Horbury Hunt Hall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christ Church Anglican Cathedral Hall
Heritage boundaries
Location	52a Church Street, The Hill, Newcastle, City of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1878–1878
Architect	John Horbury Hunt
Owner	Anglican Diocese of Newcastle
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Anglican Cathedral Hall, Christ Church; Horbury Hunt Hall
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	156
Type	Church Hall
Category	Religion
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Horbury Hunt Hall, also known as Christ Church Anglican Cathedral Hall, is a very old and important building in Newcastle, Australia. It's located on Church Street in an area called The Hill. This historic hall was designed by a famous architect named John Horbury Hunt and was built in 1878. Today, it is owned by the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle and is recognized as a special heritage site. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.

The Hall's Early Days

In 1882, the church leaders decided to build a new, grand Christ Church Cathedral. While the big cathedral was being planned and built, they needed a temporary church. So, they asked John Horbury Hunt to design a "pro-Cathedral." This means it would serve as the main church until the new cathedral was ready.

This new building was also meant to replace an old school. The pro-Cathedral was built between 1883 and 1884. Because building the main cathedral took a very long time, Horbury Hunt Hall served as the main church for eighteen years, until 1902.

From Church to School Hall

After the new cathedral was finished, Horbury Hunt Hall became a regular church hall. Later, it became part of the Newcastle Grammar School. The church still owns the hall, but the school helps manage it.

The hall was repaired and made new again in 2003 and 2004. However, some parts, like the mortar and stone walls, have shown damage since then.

A Unique Design

When it was first built, some people thought the hall looked "plain" or "barn-like." But these opinions were mostly because people at the time liked more traditional designs. The architect, John Horbury Hunt, was actually very creative and ahead of his time!

His design for Horbury Hunt Hall was a mix of different styles. It had tall, narrow windows and strong support structures called buttresses. It also featured unique wooden details and a special interior design. This mix of styles showed how innovative Hunt was, even if people didn't fully appreciate it back then.

Why Horbury Hunt Hall is Special

Horbury Hunt Hall is a very important building because it reminds us of the big project to build the Newcastle Cathedral in 1868. It played a key role in providing a place for the Anglican community to worship while the new cathedral was being built. For 18 years, Horbury Hunt Hall was the main church for the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle.

A Story in Stone

The hall is special not just for its role as a temporary church, but also for the story of its own construction. The outside of the building was designed by Hunt, but the inside was decorated by another architect named Frederick B. Menkens. This difference in design shows that there were disagreements between Hunt and the church leader, Reverend Arthur Selwyn. Hunt was actually dismissed before the building was fully completed!

Horbury Hunt Hall is important to the whole region because of its connection to the Anglican Church. It's also important locally because it has been used by the church and the Newcastle Grammar School. Its location in The Hill area of Newcastle also adds to its local importance.

Connections to Famous Architects

The hall is very important because of its links to John Horbury Hunt and Frederick B. Menkens. Hunt was a very famous architect in Australia, known for many significant buildings. Horbury Hunt Hall is a great example of his work in New South Wales.

The hall is also connected to Reverend Arthur Selwyn, who was a powerful figure in the church from 1867 to 1899. He had a big influence on the building of both the hall and the current cathedral. His life and his disagreements with Hunt are a big part of the hall's history.

The fact that Hunt was dismissed and Menkens was brought in to finish the interior shows the conflict between Selwyn and Hunt. This contrast between Hunt's exterior design and Menkens' interior design makes Horbury Hunt Hall a unique example of this historical disagreement. Because of its strong connections to Hunt, the hall is considered very important for the entire state.

A Landmark of Design

Horbury Hunt Hall is also important for its beautiful and creative design. It was a very early example of a style called "Federation Arts and Crafts architecture" in Australia. This style became popular much later, meaning Hunt was about 20 years ahead of his time! Even though some people thought it looked "plain" when it was built, its design was actually very innovative.

A Place of Worship and Community

Even though its time as the main church is often forgotten, Horbury Hunt Hall was very important to the Newcastle Anglican community for 18 years. It was meant to be a temporary home, but it became a place of great spiritual importance.

Historically, Horbury Hunt Hall has deep spiritual meaning for the Newcastle Anglican Parish and Diocese. It served as the main church for 18 years, playing a big role in the spiritual, social, and cultural life of Newcastle. It also has wider importance for the community and the Anglican Church in the region.

A Source of History

Horbury Hunt Hall helps us understand the history of the Christ Church Cathedral and the Newcastle Grammar School. It's a key place that helps tell the story of the cathedral project and the relationships between the church, the parish, the diocese, and the school. It's a valuable source of information about the cultural history of New South Wales.

See also

• Church halls in Australia