Our Lady of Montserrat, Southern Cross

Author

Shire of Yilgarn

Place Number

02801

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Location

50 Altair St Southern Cross

Location Details

Other Name(s)

Domus Di
St Joseph's Catholic Church

Local Government

Yilgarn

Region

Wheatbelt

Construction Date

Constructed from 1936

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	Adopted	07 Aug 1998
State Register	Registered	17 Aug 2012	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
Art Deco Significant Bldg Survey	Completed	30 Jun 1994			Heritage Council
Catholic Church Inventory	Adopted	01 Jul 1998			Heritage Council
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	16 May 1997	Category B	Category B High level of protection appropriate: provide maximum encouragement to the owner under the Shire of Yilgarn Town Planning Scheme to conserve the significance of the place. A more detailed heritage assessment to be undertaken before approval given for any major redevelopment (The Heritage Adviser assigned to the wheatbelt area by the Heritage Council may be able to provide advice on such an assessment). Incentives to promote conservation should be considered.

Statement of Significance

This church, built in 1936, was opened by Lord Abbot Anselm Catalan on 26th April 1936. It was the culmination of the dream and foresight of the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Plaaas, who arrived in 1923. The architects were Cavanagh, Cavanagh & Tracey of Perth who had original drawings by Fr (later Abbot) Gusi
OSB. Up to this time there had been no Catholic Church in Southern Cross, with Mass being celebrated in an un-named hall, later to be called St Joseph's Hall and, still later, the Sacred Heart Hall. Of the £845 raised in Spain, Fr Planas' family donated £570. The final cost of the church was £2000. It was named Our Lady of Montserrat St Mary's Church, after the Patron of Barcelona, in gratitude for the money raised there.
The face bricks inside the building came from the Maori Lass Mine near Southern Cross. The first Parish Priest to come to Southern Cross in 1896 was Fr William Prendergast and the first Baptism was solemnised on 14th June the same year. Succeeding priests were Frs Wilfred Hampson, Gerald Griffin and Richard O'Neill.

Physical Description

This church is on relatively high ground and is a prominent building in the town. It is soundly built and is a striking structure. The fence at the front has been altered and is now a low brick fence with no gates. The cross on top of the bell tower can be lit up and seen from many miles around. The red brick church is characterised by a number of fundamental inter-war period architectural features. It is built on an imposing scale with a symmetrical facade and a minimal use of motifs and detail.

Integrity/Authenticity

All intact

Condition

Very Good

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id	Title	Medium	Year Of Publication
9561	Our Lady of Montserrat Church, Southern Cross: conservation management plan. DRAFT for comment.	Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan}	2009

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Present Use	RELIGIOUS	Church, Cathedral or Chapel
Original Use	RELIGIOUS	Church, Cathedral or Chapel

Architectural Styles

Style
Inter-War Romanesque
Inter-War Art Deco

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Wall	BRICK	Common Brick
Roof	METAL	Corrugated Iron

Historic Themes

General	Specific
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY	Depression & boom
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Religion
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY	Settlements

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

31 Mar 2021

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.