OUR HERITAGE AT RISK - TASMANIA - 2007

Place:    Holy Trinity Church, North Hobart

Threat:  Destruction and Complete Loss of Heritage Values

Significance:

Holy Trinity Church, North Hobart is an outstanding example of ecclesiastical construction in sandstone. Designed by convict architect James Blackburn, it contains one of Australia's oldest set of bells,.The foundation stone was laid by Sir John Franklin. The church features a massive four-level square entry tower topped with spirelets. Walls and tower corners are strengthened by tall, slender, shallow buttresses, three levels high around the tower. Parapet walls to aisle sections have pilasters also topped with spirelets. Good curtilage includes stone walls on three boundaries.

Holy Trinity Anglican Church is of historic heritage significance because of its ability to demonstrate the principal characteristics of a sandstone early Victorian Academic Gothic church. The church demonstrates a high level of skill in the design and detailing of the stone work and the technical achievement of its construction  This building is of historic heritage significance because its townscape qualities are important to the community's sense of place. The Church is also of significance to the community as a religious landmark.

Identification Of Current Risk:

 Degree of Risk:           Immediate Risk – no solution agreed

Threats/Risks:             Destruction

Fate/outcome:             Suffering

This 1840’s Anglican Church an extremely prominent building in the Hobart landscape is at high risk from the failure of the sandstone used in its construction. Already one of the spires from the bell tower has been lost while a second is in danger of falling. Recent estimates of the cost of conservation of the church have exceeded $5 million with more than $1 million required immediately. The future of the Church is uncertain with proposals that it be closed currently being discussed. The prospect of redundancy and the costs of preservation place the Holy Trinity at high risk as there is no agreed solution to its future management.

Desired Outcome / Vision: 

A national appeal including support from governments at all levels is needed to progresively raise raise the necessary funding for conservation of this nationally significant heritage landmark.