-The Organ

The H C Lincoln (of Holburn) organ in St Marys Church, Kangaroo Point, was brought to Brisbane on the ship “National” which sailed from London on 20 March 1876 and arrived here on 10 July. The organ dates from at least 1823, possibly as early as the1770’s, and was first played in St Mary’s church on 31 August 1876. The total installed cost of the organ was about £A 287

It was damaged when the roof of St Mary’s church collapsed during the cyclone on 2 April 1892. Whitehouse & Marlor of Brisbane carried out repairs and renovations, and in 1961 Whitehouse Brothers rebuilt the organ including extending the manual and pedals, and replacing the manual action by an electro-pneumatic one.

The organ is presently in need of major restoration and requires reconstruction of the playing mechanism and pipe work in harmony with the spirit of the original instrument.

The responsible conservation of St Mary’s organ is of historic significance for the wider city, state and national communities as well as the people of St Mary’s parish.

-personal milestones

The fabric of traditional churches such as St Marys presents a continuing snapshot of the parishioners who worship and have worshipped there.
The baptism and marriage registers show the evolving community of the parish through their personal life milestones, and a fully public record exists in the sequence of marble commemoration plaques attached to the internal walls.These farewell parishioners who have departed this, their place of worship, over more than a century.
Stained glass windows also record the committment of past parishioners to their religious life and parish.

Heritage Register Status

The St Marys buildings and site are of great cultural significance to the people of Brisbane for both historic and visual attributes.The whole of St Mary’s precinct, including the organ, is included in the Register of the National Estate and on the Queensland Heritage Register (where the organ is claimed to be “the oldest pipe organ in Queensland”).The church and rectory buildings have remained unusually intact during continuous occupation since 1873. Preservation of the history encompassed in St Marys precinct is fundamental in its appeal as a place of worship.

Restoration

Richard Allom, Architects, in June 1985 presented “A Conservation Study of the Anglican Church of St Mary the Virgin, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, and its associated Rectory, Halls and Grounds”and the Parish Council began implementing the recommendations. A study of the content and condition of the stained glass windows “ xxxx………….xxxx” undertaken in 199 ??????????? , catalogued the intrinsic value of this particular artistry, and identified where restoration was warranted.

The Governor of Queensland, Sir Walter Campbell, launched an appeal for funds for the restoration, at a service of thanksgiving on 27th April 1986 also attended by the Primate of Australia, the Most Reverend John Grindrod, and others.

Henry Neylan Pty Ltd re-roofed the church and replaced guttering and down pipes in 1987, and the roof over the sanctuary was insulated to reduce heat damage to the Rivers paintings.

Conservation work on stained glass windows was carried out in 1987 by Mitch Foley, while stone masons John Petrie & Associates repaired the stone jambs while those windows were removed for conservation, and repointed stone work where necessary.

Layers of paint on the walls of the sanctuary were removed by Ray Glancy, painter, under the oversight and direction of architect Brit Andresen to reveal the original colors used. The process also revealed other detail previously hidden.

John Hook, Conservator, Queensland Art Gallery, undertook conservation of the three Godfrey Rivers paintings between July and September 1987.

Whitehouse Brothers rebuilt the organ including extending the manual and also the pedals, and replacing the manual action by an electro-pneumatic one.

ST MARYS HALL and RECTORY

The present parish hall was opened on St Andrew’s Day 1879, being financed by sale of the previous hall site in Church Lane, after a severe hailstorm in 1878 demolished the old hall, then used as a school.
The new hall was described as “the new room” and took the form of a simple gabled shed. During the rectorship of the Rev’d Herbert Heath from 1888 to 1891 the Hall was extended by construction of two gables to the north and south, resulting in the present cruciform roof shape.

In 1988 under a grant from the Bicentennial Authority, conservation work commenced on the western end of the hall. The roof had sagged, walls leaned outwards, and there was much old termite damage. Substantial problems in the foundations and walls of the studio area under the hall studio were corrected and structural stabilization of the roof and walls effected.

Also under the grant, several rooms in the rectory were functionally rearranged, the kitchen improved , and conservation work undertaken on damaged flooring, plaster walls and ceilings. The galvanised iron roofing was renewed, the rectory’s verandah flooring replaced, and timber handrails repaired or replaced as necessary.

Ten years later, further restoration work on the hall involved structural improvements, replacement of defective timber, painting, and the installation of a new kitchen, rector’s office and parish office.

This photo taken in 1896 shows the Church, Hall & newly completed Rectory with Kangaroo Point School and Navy buildings.