East Melbourne, VIC - Holy Trinity Lutheran

History and Architecture:

In 1852, a site was granted for a church at 22-36 Parliament Place, East Melbourne by Governor La Trobe.

The original 1853 structure was built by William Hellings to the specifications of architects Bellairs, Krsteiner & Co and was replaced in 1874 by a bluestone church, designed by Charles Blachmann, which houses an historic organ.

Built by Henry Goedeke, the church comprises clerestoried nave, aisles and apsidal chapel, a panelled timber ceiling and foliated column capitals.

The Church is built in the Victorian period in the Neo-Gothic style, and today is classified by the National Trust (B2664). One of the most prominent parishioners was Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, the well-known botanist and director of the Melbourne's Botanic Gardens.

The bluestone hall was built as an extension to the original church in 1864 as a weekly and Sunday school. It was designed by Friedrich Kawerau and constructed by M Wolter and Wilhelm Finger who were members of the congregation.

The two storey brick and stucco manse which incorporates Gothic motifs onto a typical Italianate composition, was built in 1890 by H Kaiser jnr to the design of noted architect J A B Koch. It replaced the original 1855 manse which was constructed of corrugated iron. The manse was used as a pastor's residence until 1981 and is now used as offices for the German Lutheran Church.