Wesley College Chapel, South Perth: exterior
[Photograph by Trevor Bunning (13 April 2012)]
Historical and Technical Documentation by Patrick Elms and Colin van der Lecq
© OHTA 2012 (last updated May 2012)
The Old Boys Memorial Chapel was built in 1960/61 and was the first tilt-panel building constructed in South Perth.1 This circular building, seating around 150, is heritage listed.
The first organ was built in 1964 by Paul Hufner, Perth and consisted of two manuals and pedal, and six ranks extended.2 It was removed in 1979.
The present organ was built in 1980 by Bellsham Pipe Organs (Australia) Pty Ltd and dedicated on Sunday 13 September 1981, in a service featuring international recitalist Gillian Weir.3 It incorporates some pipework from the 1964 Paul Hufner instrument. The organ had three manuals and pedal, 42 speaking stops, mechanical action and electric stop action. The wind system was redesigned by Lynn Kirkham in 1997 and the scheme implemented by Pipe Organ Builders and Services. The organ also features a unique asymmetrical case design, made of Oak and drawing on the geometrical features of the chapel.
GREAT Pommer Prestant Rohrflute Octave Spitzflute Quint Fifteenth Mixture Trumpet Swell to Great Ruckpositive to Great SWELL Singend Gedackt Viola da Gamba Voix Celeste Principal Koppel Flute Nazard Wald Flute Tierce Mixture Fagotto Trumpet Oboe Clarion * RUCKPOSITIV Gedackt Prestant Rohrflute Octave Quintlein Terz None Cymbal Krummhorn Trompette en Chamade Cymbelstern Swell to Ruckpositive PEDAL Sub Bourdon Subbass Bourdon Principal Gedackt Nachthorn Mixture Bombarde Trumpet Clarion Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal Ruckpositive to Pedal |
16 8 8 4 4 2-2/3 2 IV 8 8 8 8 4 4 2-2/3 2 1-3/5 IV 16 8 8 4 8 4 4 2 1-1/3 II 8 8 32 16 16 8 8 4 III 16 8 4 |
A * B * B * B * * A # B B |
Compass: 58/304
* Electric action
# Wood
Wesley College Chapel, South Perth: interior with organ to the left
[Photograph by Trevor Bunning (13 April 2012)]
The organ was extensively rebuilt in 2011 by Pipe Organs W.A. Pty Ltd, with alterations to the 1981 tonal scheme and alterations to the case. New mechanical action was designed and provided, and electrical extensions to the stoplist removed.
GREAT Bourdon Principal Rohrflute Octave Koppelflute Twelfth Fifteenth Mixture Trumpet Swell to Great Positif to Great SWELL Harmonic Flute Singend Gedackt Viola da Gamba Celeste Principal Traverse Flute Nazard Waldflute Tierce Mixture Fagotto Harmonic Trumpet Oboe Tremulant POSITIF Gedackt Prestant Rohrflute Octave2 Quintlein Sesquialtera Scharff Krummhorn Trompette en Chamade Cymbelstern Tremulant Swell to Positif PEDAL Subbass Principal Stopped Flute Octave Mixture Bombarde Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal Positif to Pedal |
16 8 8 4 4 2-2/3 2 IV 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 2-2/3 2 1-3/5 III 16 8 8 8 4 4 2 1-1/3 II III 8 8 16 8 8 4 III 16 |
A/B B TC A |
Compass: 58/305
Wesley College Chapel, South Perth: organ
[Photograph by Trevor Bunning (13 April 2012)]
Wesley College Chapel, South Perth: console
[Photograph by Trevor Bunning (13 April 2012)]
Wesley College Chapel, South Perth: left-hand stop jamb
[Photograph by Trevor Bunning (13 April 2012)]
Wesley College Chapel, South Perth: right-hand stop jamb
[Photograph by Trevor Bunning (13 April 2012)]
Wesley College Chapel, South Perth: Trompette en Chamade
[Photograph by Trevor Bunning (13 April 2012)]
Wesley College Chapel, South Perth: 1980 nameplate
[Photograph by Trevor Bunning (13 April 2012)]
Wesley College Chapel, South Perth: 2011 nameplate
[Photograph by Trevor Bunning (13 April 2012)]
1 Website http://www.oswa.org.au/WAOrgans/SouthPerthWesley.html accessed 19 February 2012
2 OHTA: Gazetteer of WA Pipe Organs 1971
3 Dedication Order of Service
4 Opening concert programme 1981
5 Pipe Organs W.A.: Graham Devenish