St Ambrose Church, Brunswick

St Ambrose Church is a

In the second half of the 19th century, the land where the church building now stands belonged to Mr. Michael Dawson of Brunswick.[3] However, in 1860, it was also used as a camp for nomadic Aboriginals.^[4]

In the late 1860s, Dawson donated the land to the Catholic Church for a new church to be built in the neighbourhood.

The first foundation stone was laid in 1869, with 800 Catholics in attendance.[3]^[5] After spending £6,000, the building was completed in 1873.^[3]

In 1890, it became a parish church, cut off from the Coburg parish.^[3] Nine years later, in 1899, the church building was extended, with additional transepts, a sanctuary, two chapels, a porch and a baptistry.^[3] On 19 February 1899 a memorial stone was also added near the northern transept.^[3]

During World War I, it was a meeting place for the anti-conscription movement.^[2]

The church building was restored in 2000.^[3]

Heritage significance

The church building was designed in the Gothic Revival architectural style, with a cruciform plan.^[2] The wall are made of bluestone, and the roof is made of timber.^[2][3] There is also an organ dating back to the nineteenth century, and stained glass windows.^[3]

It has been listed by Heritage Victoria with a "Heritage Overlay," which aims to protect places of local significance to Victoria.^[2]

References