30th Annual Conference
Brisbane, Sunshine and Fraser Coasts - Queensland, Australia
Saturday 29th September - Thursday 4th October, 2007
View of Brisbane City from Kangaroo Point (AH)
The OHTA 2007 conference was held in Queensland between Saturday 29 September and Thursday 4 October. The conference started in Brisbane and then moved to Maryborough and Gympie on the final three days. There are many instruments that have been restored and some new instruments since our previous visits in 1989 and 1998.
This year’s OHTA conference provided an unforgettable experience of some fine historic and modern organs, together with wonderful neo-Gothic, classical and contemporary architecture, magnificent scenery and the balmy ambience of pre-Summer Brisbane, and the re-awakening cities of Maryborough and Gympie. Special attention was given to the small remnant of pre-1931 organs built by the Brisbane firm of Whitehouse Bros. – a firm noted for the robust construction of reliable instruments that were especially suited to hot climates.
Recitals were heard at Brisbane City Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane, where we were also present for Choral Evensong.
A focus for lectures and panel discussions was the renewed interest in the tonal design and repertoire of early-20th century organs, the preservation of the last remaining Whitehouse instruments and OHTA’s role in assisting churches to retain, use and maintain their instruments against a backdrop of ever-changing worship patterns and declining church attendance. Our guest speakers included Geoffrey Cox, Kelvin Hastie and John Maidment.
A broad cross selection of organs were visited in six days, representing the work of Australian, British, and German builders over a wide-ranging period. Builders represented included Anderson, Benson, Heslop, Hunter, Jones, Klais, Wadsworth, Walker, Whitehouse, Willis and Alexander Young. Notable contemporary Australian organs by Smenge and Pierce were also included in the itinerary.
2007 OHTA Conference Book
Copies of the 174-page conference book are available at a cost of $20.00 (inclusive of postage and packing within Australia) from OHTA, GPO Box 676, Sydney, NSW 2001; cheques payable to Organ Historical Trust of Australia. The book includes historical and technical details of the organs visited, many accompanied by line drawings from Graeme Rushworth, together with the programmes of the various recitals and events. A mine of information on Queensland organs.
Please email Dr Kelvin Hastie for more details.
Group photo outside St Paul's Anglican Church, Maryborough (2/10/07) [JRM]
Details and photographs of selected organs seen on the conference
Please click on the brown links below
All pages include specifications and photos taken on the conference.
The historical and technical documentation presented in the Conference Book has here been updated and expanded.
BRISBANE |
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ST JOHN’S ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL Ann Street, Brisbane Norman & Beard 1909, rebuilt Hill, Norman & Beard (Australia) 1972 (4/81 electro-pneumatic) |
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BRISBANE CITY HALL King George Square Henry Willis & Sons 1892, 1930 rebuilt Brown & Arkley (5/80 electric) |
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QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE South Bank Johannes Klais 1985-86 (4/88 mechanical/electric) |
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ST STEPHEN’S CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL Elizabeth Street, Brisbane Knud Smenge 2000 (3/47 electric) |
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– PUGIN CHAPEL |
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ANN STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Ann Street, Brisbane Charles Richardson 1902-03 (2/17 pneumatic) |
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ST PAUL’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH St Paul’s Terrace, Brisbane Hill & Son 1883 rebuilt Whitehouse (2/22 electric) |
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QUEENSLAND GALLERY OF MODERN ART Melbourne Street, South Bank Wurlitzer 1929 (3/15 ranks electric) |
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ALL SAINTS’ ANGLICAN CHURCH Wickham Terrace, Brisbane W.J. Simon Pierce 2007 using older Lewis pipework (2/24 mechanical/electric) |
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MASONIC TEMPLE Ann Street, Brisbane Whitehouse Bros 1930-31 and later changes (2/22 electric) |
BRISBANE SUBURBS |
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UNITING CHURCH Cracknell Road, Annerley Whitehouse & Marlor 1899 (2/14 mechanical) |
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ST JOHN’S ANGLICAN CHURCH Bulimba Anon, later 19th century (1/5 mechanical) |
