St Mark's Fawkner

St Mark's Catholic Church
Fawkner

Alfred Fuller, Kew, 1888 for the Congregational Church, Ballarat
2 manuals, 17 speaking stops, mechanical action
Restored 1985 Marc Nobel, Melbourne

from OHTA CONFERENCE BOOK 1987

This organ was built in 1888 by Alfred Fuller, of Kew, for the Congregational Church, Ballarat, its cost being 600 pounds. [1] In 1907 the console was extended to the floor of the church when the pedals were converted to tubular-pneumatic action. [2] The swell Harmonic piccolo was later changed to a Voix celeste [3] and the Corno di bassetto revoiced in 1910 by Fincham and Sons. [38] Following the second world war, new wind regulators replaced the original double-rise reservoirs and the diapered facade pipes were coated with white paint.

This instrument was purchased by the parish of Fawkner in 1982 and restored by Marc Nobel and John Dale. The console was returned to its original position within the case and the pedal action converted back to mechanical. A new swell Piccolo and great Mixture were provided, in place of the former Voix celeste and Dulciana. The facade pipes were meticulously re-diapered in the original patterns and colours and the case and console repolished. [In 2005, Wakeley Pipe Organs replaced the Dulciana and also provided a double rise reservoir in place of the earlier Fincham regulators. The 1982 Great Mixture was removed. JRM June 2006]

Fuller's genius for meticulous cabinet-work and detailing is in evidence here, especially the console with its cut-crystal handles, tell-tale enclosed in a glass box, folding music desk and chamfered lever support for the swell pedal.

GREAT
Open diapason
Rohr flote
Cone gamba
Dulciana
Principal
Concert flute
Flageolette
Corno di bassetto

PEDAL
Grand open diapason
Bourdon

SWELL
Lieblich bourdon
Violin diapason
Clarionet flute
Salicional
Gemshorn
Piccolo
Oboe
tremulant

8
8
8
8
4
4
2
8

16
16

16
8
8
8
4
2
8

TC

gvd bass

compass: 56/30
4 couplers (inc sw -octave)
3 composition pedals to great
2 composition pedals to swell
trigger swell lever
mechanical action [39]

[1] Graeme Rushworth. 'Alfred Fuller, Melbourne 19th century organ builder: his life and work', OHTA News, v.6, no.4 (October 1982), p.13
[2] E.N. Matthews, Colonial organs and organbuilders. Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1969, p.158
[3] Notes, John Maidment
[4] (reference missing from Conference Book)
[5] Notes, John Maidment