St Luke's Church Hall, Toowoomba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Lukes Church Hall, Toowoomba |
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Building exterior, 2014
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| Location | 152 Herries Street, Toowoomba City, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1910–1911 |
| Architect | Henry James (Harry) Marks |
| Architectural style(s) | Arts & Crafts |
| Official name: St Lukes Church Hall, St Lukes School and Parish Hall | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600866 |
| Significant period | 1910s (historical) 1910s (fabric) ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | roof/ridge ventilator/s / fleche/s, views to, church hall/sunday school hall |
| Builders | H. Andrews |
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St Lukes Church Hall is a very old and special building in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. It was built between 1910 and 1911. A famous architect named Harry Marks designed it. This hall is part of the St Luke's Anglican Church area. It is also known as St Lukes School & Parish Hall. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register as an important historical site.
Contents
A Look Back: The Hall's History
Early Days of the Church
The St Luke's Church Hall was built in 1911. It was designed by H.J. (Harry) Marks, who came from a well-known family of architects in Toowoomba. The hall is part of the St Luke's church area, located at the corner of Herries and Ruthven Street.
The land where the church stands has been used for Anglican worship for a very long time. This tradition started when European settlers first arrived in the Darling Downs region. In 1850, Reverend Benjamin Glennie became the first minister for the Darling Downs. He bought two acres of land in Ruthven Street in 1854 for St Luke's Church.
From School to Church Hall
In 1856, a small house for a schoolmaster was built on the land. Soon after, a simple building was put up that served as both a church and a school. The first church service was held there in March 1857. This building quickly became too small.
A new, larger church called St James was built in 1869. For a while, St Luke's was mainly used for Sunday school. However, regular church services started again at St Luke's in 1883. The school part of the building stopped in 1880.
A New Hall is Needed
By 1891, Toowoomba was growing, and St Luke's became its own church district. A new minister was appointed, and he wanted a better church building. A stone church was built and opened in 1897. The old St Luke's building continued to be used as the parish hall.
However, by 1908, a new and bigger hall was urgently needed. It would also be used for primary school classes. In 1909, architect Harry Marks presented his plans for a building that would serve as both a hall and a school. The building contract was given to H. Andrews for £1436.
The Marks Family of Architects
H.J. (Harry) Marks was part of an amazing family of architects. They designed many public, private, and business buildings in Toowoomba. This greatly shaped how the city looked. Harry's father, James Marks, started the practice in 1874. Harry joined his father in 1903.
Harry Marks was very creative in his designs. He even patented some of his ideas for building parts. He cared a lot about good ventilation and natural light. You can see these features in the buildings he designed.
Building and Opening the Hall
The foundation stone for St Luke's hall was laid on May 28, 1910. It was a big event with many people attending. The stone has a special message: "To the Glory of God and in memory of Benjamin Glennie, B.A., sometime Rector of Toowoomba." People remembered Canon Glennie for buying the land for St Luke's many years before.
The completed hall officially opened on April 11, 1911. It was dedicated on May 15, 1911, by the Archbishop of Brisbane. The total cost was £1554.
What the Hall Looks Like
St Luke's hall is located next to the church, at the corner of Herries and Ruthven Street. It's a very unique building. It shows many of Harry Marks's special design ideas. These include lots of ways for light and air to get in, a special building method, and fancy decorations.
Outside the Hall
The hall is a single-story building. It is about 24 meters (80 feet) long and 12 meters (40 feet) wide. Its shape is a bit like a church, with a main area (called a nave) and side sections (called aisles). There are special sections at each end with gable-roofed porches.
The building's base is made of brick. The walls are made of cement applied over chicken wire on a timber frame. Harry Marks also used this building method for other buildings in Toowoomba. The main roof is hipped and covered with corrugated iron. It has special ventilating gables all around the roof edge. The very top of the roof has unusual ventilators that look like small domes with crosses on top.
Small, three-part casement windows are placed under the roof edges. Larger sets of three-part windows line the side aisles. The four entrance porches have timber columns with detailed tops.
Inside the Hall
The inside of the hall is a large space filled with light. It has a timber floor and a curved ceiling also lined with timber. The main area has square timber posts on each side. These posts support the upper windows and form a continuous archway. There is a modern kitchen at one end and a stage at the other.
Why the Hall is Important
St Lukes Church Hall was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized as a very important historical place for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed. As a large and detailed church hall designed by a famous Toowoomba architect, it shows how the Anglican Church grew in the Darling Downs. It also highlights Toowoomba's importance in the early 1900s.
- It has great beauty and design. The hall is part of the St Luke's church group, which includes the church, the hall, the rectory, and the bell tower. It looks beautiful on its own and adds a lot to the special feel of Toowoomba.
- It shows clever building ideas. The hall features many of Harry Marks's new and patented design ideas. This includes its basic construction method and even small details like the ventilators.
- It is important to the community. The hall has strong connections to the Anglican community in Toowoomba. It has been the place for many events and gatherings over the years.
- It is linked to important people. St Luke's Hall is strongly connected to the work of Harry Marks, a key architect in Toowoomba. It also came about because of the efforts of Reverend Benjamin Glennie. He was a very important person in the history of Toowoomba and helped start the church in the Darling Downs.
