Uniting Church and Buildings

Item details


Name of item:	Uniting Church and Buildings
Other name/s:	Religion; Stone
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Religion
Category:	Church
Primary address:	11 Bay Street, Rockdale, NSW 2216
Parish:	St George
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Bayside

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
11 Bay Street	Rockdale	Bayside	St George	Cumberland	Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	The Uniting Church collection of buildings in Bay Street are historically significant for providing the earliest evidence of the establishment of the Methodist Church in Rockdale. The original 1858 chapel and the 1871 church are very early examples of church building in the Rockdale area and as such demonstrate the historical settlement growth of the area. The Uniting Church buildings in Bay Street are associated with the Wesleyan, Methodist and Uniting Churches and are associated with James and William Beehag early settlers of the Rockdale area. The group of buildings in its cultural landscape has high aesthetic significance because of its prominent location. It has technical significance because of it demonstrates sandstone construction from the 1850's and 1870's in Rockdale. The group of buildings in particular the early chapel and the church are rare in Rockdale as early examples of ecclesiastical buildings. The Church is a fine example of a Victorian sandstone church.
	Date significance updated: 18 Aug 10
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Construction years:	1856-
Physical description:	Victorian Gothic sandstone church with typical cruciform plan. The walls are rock faced ashlar stone with smooth faced stone quoins, buttresses and window surrounds. The entry is surmounted by a belltower. Headstones have been collected and laid along the fence next to the car park. Behind the church is a hall and a later brick building with a colonnade. There is also a late 19th century two storey rectory. There are mature trees on the site. The pipe organ was built by George A. Smith in 1900.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The church and rectory are in good condition.
	Date condition updated:11 Aug 10
Modifications and dates:	The Church was Soundproofed as part of the Sydney Airport noise abatement programme c. 2000 BA-1994/14 : ALTERATIONS TO DWELLING SINGLE STOREY CLASS 1 DA-1984/1036 : NEW GARAGE DA-1999/196 : AIRCRAFT NOISE INSULATION WORKS AT ROCKDALE UNITING CHURCH


Current use:	Church
Former use:	Church

History

Historical notes:

James Beehag and his brother William were Wesleyan Methodists who were part of a small group settled around what later became known as Rockdale, whom travelled to Newton for church services. To overcome what was then a considerable distance each brother offered land for the establishment of a Wesleyan Church at Rockdale. At first a rudimentary shelter of calico, saplings and tea tree was erected on West Botany Street. The church moved several times until the donation of land by James Beehag allowed a small stone chapel to be erected and dedicated in 1858. The chapel was 30 feet long and 20 feet wide and cost 220 pounds. By 1871 the original church was too small and a new building was erected at a cost of 600pounds. The original chapel building was used as a school.
In later years a parsonage was built alongside. P. 46 Geeves and Gervis

This church is referred to by several different names, including the Rockdale Wesleyan Church and the Rockdale Methodist Church

See subdivision plan:
Rockdale Township West Botany Estate
Wolseley Estate, West Botany

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Religion-Activities associated with particular systems of faith and worship	Winding road and farmhouse - Rural settlement-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Uniting Church collection of buildings in Bay Street are historically significant for providing the earliest evidence of the establishment of the Methodist Church in Rockdale. The original 1858 chapel and the 1871 church are very early examples of church building in the Rockdale area and as such demonstrate the historical settlement growth of the area.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The Uniting Church buildings in Bay Street are associated with the Wesleyan, Methodist and Uniting Churches and are associated with James and William Beehag early settlers of the Rockdale area.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The group of buildings in its cultural landscape has high aesthetic significance because of its prominent location. It has technical significance because of it demonstrates sandstone construction from the 1850's and 1870's in Rockdale.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The Uniting Church collection of buildings most likely has social significance to its congregation.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The presence of headstones suggests the property is potentially significant as a burial ground although this has not been fully researched.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The group of buildings in particular the early chapel and the church are rare in Rockdale as early examples of ecclesiastical buildings.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The Church is a fine example of a Victorian sandstone church.
Integrity/Intactness:	The Uniting Church collection of buildings are relatively intact.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number
Local Environmental Plan	Bayside Local Environmental Plan 2021	I342	05 Dec 11
Local Environmental Plan			25 Aug 00	109
Heritage study

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Rockdale Heritage Study	1991	70	Meredith Walker and Terry Kass		No
Rockdale Heritage Inventory Review	2010		Louise Thom		Yes

References, internet links & images

None

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	2330200

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

All information and pictures on this page are the copyright of Heritage NSW or respective copyright owners.