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Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Highgate
The pipe organs of Western Australia




Highgate Sacred Heart

Highgate Sacred Heart

Highgate Sacred Heart

Highgate Sacred Heart

Highgate Sacred Heart

Property
Name of institution   Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church
Type of institution0   Church
Street Address   64 Mary Street
City   Highgate
State   Western Australia
Postcode   6050
Country   Australia
Name of building   Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church
Name of room   Church sanctuary
Dates of the building   1905-1928
Register of Heritage Places   Permanent Entry 28/08/2001
Heritage Place number   02181
Architect   R.J. Dennehy
Builder   Todd Bros.

Special architectural features and fittings   The first church at Highgate Hill was a small iron building, which was opened in 1897. This was replaced by the current church built of Donnybrook stone in 1905. Bishop Gibney opened Sacred Heart Church with a Solemn High Mass in February 1906. (Bishop Gibney lived at 50 Vincent Street from 1910 to his death in 1925.)

The Sacred Heart Church was completed in 1928. The foundation stone for the new construction was laid on Palm Sunday, 1 April 1928, by Archbishop Clune.
The altar was designed by Edgar Henderson. The church had seating accommodation for over 400 when the additions were completed. A later addition, the Lady Chapel, was opened on 25 March 1954.


Other location information   The Sacred Heart Group is a complex of ecclesiastical buildings of different age, style, construction and height. It includes: The Monastery of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, by Edgar Henderson, in the Federation Romanesque style, constructed in brick and render. The main façade features a two storey loggia, either side of a gabled central entry bay with tourelles. The shallow arch of the entry bay contrasts with the round headed arches of the loggia. Whilst varying in detail the two storey loggia was a popular feature of a number of Catholic Monasteries and Colleges of this period, eg. Clontarf and the Redemptorist Monastery.

Sacred Heart Church, by R J Dennehy, is an exemplar of a plain and grave Federation Gothic style, constructed in rusticated stone. The simple gabled façade features three lancet windows rising above a round arched central doorway.

Sacred Heart Primary School, by R J Dennehy, is a bold and innovative example of Federation Romanesque, with its tall roofed two storey wings masked by a two storey main façade, having extended corner towers, capped with 'widders walks'. The red brick of the facades is vividly enlivened with rendered bands that follow the arches of windows and openings and deep moulded bands, the depth of balustrades, at first floor, and parapet level. Single storey school extensions are in the Federation Arts and Crafts style.

Sacred Heart Church Hall, by E LeB Henderson, is an example of an Interwar Free Classical style, with rusticated walls to reflect the stonework of the Church. It is very similar to the Star of the Sea Church Hall, at Cottesloe, also believed to be by E LeB Henderson.

No. 64 Mary Street is a Federation Italianate single storey house with projecting gabled room facing the street with a faceted bay window and bullnose verandah set behind a front garden.

Name of contact  
Mailing Address  
Telephone   9328 3433
Email  
Other contact information  

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Previous organ(s)
Date of previous organ   None
Detail of previous organ  
Dates when key work has been undertaken  
Dates of any moves that have taken place  
Variations from original design of organ  
Information on previous organ  
Information about comparable instruments to previous organ  
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Present organ
Type of installation   Freestanding

Case description   Plain case, shaded openings with dummy pipe display

Placement in room   Rear gallery

Builder's name   Paul F. Hufner

Opus number  

Date of completion/installation   1965

Construction materials  

Number of manuals   One (1)

Key compasses   CC-ccc

Number of keys   61

Key material  

Pedal compass  

Number of pedals   Autobass (no pedals)

Pedalboard type  

Pedalboard material  

Type of chests  

Type of key action   Electro-magnetic

Type of stop action   Electro-magnetic

Couplers   None

Tremulants   None

Accessories   

Console type   Stopkey attached

Stop label material  

Placement   Stoprail

General design  

Playing aids   None

Divisions   Manual

Wind pressures  

Stop list  
MANUAL
Bourdon 16' A
Open Diapason 8' B
Lieblich Gedeckt 8' A
Blank
Octave Diapason 4' B
Lieblich Flute 4' A
Blank
Fifteenth 2' B
Blank
Melodic bass (autobass) 16' A
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Total number of stops   10

Total number of ranks   2 (third rank prepared for)

Total number of pipes  

Dates when key work has been undertaken on current organ  

Dates of any moves that have taken place to current organ   None

Information on current organ  

Comparable instruments to current organ  

Assessment of organ and current status   In good condition

Other organs by this builder   There are many organs by Paul Hufmer in Western Australia. Please refer to Western Australian Organs Builders Index

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Document control Original entries J R Elms, OAM, Gazetteer of Western Australian Pipe Organs, 1971, 1999, 2003 and 2004.
This entry D B Duncan 22 January 2009.
Photographs of the church by Bruce Duncan 08 February 2009.
Photographs of the organ and specification added 15 March 2009.
Historical information from Town Of Vincent