Addresses
Type of place
Church, Hall
Period
Federation 1890-1914
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Greek Evangelical Church
Greek Evangelical Church
Addresses
Type of place
Church, Hall
Period
Federation 1890-1914
This timber hall was built in 1910 for the West End Gospel Mission, a philanthropic branch of the Methodist Church that was established to assist local residents in need. The establishment of the hall reflects the social and economic status of West End at that time; a suburb dominated by struggling working class families. The hall operated as a mission until around 1945 and in 1960 was purchased by the Greek Evangelical Church for use as a church. The building has since continued to be an important focus for West End’s vibrant Greek community.
Also known as
West End Gospel Hall
Lot plan
L10_RP11163
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Information —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Timber
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (A) Historical; (A) Historical; (E) Aesthetic; (G) SocialInteractive mapping
Also known as
West End Gospel Hall
Lot plan
L10_RP11163
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Information —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Timber
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (A) Historical; (A) Historical; (E) Aesthetic; (G) SocialInteractive mapping
History
The working class nature of the suburb meant that there were many needy families in the area. Many working class families were extremely vulnerable to fluctuating economic conditions and could easily slip into a condition of helplessness. For this reason, soon after the turn of the century, the Gospel Mission felt it was necessary to establish a mission to assist needy families in West End. The Mission was a philanthropic branch of the Methodist church. It was involved in providing relief to the unemployed and needy, comfort to troubled families and care for the aged.
By 1909 sufficient funds had been raised and in 1910 a thirteen perch allotment in Boundary Street was purchased. Construction of the new gospel hall began almost immediately, and by the end of 1910, the hall had been completed. For almost 30 years the hall was enthusiastically run by Samuel Crowther, whose name appears on the land title. Crowther and his family lived nearby in Dornoch Terrace. In 1939, title to the hall was passed to Benjamin Lovelock. He and his family continued to run the mission until 1945, when the property was transferred to the Brisbane City Dunwich and St Helena Mission. The building was then briefly used as a storehouse.
Around 1950 a group of Greek migrants, who had been using a room in the West End School of Arts for religious meetings, approached the Brisbane City Mission about using its hall. The Mission agreed to sell the hall to the Greek Evangelists, on the condition that it would be used as a church. Members of the Greek Evangelical Church took custody of the property in 1960.
The Greek Evangelical Church is interdenominational, and one of its aims is to assist Greek migrants in the community. The Greek presence has been dominant and influential in West End - for example in 1991, the Greek-speaking community made up 16.1 per cent of the suburb's population. The building continues to serve the Greek community of West End and surrounding suburbs and plays an important part in the lives of members of the Greek community.
Description
This is a large utilitarian gable-roofed building with a post-supported awning over the footpath. In the gable front are three windows, all rectangular with a large central one and two lower, flanking smaller windows. The front of the building beneath the awning is sheeted in fibre cement, and has a doorway to the left and in the centre.
The side walls have four double-hung sash windows along their length. Beyond these is a single bank of louvres in a lean-to extension to the main building. The awning with its curved corrugated metal roof has tongue and groove boarded solid ends. The whole of the building behind the footpath is supported on closely spaced stumps with ant caps. The gutters of the main roof run down each side of the building and turn the corner to continue a short distance along the front.
Statement of significance
Relevant assessment criteria
This is a place of local heritage significance and meets one or more of the local heritage criteria under the Heritage planning scheme policy of the Brisbane City Plan 2014. It is significant because:
References
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Brisbane City Council, Ward of Dutton Park Community Profile, 1995
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Dingle, Rev R.S.C. 1947, Annals of Achievement: A Review of Queensland Methodism 1847-1943, Queensland Book Depot, Brisbane
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Interview with Ethena Bellas, member of the Greek Evangelical congregation
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Brisbane Post Office Directories
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Queensland Land Titles Office Records
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised September 2020)