Uniting Church to restore heritage-listed Geraldton Presbyterian Church built in 1893

People with a connection to Geraldton’s old Presbyterian church in Lester Avenue are asked to dig deep into their photo albums to help restore the old building.

While the heritage-listed building is being restored, many architectural details remain a mystery and it is hoped photos taken at events such as weddings and christenings will help fill in the blanks.

Project manager Bruce Barlow said old newspapers provided descriptions of front doors, windows and the interior layout, but detailed photographs had been harder to find.

“As a heritage building we would love to get it as close as we can to the original,” he said.

“I’ve got photos from as far back as 1903 but they were taken at a 45-degree angle on the corner of the building so you can’t see the doors and windows.”

Mr Barlow said the Uniting Church, which now owned the 1893-built structure, was redeveloping it as a church and community facility, along with the neighbouring manse and hall.

He said builders had to contain rising damp, then renovate the interior so it could be used for weddings and other functions, before assessing the outside for restoration.

“We’ve already had a conservation plan put in place by heritage architects from Perth, so we are working to that conservation plan,” Mr Barlow said.

“Once the building here is sorted out, there will be a lot of other work done.

“The whole block is going to be redeveloped.”

Anyone with old photographs of the church is asked to contact Mr Barlow on 0417 997 156 or brucebarlowbls@gmail.com