The pipe organ used at Our Saviour's Knox is of historical significance and is included in the Victorian Heritage Register.
"The organ is one of the few remaining two-manual instruments from the mid 19th century in Victoria. Its pipes are believed to be the oldest surviving in Australia. It is aesthetically important for its overall design which demonstrates a fine adaptation of an 18th century design consisting of three towers and two flats with neo-classical detailing. It is historically important for its associations with religious life in Victoria."
View the printable brochure (pdf 139kb)
History
The original organ was probably a single manual instrument built in England in the early 19th century. Pipework inscriptions suggest that some of the pipes could date from the 18th century. The English builder is unknown, but may have been Gray, Hill or Berington. The instrument represents an epoch in organ building characterised by the transition from Late Classical English to Early Romantic.
1858: Installed in the former St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Melbourne, which was opened in February 1858.
1868: Moved to the new St. Patrick's Cathedral, the nave of which was opened in November 1868.
1882: Repaired by George Fincham and installed in the gallery of St. Brigid's Catholic Church, Fitzroy.
1886: Enlarged to two manuals by Alfred Fuller and installed in the Congregational Church, Castlemaine. The organ has not undergone substantial alteration since this time.
1902: Some repair work undertaken by J.B. Crook, an organ builder from Bendigo. George Fincham supplied the necessary materials.
1966: Organ casework and dummy display pipes repainted. Prior to this the casework was elegantly painted in green with stencilled facade pipes.
1978 Organ acquired by Dr. Oliver Burger of St. Johns Lutheran Church, Geelong, upon closure of the Castlemaine Congregational Church and placed in storage awaiting future placement. The bellows remained at Castlemaine as removal from its position underneath the church was impractical.
1980: Following a comprehensive investigation, a detailed report on the organ was prepared by John Stiller, Research Officer, Organ Historical Trust of Australia.
1985/86: Organ donated to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Knox, and installed by members of the congregation. Electric blower was purchased to replace previous wind supply system.
1996 October/November: Australian Pipe Organs Pty. Ltd. requested to undertake an inspection of the organ and to report on its present condition. The work required to restore it to a reasonable standard together with associated cost was also to be documented. APO recommended a complete overhaul of all pipe work and revoicing to obtain prompt speech and original tonality. Estimated cost was approximately $16,000 which also included repairs to windchest components, re-making of blower box, action adjustment and fine-tuning of the instrument. Overhaul of the action and the restoration of casework and dummy facade pipes was not included.
1997 January: Following an assessment
during the second half of 1996, the organ was included
on the Victorian Heritage Register (Victorian Government
Gazette dated 9 January 1997). The Statement of Cultural
Heritage Significance included the following reasons:
"The organ is one of the few remaining two-manual
instruments from the mid 19th century in Victoria. Its
pipes are believed to be the oldest surviving in Australia.
It is aesthetically important for its overall design which
demonstrates a fine adaptation of an 18th century design
consisting of three towers and two flats with neo-classical
detailing. It is historically important for its associations
with religious life in Victoria."
View the registry entry (VHR Number: H1280; File Number: 600062)
1997 July/August: Funding ($16,000 grant) was sought and received from Heritage Victoria to repair the instrument in accordance with the work schedule proposed by Australian Pipe Organs.
1997 September/November: Overhaul of pipework and other repairs as specified undertaken by Australian Pipe Organs.
1999 November: Funding ($4000) approved by Heritage Victoria for gilding of façade pipes.
2000 September: Gilding of façade pipes undertaken by Mark Nobel.
Pipes before and after gilding
Specifications
| Pipe | Length | No. of pipes |
Material | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GREAT | Open diapason | 8' | 12 | wood (bass octave) |
| 44 | metal | |||
| Stop'd diapason | 8' | 56 | wood |common | |
| Dulciana | 8' | 44 | metal |bass | |
| Principal | 4' | 56 | metal | |
| Flute | 4' | 44 | wood | |
| Fifteenth | 2' | 56 | metal | |
| SWELL | Stop'd diapason | 8' | 56 | wood |common |
| Keraulophon | 8' | 44 | metal |bass | |
| Principal | 4' | 56 | metal | |
| Oboe | 8' | 44 | metal | |
| PEDAL | Bourdon | 16' | 29 | wood |
| COUPLERS | Swell to Great Great to Pedals |
|---|---|
| CONSOLE | Built in/drawstop |
| ACCESSORIES | Two composition pedals to Great Trigger swell pedal |
| ACTION | Mechanical |
| COMPASS | Manual C - g3 (56 notes) Pedal C' - e 0 (29 notes) |
The left and right organ stops
Organ workings