St Mary's Church and graveyard (Swan Valley) given interim heritage listing

20/5/96

St Mary's Church and graveyard, one of the earliest links with the European settlement of the Swan Valley, has been recognised for its unique heritage values.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis said the church and graveyard had been listed on the State Government's Register of Heritage Places on an interim basis.

Mr Lewis said the site, on Yule Avenue, Middle Swan, had important historic and scientific values.

He said some of the first European settlers of the Swan Valley were buried in the graveyard, which continued to be used as a cemetery today.

The church was also representative of the development of the area and was highly valued by the local community.

"The graveyard was established in about 1838, within the first decade of settlement of the Swan Valley," Mr Lewis said.

"Its continued use as a graveyard also provides us with information about the changes in styles of gravestones and the continuous development of burial practice."

Mr Lewis said St Mary's Church was built by the Anglican congregation in 1869.

Although made of local material, primarily red brick, timber and corrugated iron, it was typical of Western Australian architecture built by settlers to replicate their way of life in Britain.

"The church is a fine example of a simple, colonial church adapted and enlarged in the Victorian Academic Gothic revival style," Mr Lewis said.

"It is representative of the style and materials of church construction in the mid-nineteenth century in this State.

"It is also important because it was unusual for Western Australian churches of that era to be set in a surrounding cemetery."

While there had been some other alterations and changes to the church in more than a century of use, these had contributed to the church's authenticity, rather than reduced it.

"The fact that the church is still used as a place of worship is significant and adds to its heritage values," Mr Lewis said.

"The church is highly valued by the local community for its religious associations.

"It also has the ability to tell us much about the values and customs of the European inhabitants of the Swan Valley and the role of religion in their lives.

"The church is closely linked with the social history of the nearby former Anglican Orphanage, as it was the orphanage church.

"St Mary's contributes to the community's sense of place as a reminder of the colonial development of the valley."

Mr Lewis said although some of the church fabric was fragile and suffered from rising damp, the building was generally in sound condition and had a high degree of integrity and authenticity.

Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595 or 221 1377