Ukrainian Catholic Church & Presbytery

Ukrainian migrants arrived in Australia in significant numbers only after the Second World War, and, like other Eastern European nationalities, were encouraged by the Australian government’s Displaced Persons program. Never large in number, these migrants still formed significant ethnic minority groups in this country. As a group they have been very successful in maintaining and passing on cultural heritage to new generations. The community has always been strongly involved in developing and maintaining social, educational and cultural clubs, and a vigorous religious heritage. This was not popular with Australian Authorities and society in the 1950s and 60s, when “assimilation” was a key concept associated with migration to Australia. Nevertheless, the Ukrainians, in common with other eastern European refugees, did not tend to form residential enclaves, and there are no obvious areas in Australian cities where they predominate.

The construction of churches is undeniably a key component in the maintenance of cultural, social, and religious traditions in the Ukrainian community, and in the years spanning 1953 to 1988 thirty two Ukrainian churches were constructed in Australia, all of very traditional architectural form. Church architecture is considered a key location where Ukrainian culture, heritage, and tradition can be expressed, and the Ukrainian diaspora, in common with other groups, tends to invest tradition with special emphasis. The community is normally considerably involved with the design of its churches, and the architectural, artistic and cultural objectives of the design are given due consideration by church congregations. In general, the Ukrainian churches were constructed by a very small, very involved community from very limited resources.

The church was designed by Ukrainian architect Roman Pavlyshyn, who has designed two such churches in Queensland, the General Motors Holden’s factory at Acacia Ridge, and was head of the division of Building in the Queensland Department of works in the 1970s and 80s. In this role he managed large projects such as the construction of the Queensland Cultural Centre, the Law Courts, and additions to Parliament House. In 1993 he published a book on Ukrainian Church architecture, and is co-founder and a past president of the Ukrainian Association of Queensland. Through his architectural and community work he has had a deep association with Ukrainian society in Queensland and the Brisbane community generally.

The church is still in regular use by the local congregation.

The Church front is symmetrical with the largest dome centrally placed above a central octagonal window and a grand semi-octagonal doorway.  Two smaller domes on either side of the larger one are set back slightly from the front entry.  A semi-octagonal window over a square window makes up either side of this simple facade.  Fixed louvres below each dome provide circulation of air in the roof space.  A series of long vertical windows provide light to the nave.

The front wall is of decorative block with a cast iron gate.

1. BCC building cards

2. Brisbane City Council Water Supply & Sewerage Detail Plans

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

4. Jupp, James. Immigration (Sydney: Sydney University Press, 1991)

5. Pavlyshyn, Roman. Ukrainian Churches in Australia (Carlton, Victoria: Slavic Section, Monas University, 1993)

6. Post Office Directories