St Seraphim Russian Orthodox Church

The land remained un-subdivided until 1874 when James Timms purchased subdivisions 6,7,22, and 23, a total of 3 roods and 8 perches. Further transfers took place until John Theodore Harvey Bird took possession of subdivisions 7 and 22 in 1908, and took out mortgages in that year and in 1910. Post Office records show Bird residing in Hawthorne Street in 1909 so the building must have been constructed by this time. The House was named ‘Dalma’. 

The property was transferred to Thomas Frederick Clacher in 1912 who similarly, took out two bills of mortgage in 1912 and 1913.Further subdivision and re-subdivision took place and the property reached its modern configuration in 1920, though this had no effect on the section with the house on it. Clacher’s land was now described as subdivision 7 and re-subdivison 1 of subdivision 22. By 1940 the house had been converted into flats but retained the name “Dalma”.

The property remained with Clacher until 1944 when the Dyer family purchased it. It was sold again in 1952 when it came into the ownership of Nicholas Filippovich Alelekoff Svetove. Council records show that an application to convert the existing building into a church by the Russian Orthodox Church itself was granted in 1952.

These is some evidence to suggest that the Church initially planned to construct a new building on the site, but it seems that the decision was taken to convert the existing building.  Council Building records show that an application to convert the building was made as early as 1950, which means that the Dyer family may have had some involvement with the Church, or negotiations of some sort had already begun with them about the Church’s use of the building.

Russian migrants have traditionally been a large part of the population in the Woolloongabba area. First arriving in Brisbane in the 1850s, the population grew steadily until 1911 when there were 809 Russians in residence. Russian migration to Queensland increased again during the years 1911-1914, when people of several ethnic groups, along with radicals and revolutionaries, left their home land to escape repressive policies of the last Tsarist regime. There was a second influx in the years immediately following the October Revolution in 1917. Queensland had very successfully encouraged Russian migration with an assisted passage program, but this came to halt in 1918 after the establishment of the new communist government, and Russia’s subsequent withdrawal from the war in Europe. Nevertheless, large numbers fled Russia and came to Queensland un-assisted in the years immediately after the revolution.

 

The first Russian Orthodox parish was formed in Brisbane at Vulture Street in 1925 in response to the needs of the still growing Russian population. This could not fulfil all the requirements of the Brisbane Russian Orthodox residents, and the church under consideration here was established in 1952, at Hawthorne Street. 

Evidence suggests that the present building is a conversion of the “Dalma” flats that originally existed on this site. The conversion of the original building was probably carried out by volunteer labour, most likely the parishioners themselves. The conversion was a complex one and would have been a substantial undertaking. The church has had several alterations and additions since then, including the addition of an extension to house a Sunday school and library in the 1960s. The church is currently still in use by the congregation.

A second entry is on the right side of the building off a small porch accessed by a similar set of stairs to the other entry. Another pair of timber doors within an arched opening provides access to the space within. On the side of the porch is a rail with several metal bells hanging from it. 

Secondary facilities and spaces have been built on the back of the building.

1. Brisbane City Council Water Supply & Sewerage Detail Plans

2. Brisbane City Council Building Records

3. Department of Natural Resources, Queensland Certificates of title and other records.

4. McKellar's Map of Brisbane and Suburbs. Brisbane: Surveyor-General’s Office, 1895

5. Galina Zakrjevsky, History of St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Brisbane, Australia 1923-1993

6. Post Office Directories