Brisbane Synagogue
Brisbane Synagogue | |
---|---|
Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland | |
Country | Australia |
Geographic coordinates | 27°28′24″S 153°01′37″E / 27.4733°S 153.0269°E |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Arthur Morry |
Type | Synagogue |
Date established | c. 1870s–c. 1890s (late 19th century) |
Completed | 1885 |
Official name: The Brisbane Synagogue | |
Type | State heritage (built) |
Designated | 21 October 1992 |
Reference no. | 600127 |
Significant period | 1885–1886 (fabric) |
Significant components | Stained glass window/s, furniture/fittings, tower – minaret, gallery |
Builders | Arthur Midson |
Website | |
brisbanehebrewcongregation |
The Brisbane Synagogue is a heritage-listed
History
The Jewish families who settled in Queensland from the time of
Arthur Midson, a prominent building contractor, built the Synagogue for the sum of £6450. It was finally consecrated on 18 July 1886[5] in a ceremony of "the most imposing and interesting character" which was "crowded to excess" by people of all faiths.[6] The building features a large circular geometric tracery window of Oamaru stone above the Margaret Street arched doorway. The stained glass lead lighting was obtained from Messrs Lyon, Cottier & Co of Sydney. The window is flanked on either side by a minaret turret which rose to a height of 90 feet (27 m) from the original ground level. The rendered brick structure, constructed on concrete foundations, contains a basement, a nave and side aisles on the ground floor with a minister's retiring or robe room at the rear. In accordance with traditional Jewish religious practices the sexes are separated during worship, with a gallery level for females only. It contains 140 seats and two women's retiring rooms.[1]
The Synagogue remained largely unaltered over the years. Prior to the centenary celebrations of the Brisbane Jewish community in 1965, considerable renovations were carried out, including the installation of additional stained glass windows. Many of these were donated by congregation members whose families were murdered in the
The State Library of Queensland holds the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation minute books for the years 1865 to 1931.[7]
Description
The building is constructed of stuccoed brickwork on a concrete foundation. The principal feature of the Margaret Street frontage is a doorway surmounted by a massive arch above which is a large circular tracery window of Oamaru stone. The window carries the circular motif through to the geometry of the tracery, and features leadlight panels. The front is flanked on either side by a minaret turret that becomes octagonal in its upper portion with narrow slit openings, and is topped by an octagonal cupola. The end gable above the entry has a central circular ventilator below which is a frieze also including a circular motif. The portions of the building recessed to either side of the entry also have circular tracery windows in recessed arched openings at the upper level. Below these openings on each side are a pair of Romanesque arched windows.[1]
The main stepped broad arch of the entry is supported on small
The building was designed to accommodate 400 people, 260 of them on the ground floor and the remainder on the upper level
Heritage listing
The Brisbane Synagogue was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.[1]
The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.
The Brisbane Synagogue is Brisbane's first purpose built Synagogue, and is significant as an important development in nineteenth century Jewish worship in the city. The building reflects the development of Jewish settlement in the city during the 1880s.[1]
The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage.
The addition of windows are a rare Brisbane memorial to Jewish people who died in the Second World War.[1]
The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Queensland's history.
Located within the foundation stone cavity are artefacts and memorabilia which have the potential for yielding information about the Jewish community in the 1880s.[1]
The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.
The Brisbane Synagogue is significant as an example of the design work of Arthur Morry, prominent Brisbane architect, and of Arthur Midson, local building contractor. As an example of Australian-Jewish places of worship, the Brisbane Synagogue typifies the customs and liturgical practices of the Hebrew community.[1]
The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.
As a free-standing element with an entry porch, the building contributes to the streetscape of Margaret Street.[1]
The place is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.
The adaption in its design of both circular and octagonal elements to a traditional plan form to create a style suitable for an inner-city Synagogue.[1]
The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
The building also has special significance to Brisbane's Hebrew community.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "The Brisbane Synagogue (entry 600127)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ "BRISBANE'S HISTORIC HOMES". The Queenslander. National Library of Australia. 11 December 1930. p. 46. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ISBN 9780521612852. Archivedfrom the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 8 July 1885. p. 6. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ISBN 9780521807890. Archivedfrom the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 19 July 1886. p. 5. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "32167 Brisbane Hebrew Congregation minute books". State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
Attribution
Further reading
- Ochert, Morris. "A history of the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation 1865-1965" (PDF).
External links
- Official website
- "NEW HEBREW SYNAGOGUE". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 17 July 1886. p. 5. — 1886 description of the synagogue as the time of its opening
- "The Hebrew Synagogue". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 27 May 1905. p. 12. — a 1905 newspaper history of the synagogue