Local Government
Augusta/Margaret River
Region
South West
1590 Osmington Rd Osmington
Augusta/Margaret River
South West
Constructed from 1933
Type | Status | Date | Documents |
---|---|---|---|
Heritage List | Adopted | 08 Aug 2012 |
Type | Status | Date | Documents |
---|---|---|---|
RHP - To be assessed | Current | 16 Apr 2004 |
Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Category | ||||
Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 17 Jun 1996 | Criterion 2 | |
Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 01 Jul 2012 | Considerable Significance |
St John’s Anglican Church, Osmington, is of significance: • As a relatively rare surviving example of a group settlement church in situ and in still in use. • As the only physical evidence remaining of the small community centre of Osmington, which was established as part of Group Settlement in the 1920s-1930s (Group 85). • As a representative and highly intact example of the many small churches erected by the group settlers in the south west. • As a modest, but aesthetically pleasing, local landmark that retains its traditional woodland setting. • As evidence of the community spirit and activity of the group settlers and later members of this farming community. • For its social value to members of the congregation, those associated with important personal services at the church, and the descendants of these people.
St John’s Anglican Church, Osmington is a small rectangular, timber-framed building (roughly 9m x 6m) with a small gabled porch over the main entrance (west) and a skillion lean-to at the rear (south-east) corner.The walls are clad with oiled, bevelled-edged weatherboards and feature two arched windows to either side (each with a side hung 4 pane opening and a fixed pane to the arch, all fitted with plain clear glass). There is a triangular arch to front door, which is board and brace with plain strap hinges.The gable roof has been clad with red Colorbond and has ogee profile gutters and round downpipes. Internally the church has a flat plasterboard and batten ceiling. The main part of hall has no lining to the walls, but the alter area is lined with plasterboard. The floor has narrow timber boards and there are plain timber pews, which appear to be original.St John’s is set in a small clearing in a bush block and the setting would be very similar to when it was first opened.Immediately west of the church there is a brass plaque on sandstone rock that was erected as a memorial to local settlers in 1988.
Group 85 (also named Osmington) began in 1924 with settlers from England. The original settlers erected a tin and wooden humpy that was used as a church until the Airdale/Osmington school was built in 1929 for use by the settlers of Groups 84 and 85. In 1933 plans were prepared for a new church, which was one of seven Anglican churches proposed for the Margaret River area at that time.St John’s was built by a local man, C.H. ‘Cotter’ Williams. The erection of the church building was mainly funded through the generosity of Mrs Margaret Rivington in England (who donated £100), but Williams’ wife, although not an Anglican herself, also helped organise fundraising events.The church was opened on 27 December 1933 and dedicated by Bishop Wilson on 2 February 1934. The church was adjacent to the school, which has now been removed, and so the church building is now the only tangible evidence of the existence of the tiny hamlet of Osmington. A plaque to group settlement has been set outside the church.The church has remained intact and its roof was replaced in c.2010.
High: The original use has been maintained. High: The original/significant fabric is largely intact.
Good
Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
---|---|---|---|
E. Doncaster, “An historical record of all places of worship in the [Anglican] dioceses of Bunbury, the North-West and Kalgoorlie” | WA Archives Acc 1781 | 1957-1969 | |
Historical information displayed in the church. | |||
Municipal Heritage Inventory | 1996 | ||
Cresswell, Gail J, The Light of Leeuwin: the Augusta/Margaret River Shire History | Augusta/Margaret River Shire History Group | 1989 |
Ref Number | Description |
---|---|
A5793 | LGA Site No. |
OS-02 | MI Place No. |
Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
---|---|---|---|
482 | Historical sites in the Margaret River Augusta region : a photographic survey of documented and undocumented historical sites in the region carried out by students of the University of Western Australia, Department of Architecture. | Heritage Study {Other} | 1980 |
Individual Building or Group
Epoch | General | Specific |
---|---|---|
Original Use | RELIGIOUS | Church, Cathedral or Chapel |
Present Use | RELIGIOUS | Church, Cathedral or Chapel |
Style |
---|
Inter-War Gothic |
Type | General | Specific |
---|---|---|
Roof | METAL | Corrugated Iron |
Roof | METAL | Other Metal |
Wall | TIMBER | Weatherboard |
Wall | ASBESTOS | Fibrous Cement, weatherboard |
General | Specific |
---|---|
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Religion |
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.