Gazing upon St James the Less, it’s hard to believe this serene sanctuary wasn’t always here. St James the Less, the oldest church in Melbourne, has a fascinating journey to tell. Its story begins in 1839, a mere four years after Melbourne’s founding. Charles La Trobe, the superintendent of the Port Phillip District, laid the foundation stone. The town surveyor, Robert Russell, designed the church. One of Melbourne’s founders, John Batman, contributed to its construction. The church first opened its doors in 1842, still unfinished, and finally reached completion in 1847. It became Melbourne’s Anglican cathedral in 1848 with the appointment of Charles Perry as the first Bishop. His wife, Frances Perry, along with Jane Macartney, wife of the inaugural Dean, established numerous charitable institutions in the city. St James the Less served as the cathedral until St Paul’s Cathedral was consecrated in 1891. The church’s original location was at the corner of Collins and William Streets. However, by 1913, the building became unsafe due to leaks and cracks. The church was carefully dismantled and relocated to its current site at the corner of King Street and Batman Street in West Melbourne in 1914. This move wasn’t a simple relocation. The church was essentially rebuilt, with some alterations to the tower. Despite this move and reconstruction, St James the Less proudly retains its title as the oldest surviving church in Victoria and one of Melbourne’s earliest buildings.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to