Addresses
Type of place
Church, School, Private school, Defence site
Period
Postwar 1945-1960
Style
Queenslander
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church Hall
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church Hall
Addresses
Type of place
Church, School, Private school, Defence site
Period
Postwar 1945-1960
Style
Queenslander
This timber and fibro hall was erected circa 1948 as a temporary church and school for the Acacia Ridge Catholic community. It was reportedly built from three relocated World War II army huts, probably from the nearby military camp at the Archerfield Aerodrome on the corner of Beatty and Mortimer Roads.
Lot plan
L4_RP131715
Geolocation
-27.579394 153.024986
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Construction
Roof: Asbestos Cement;Walls: Timber
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (B) Rarity; (G) SocialInteractive mapping
Lot plan
L4_RP131715
Geolocation
-27.579394 153.024986
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Construction
Roof: Asbestos Cement;Walls: Timber
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (B) Rarity; (G) SocialInteractive mapping
History
This hall provides evidence of the desire of the Catholic community of the Acacia Ridge area to establish a local church after World War II. Although the parish of Acacia Ridge was not created until 1967 when it was divided from the parish of Moorooka, a Catholic church was established here as Our Lady of Fatima in around 1948, under the care of the Rev. James Flanagan. The first parish priest was Father Ganzer, formerly an RAAF chaplain.
Prior to the erection of a modern brick church in 1966, the present church hall was used as a church and school by the local Catholic community for nearly 20 years. Local residents claim that the hall is constructed from three army huts, probably moved from the military camp at Archerfield Airfield (corner Beatty and Mortimer Roads) after the conclusion of World War II and placed on 11 acres of land near the junction of Beaudesert and Mortimer Roads. The huts are likely to have been barracks buildings.
A dilapidated house that was also on the site became the presbytery. As well as providing a church, the timber and fibro buildings also served as a temporary school for around 100 children taught by Sisters of Joseph from St. Joseph’s of Moorooka. A new school complex for Our Lady of Fatima was later built in 1971.
The church hall building continues to serve the Catholic and wider local community as a hall. It provides evidence of the commitment of the local Catholic population and the Church to providing a place of worship and religious education for parishioners in the Acacia Ridge district in the post-war period.
Description
The building features three wings configured in a ‘T-shape’ and raised a half level above the ground. The materials used are timber stumps and weatherboarded balustrade areas, topped by fibre-cement panelled walls with semi-circular coverbeads over the sheet joints. The roof is clad in corrugated fibre cement sheeting and the windows are awning hoppers set in pairs.
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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Catholic Leader. 9 June 1966. 7 Feb 1971
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Brisbane Catholic Archives. Parish file for Our Lady of Fatima
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Information kindly provided by Fr. Dooley. Phone conversation 2 January 1999
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised September 2020)