www.savetrinitychurch.com
The church is rich in significant heritage features including unique stained glass windows of Australian ANZAC soldiers in World War 1, a beautiful reredos of the Christ Child, the first large organ of its type to be installed in Australia and some of the earliest photos of colonial Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). The bell tower is its most significant heritage feature and houses the oldest bells made for an Australian church.
Holy Trinity Church is a heritage-listed building in Hobart (Tasmania, Australia) which dates from 1841. Designed by convict James Blackburn, its cathedral-like architecture is grand in the Gothic style and the internal ambience is serene.
The church is rich in significant heritage features including unique stained glass windows of Australian ANZAC soldiers in World War 1, a beautiful reredos of the Christ Child, the first large organ of its type to be installed in Australia and some of the earliest photos of colonial Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). The bell tower is its most significant heritage feature and houses the oldest bells made for an Australian church.
The building is structurally sound and the interior is in excellent condition, including floors, walls, roof and furnishings. The sandstone exterior has weathered however, due to 166 years of wind, rain and salt. The specific clay type in much of the sandstone (smectite) tends to expand and contract depending on moisture content, resulting in damage (exfoliation) to the first 5 -10 mm of the exterior. The damaged surface can be repaired by rendering with limestone mortar; or replaced with high-quality sandstone panels. The building will then last another 100 years, probably very much longer. BUT preliminary estimates of the cost of restoration range AUS $2-4 million. This has caused church authorities to begin a procedure to close the church.
This website has been set up to draw public attention to the condition of Holy Trinity Church. It provides information about why it should be restored and how the restoration can be funded, and suggests different ways in which members of the general community can help. We believe Holy Trinity is an essential part of Australia’s heritage and must be saved! The National Trust of Australia is also deeply concerned about the future of the building (http://www.heritageatrisk.org.au/Holy_Trinity.html).
