St Mark’s Anglican Church, Brookton

Conservation Plan and Conservation Works in association with Ian RD Watson & Associate Architects 2000, St Mark’s Anglican Church Committee

St Marks Anglican Church was constructed in 1895, and is the oldest surviving structure in the Brookton townsite, and has been in continual use by parishioners of the congregation since that time. The venerable age of the building, although kept in reasonably good repair, had resulted in the deterioration of external brickwork, failure of the damp-proofing, and resulting destruction of internal finishes, particularly on the northern façade of the nave. The building was built under direction of Canon CE Groser, a highly influential figure in the establishment of churches and rectories across the Central Wheatbelt – six new churches in seven years, and the re-building of two others. In 1918, the transepts, chancel and carved oak alter all designed by Herbert Parry, Architect were added, together with a porch in 1922, and a meeting room in 1984. In 2001 the Anglican Diocese of Perth through the St Marks Anglican Church Committee at a local level commissioned a Conservation Management Plan and subsequently, extensive Conservation Works, to restore and preserve the building, from ORA Director Rosalie Pech Eva, in association with Ian R.D. Watson & Associate, Architects.

What we did:
The preparation of a Conservation Management Plan comprising a desktop review of written and drawn materials, extensive research of local and State historical archives, exhaustive assessment of the physical condition of the building and recording of it’s condition was undertaken by us. The building and material were assessed in accordance with the tenants of the Burra Charter and according to the requirements of the Heritage Council of WA. Substantial conservation works were undertaken by Martin Colgan, Builder and an appropriate and ongoing schedule of maintenance implemented by the Church Committee to preserve this key building of cultural heritage significance in the major streetscape of Robinson Road, Brookton.

Our impact:
The work undertaken by ORA was key to the restoration and conservation of the building. Without the assessment, review and classification of the culturally significant building and associated historic materials, the significance of the building could not have been reliably ascertained. Once authoritatively established via the statement of heritage significance, the work of the CMP permitted the Church Committee and Anglican Diocese to access grant funding to partially fund the works, together with their own funds and in kind contribution.

Photo credit: Greg Davies

The preparation of a Conservation Plan for an important historic building like the Church provides an appropriate framework for restoration and maintenence, and allows the Committee to access grant funding in order to progress such works as needs arise.

– Rosalie Pech Eva, Architect