St Catharine's Anglican Church

Kooyong Road, Caulfield

First organ, built 1875 Bishop & Starr, London for
St Andrew's Anglican Church, Walkerville, South Australia;
installed 1897 Baptist Church, Alberton, South Australia;
installed present location 1921 J.E. Dodd.
1 manual, 6 speaking stops, pedal pulldowns, mechanical action.
Rebuilt 1960 S.I. Sakacs.
2 manuals, 12 speaking stops, 3 couplers, electro-magnetic action.

Present organ, built 1966 Hill, Norman & Beard (o/n V661).
2 manuals, 3 ranks extension, electro-magnetic action.



St Catharine's Anglican Church, Caulfield – exterior
[photograph by John Maidment (12 March 2013)]


Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA (last updated November 2024)

St Catharine's dates back to 1875 when an earlier church was opened on another site. It became a separate parish in 1907 and moved to its present site in 1915. A vicarage designed by North & Williams was opened in 1916. The present church was opened in 1921.1 The architect is likely to have been Daniel R. Dossetor, who was based in the city and Essendon. He also designed Christ Church, Essendon where the vicar was the Revd C.P. Schwieger, who subsequently moved to Caulfield. It was designed in a simplified Gothic style in red brick with stucco dressings. The church was closed in 2024 and the site is likely to be auctioned.



The Bishop & Starr organ photographed at Walkerville
[photograph from Trove]

The first organ was built by Bishop & Starr, of Marylebone Road, London and ordered by Canon George Dove for St Andrew's Church, Walkerville, SA in 1875. The organ was subsequently placed at the Alberton Baptist Church in Adelaide from 1897 and installed at St Catharine's Church, Caulfield in 1921 by J.E. Dodd.

Compass, CC to G, 56 keys; one manual enclosed in a general swell. 1. Open diapason, metal, 8 feet, 56 pipes. 2. Clarabella C, metal, 8 feet, 56 [44] pipes. 3. Stopped diapason bass, wood, 8 feet, 56 [12] pipes. 4. Dulciana C, 8 feet, 56 [44] pipes. 5. Principal, metal, 4 feet, 56 pipes. 6. Flute, wood, 4 feet, 56 pipes. 7. Fifteenth, metal, 2 feet, 56 pipes. Two composition pedals. There are two octaves of pedals of improved model, with the "anti-concussion valve." The soundboards, etc., are of Honduras mahogany, the wood pipes of Canadian pine, and the case of stained and varnished deal to harmonize with the fittings of the church. It may be mentioned that the organ is built upon the same model as the one used in the Prince of Wales's private chapel at Sandringham. It has been erected in the western end of the transept of St. Andrew's by Mr. J. W. Wolff, organ builder, Victoria square, and on Sunday morning, February 14, was used for the first time. At both morning and evening services Canon Dove officiated, and the church was crowded on each occasion. Mrs. Dove and Miss Bedford jointly acted as organists. The opinions expressed as to the quality of the instrument were unanimously favourable. The tone is full and mellow, and the power, although not very great, is ample for the building in which it has been placed. We believe the total expenditure in connection with this gratifying addition to church music will not exceed £200, the greater part of which sum has, we understand, already been raised.2

The records of Bishop & Son further indicate that the order was number 1198 and that the organ had tin metal pipes, bright zinc front, 27/8 inch wind and the case cedar (Mahogany colour).3

This organ was rebuilt and enlarged by local organbuilder S.I. Sakacs around 1960.

GREAT
Open Diapason
Gedact
Principal
Quint
Super Octave
Swell to Great
8
8
4
2-2/3
2


  
SWELL
Rohr Flote
Gemshorn
Lieblich Flote
Wald Flote
Horn


8
8
4
2
8

  
PEDAL
Bourdon
Bass Flute
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
16
8
A
A

Electro-magnetic action
Detached stopkey console4




St Catharine's Anglican Church, Caulfield – interior from west showing organ
[photograph by John Maidment (12 March 2013)]

The present organ was built in 1966 by Hill, Norman & Beard (Australia) Pty Ltd, the firm's job number V661. It consists of three extended ranks and electro-magnetic action. The whole of the pipework is unenclosed.

GREAT
Open Diapason
Rohr Gedeckt
Principal
Nason Flute
Quint
Fifteenth


8
8
4
4
2-2/3
2
A
B
A
B
C
A
CHOIR/POSITIV
Gemshorn
Gedeckt
Spitz Octave
Flute
Doublette
Block Flute
Larigot
Octavin


8
8
4
4
2
2
1-1/3
1
C
B
C
B
C
B
B
C
PEDAL
Subbass
Octave
Flute
Super Octave
Octave Flute
Nachthorn

16
8
8
4
4
2
B
A
B
A
B
B

Detached stopkey console
Compass: 61/305




St Catharine's Anglican Church, Caulfield – organ
[photograph by John Maidment (12 March 2013)]


1 The Argus, 6 July 1925, p,17

2 Evening Journal, 16 February 1875, p.2

3 Works in hand, Bishop & Son (noted by John Maidment 1971 at the firm's workshop in Queen's Park, London)

4 Specification noted circa 1964 Robert Heatley

5 Specification noted by John Maidment 1966