St Mary's Anglican Church and Graveyard

Author

City of Busselton

Place Number

00402

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Location

39 Peel Tce Busselton

Location Details

Cnr Queen St & Peel Tce

Other Name(s)

Hall site
includes: Church, Graveyard, Rectory &

Local Government

Busselton

Region

South West

Construction Date

Constructed from 1984, Constructed from 1924, Constructed from 1902, Constructed from 1845, Constructed from 1844

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	YES	13 Aug 2014
State Register	Registered	07 Feb 1997	Register Entry Assessment Documentation	Heritage Council

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	20 Jun 1996	Category 1	Category 1 These places are the most important places in the Shire with the highest cultural heritage values, and generally have built features that are part of their significance. Some of these places have been assessed by the Heritage Council of WA and have been included in the State Register. These places are afforded statutory protection under the Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990.
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	13 Aug 2014	Category 1	Category 1 These places are the most important places in the Shire with the highest cultural heritage values, and generally have built features that are part of their significance. Some of these places have been assessed by the Heritage Council of WA and have been included in the State Register. These places are afforded statutory protection under the Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990.
Classified by the National Trust	Classified	07 Aug 1961			Heritage Council
Register of the National Estate	Permanent	28 Sep 1982			Heritage Council

Statement of Significance

St Mary’s Anglican Church and Graveyard, a Victorian Gothic Revival style church
constructed in stone with a shingled roof, and graveyard with historic grave
markers, has cultural heritage significance as one of the oldest graveyards in the
state and a place associated with the founding of Busselton. The place has links
with the founding families in the region, including the Bussells and the Molloys
who helped to raise funds for its construction and participated in its construction.
The place has high aesthetic value as a picturesque Gothic church in a pleasant
setting alongside the Vasse River. The cemetery contains much information on
prominent early local families who attended services there and were buried in
the graveyard. The place remains significant as a place of worship and
contributes to the community’s sense of place.

Physical Description

A stone and shingle roofed church in the Victorian Gothic style in a graveyard
setting.
St Mary’s Anglican Church is a Victorian Romanesque style building in the Norman
manner, constructed in limestone with a shingled roof. The place is set in a
graveyard where many of the early families of Busselton buried their dead. The
grounds are grassed and a number of peppermint trees provide shady and green
setting that is further enhanced by the presence of the Vasse River.
It has an auditory plan, and sanctuary, entrance porch and vestry and belltower.
The walls are constructed of local limestone and the nave is three bays long, and
the bays are articulated with pilasters and round head windows with label
moulds. There are stained glass windows. The floors are of timber. External
walls have been partly rendered over as a repair strategy.

History

St Mary’s Anglican Church opened in 1845 by early settlers of the Vasse district.
Following early settlement in the 1830s, the need for a church was mooted in
1841. The initial financing of the project was raised from friends and relatives
including the Bussell, Carter and Bowker families and by 1843 work had
commenced. The trustees were John Bussell, John Molloy and Henry Chapman.
Mr. F. Brabazon Forsayth prepared plans. Mrs. Frances Bussell laid the
foundation stone in March 1844. The construction was a community effort with
free contributions by men like George Blechynden, the district carpenter.
Although incomplete, the church opened in April 1845 and at that time had a
beaten earth floor. It was named St. Mary’s after a church of the same name in
Portsea, England, where William Bussell had been curate. The place was finally
completed in 1848 and a harmonium installed in 1859.A bell and bell tower were
added in 1902 and a vestry added in 1906, and finally the porch in 1924. Major repairs were undertaken in the 1950s and in the 1970s plain glass windows were
replaced with stained glass donated by descendants of the pioneering families.
The shingles were placed with aluminium tiles and in 1982 these were removed
and replaced during conservation works in 1989 programme.

Archaeology

Given the length of use of the site, there may be some archaeological potential.

Integrity/Authenticity

The place remains in use as intended, though burials in the graveyard have long
since ceased. The place retains a high degree of integrity.
The place was made in stages and there is authentic material relating to all
stages. Overall the place retains a moderate to high degree of authenticity.

Condition

Generally the church is in fair to good condition, but many of the gravestones are deteriorating and require conservation.

Associations

Name	Type	Year From	Year To
Mr. F Brabazon Forsayth	Architect	-	-

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
		Heritage Council heritage assessment	1997

Other Reference Numbers

Ref Number	Description
526003	Landgate Pin
51	Reference No.

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id	Title	Medium	Year Of Publication
10138	S.A. Mounted Constable John Brabazon Forsayth (c.1882 - 1852). Gentleman architect shot dead in an affray with a snake.	Electronic	0

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	RELIGIOUS	Church Hall
Present Use	RELIGIOUS	Church, Cathedral or Chapel
Original Use	RELIGIOUS	Church, Cathedral or Chapel
Original Use	RELIGIOUS	Housing or Quarters
Other Use	MONUMENT\CEMETERY	Grave

Architectural Styles

Style
Other Style

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Wall	STONE	Limestone
Roof	TIMBER	Shingle

Historic Themes

General	Specific
PEOPLE	Early settlers
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Religion
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY	Settlements

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

30 Jul 2019

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.