November 2019, new pics from August:

Christ Church Brunswick, on Glenlyon Rd, a great and unusually styled church built over many stages, and with that tower, ochre limewash and the cypresses looks like it could be Tuscany (maybe). The nave, with its square side windows and gothic front ones, is early, 1857, by #PurchasAndSwyer (that’s #AlbertPurchas, who had a long career).

The way the roof overlaps the walls on all sides is rather Italianate, a style that the transepts and chancel and campanile, added by #SmithAndWatts 1871-4, continues. This the original Italianate, developed in the UK in the 1830s as an exotic ‘Italian Rustic’ style, which dates back to the English 1832 pattern book ‘Villa Rustica’, but also looks like the tower at #OsborneHouse, Queen Vics huge pile on the Isle of Wight, late 1840s. But here there’s also Gothic / Romanesque details.

While #ChristchurchBrunswick is broadly Italianate, most details are Gothic. The 1871 doorway by #SmithAndWatts is Gothic/ #Romanesque, with that detail where the elements looks kind of sliced, which I really like. There’s also clearly #GothicRevival elements, some #quatrefoil windows,

Inside is rather rustic too, with the timber rafters exposed and plain walls. There’s a wonderful pulpit and very High Victorian Gothic font. The manse next door is good too, and also in the ochre coloured render, or maybe it’s #limewash.

Update: it was applied in the early 80s, some kind of render product that’s damaging the render underneath.

2025

There’s a little new park on Sydney Road that gives more views to the church. It’s all rocks, natives, timber seating, looks nice though a bit overshadowed on an August afternoon. Oh it opened late last year and called Michelle Guglielmo park.

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