St John's Presbyterian Church ,  St. John's Uniting Church Location 31 Bunbury Street,, CAVENDISH VIC 3314 - Property No B2045 File Number B2045 Level Local

[1/5] B2045 St Lukes Lutheran Church [2/5] B2045 St Luke's Lutheran [3/5] B2045 St Lukes Lutheran Church [4/5] B2045 St Lukes Lutheran Church [5/5] B2045 St Lukes Lutheran Church

Statement of Significance

Church Statement of Significance. A gable-ended bluestone church of 1857, possibly built as a combined church/school, with dressed bluestone around the pointed arches of the doors and windows, bargeboards and finials of a rather demostic character, and an iron roof.
The front porch and rear vestry added in recent years in imitation stone are not included.
Classified: 18/05/1987

Organ Statement of Significance:
What is significant? The pipe organ is attributed to Jesse Biggs, who was one of two professional organbuilders who constructed organs in Melbourne during the 1850s, the other being James Moyle. It is likely to be one of three instruments advertised in The Argus newspaper by Biggs, who arrived in Melbourne in 1856 from England, where he had worked with the illustrious firm of Gray & Davison. It has had a long history and its locations before the 20th century cannot be determined. It appears to have been placed in a private home in Bendigo and was then located in Methodist churches in Bendigo and Ararat, and in a private home in the Western District before its arrival at Cavendish in 2001.
How is it significant? The organ is significant for historic, aesthetic and technical reasons at a state level
Why is it significant? The pipe organ at St Luke's Church, Cavendish is significant for the following reasons:
. It is the only surviving example of an organ that can be attributed to Jesse Biggs, other examples in Stanton Rivers, UK and at Williamstown having been destroyed;
. It is one of two pipe organs built in Victoria in the 1850s to survive;
. The instrument remains in a substantially intact state;
. The cedar casework is splendidly constructed and presents a most attractive appearance;
. The overall standard of workmanship is of a high order;
. The overall sound is powerful.
Organ Classified: 'State' 27/09/2010