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OLD MUSEUM BUILDING Bowen Bridge Road, Fortitude Valley William Anderson ca. 1890 and later changes (3/28 mechanical/electric) |
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ST BRIGID’S CATHOLIC CHURCH Musgrave Road, Red Hill B.B. Whitehouse & Co 1913 restored Pierce (2/17 pneumatic) |
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ST ANDREW’S ANGLICAN CHURCH Vulture Street, South Brisbane J.W. Walker & Sons 1884 rebuilt Laurie Pipe Organs (3/30 electric) |
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WEST END UNITING CHURCH Vulture Street, South Brisbane Whitehouse Bros 1923-24 (2/19 pneumatic) |
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NAZARETH LUTHERAN CHURCH Hawthorne St, Woolloongabba W.J. Simon Pierce 2005 (2/14 mechanical) |
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HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH Hawthorne Street, Woolloongabba Whitehouse Bros 1920 and later changes (2/9 pneumatic) |
MARYBOROUGH |
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ST MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH Adelaide Street, Maryborough B.B. Whitehouse & Co 1910 (2/18 mechanical/pneumatic) |
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ST PAUL’S ANGLICAN CHURCH cnr Ellena & Lennox Streets, Maryborough Wadsworth Bros 1883 rebuilt Whitehouse (2/24 electric) |
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ST STEPHEN’S UNITING CHURCH Sussex Street, Maryborough Alex Young & Sons 1890 rebuilt Jarrott (2/24 electric) |
GYMPIE |
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SURFACE HILL UNITING CHURCH Channon Street, Gympie George Benson 1888 restored Pierce (2/9 mechanical) |
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ST PETER’S ANGLICAN CHURCH Lady Mary Terrace, Gympie Henry Jones & Son 1901 (2/12 mechanical) |
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ST ANDREW’S UNITING CHURCH Red Hill Road, Gympie Henry Willis & Sons 1884 rebuilt Whitehouse (2/10 electric) |
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ST PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH Church Street, Gympie Richard Heslop c. 1897 (2/13 mechanical) |
Conference students at Annerley Uniting Church:
Daniel Canaris (back left);
Nicholas Appleton (back right)
and James Goldrick (front) [JRM].
Conference Schedule
Pre-Conference Recital:
8pm - St John's Anglican Cathedral
Organist - Phillip Gearing
St John's Cathedral (MQ)
Saturday 29 September: *Registration in St John’s Cathedral, Ann Street from 8.45am. *The Director of Music, The Revd Rupert Jeffcoat will present a short demonstration at 9.15am, followed by a general time for members to play the instrument. This visit will include a tour of the newly-completed interior of the building. *Visits to organs by Pierce 2004, a rebuilt Walker 1884, Whitehouse 1924 & 1930 and a rebuilt Hunter 1888 in the suburbs of South Brisbane, West End and Woolloongabba. Conference dinner in evening.
Brisbane City Hall (TB)
Sunday 30 September: *Morning free. *12.00pm Willis 1892/1929 at Brisbane City Hall. *Time to explore the delights of Southbank including the major 1986 Klais at QPAC and the intact 1929 Wurlitzer (ex Regent Theatre) at the Art Gallery. *Evensong at St John’s Cathedral, featuring the large six-division 1972 Hill, Norman & Beard
Old Museum Building, Fortitude Valley (TB)
Monday 1 October: *Beginning at historic St Paul’s Terrace, we visit Masonic and church venues, featuring organs by Whitehouse 1931, Smenge 2000, a rebuilt 1883 Hill and a new Pierce organ incorporating Lewis pipework. *Visit to the Old Museum Building with a tour and demonstration of its three-manual Anderson c.1890.
St Patrick's Catholic Church, Maryborough (TB)
Tuesday 2 October: *8.30am coach to Maryborough, with stop-off at scenic Kybong. Day includes organs by Wadsworth 1883, Alexander Young 1890, and Whitehouse 1910 and a guided tour of historic Maryborough.
Mary Valley Rattler (MQ)
Wednesday 3 October: *8.00am coach trip to Gympie. Train trip on the historic Valley Rattler, including wine and cheese tasting at Dagun Station. *Organs include a rebuilt Henry Willis 1884, Richard Heslop c.1898, Henry Jones c.1901, and George Benson 1888.
St Brigid's Catholic Church, Red Hill (TB)
Thursday 4 October: * 8.30am Coach return to Brisbane. *Recital on the 1913 Whitehouse at St Brigid’s, Red Hill. * BBQ lunch at St Brigid’s, overlooking the CBD. Conference concludes mid-afternoon.
Nick Appleton playing at St Andrew's Uniting Church, Gympie (JRM)
Click here to download the Conference brochure which contains a booking form and details of accommodation.
Daniel Canaris playing at St Paul's Anglican Church, Maryborough (JRM)
Dr Geoffrey Cox lecturing at St John's, Bulimba (Rodney Ford)
