Loreto Abbey Ballarat

Possibly Australia's most magnificent convent church, this building was erected between 1898 and 1902 to the design of W.B. Tappin, of the firm of Reed, Smart & Tappin, and is stylistically comparable with the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Bendigo, Tappin's magnum opus. It was substantially funded through the estate of a German countess, Elizabeth Wolff-Metternich, who had resided for some time in Ballarat. The chapel is constructed in Barrabool stone with Oamaru stone detailing and consists of a large and lofty clerestoried nave and a spacious apsidal sanctuary, all surrounded by an external ambulatory. The elaborate plastered and painted interior, recently restored, focuses upon a marble high altar surmounted by three rose windows placed above elaborate Gothic arcading.

At the rear, a huge rose window, with glass by William Montgomery, is framed by the blue stencilled facade pipes of the divided organ built in 1903 by George Fincham & Son at a cost of £675. The instrument remains largely intact apart from the refitting of the console by the same firm in 1938, when stopkeys replaced the original drawstops and the coupling actions replaced. Restoration work has been carried out by Australian Pipe Organs in recent years.

GREAT
Open Diapason
Claribel
Gamba
Principal
Clear Flute
Trumpet

SWELL
Bourdon
Open Diapason
Stopt Diapason
Gamba
Celeste TC
Principal
Flautina
Oboe
Tremulant

CHOIR (unenclosed)
Gedact
Dulciana
Suabe Flute
Clarionet

PEDAL
Open Diapason
Bourdon

8
8
8
4
4
8

16
8
8
8
8
4
2
8

8
8
4
8

16
16

compass: 61/30
8 couplers
fixed thumb pistons
detached stopkey console
tubular-pneumatic action