State Government grants help to restore historic church in Mullewa

3/9/02
A regional church designed and built by prominent architect/priest John Cyril Hawes has received a facelift, thanks to a $30,000 grant from the State Government's 2001-02 Heritage Grants Program.
Acting Environment and Heritage Minister Jim McGinty said restoration of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Holy Apostles St Peter and St Paul, located on the corner of Bowes and Coney Streets in Mullewa, had helped to preserve the building for future generations.
"Works to remove grey cement render and repoint stonework for the church's internal sanctuary and south transept walls has contributed to the survival of this outstanding example of a John Cyril Hawes designed church," Mr McGinty said.
"The church continues to be used for worship, and is therefore a place of strong spiritual significance for the Mid-West's Roman Catholic community."
Mr McGinty said Monsignor John Hawes was not only the church's architect, but was also the parish priest for Mullewa between 1920 and 1938. He also designed and built the adjacent priesthouse, which became his residence during this time.
"Both buildings are valued for their high degree of artistic and technical sophistication, and the well resolved combination of architectural, symbolic and artistic motifs," the Acting Minister said.
"The church is also a significant tourist attraction due to its association with Hawes' life and work.
"Today, the priesthouse is a museum, with furnishings and presentation of rooms representing the era in which the house was built and lived in by Hawes."
In association with the Presentation Sisters' Convent and School (1915), the church and priesthouse form a precinct of early 20th century Catholic buildings in Mullewa.
Mr McGinty said the Heritage Council's annual grants program aimed to encourage private owners to conserve places of heritage significance.
"The most recent conservation works have been part of a regular maintenance program for the church," he said.
"Conservation had already been undertaken on both the church and priesthouse to alleviate problems of rising damp, insufficient drainage and entry of dust into the buildings."
Monsignor Hawes was attached to the Geraldton Diocese between 1915 and 1939. During that period, he was the architect and, in many cases, the builder for a number of churches in Western Australia.
"Other churches designed by the Monsignor include the Francis Xavier Cathedral in Geraldton (1915), the Sacred Heart Convent in Northampton (1919), and the Chapel of St Hyacinth at Yalgoo (1920)," Mr McGinty said.
Minister's office: 9220 5050