Steeple’s future at pointy end

But in the meantime, it will be stabilised while the congregation makes use of Craig’s Hill Crematorium Chapel on Middle Arm Rd.

The Goulburn Uniting Church Property Committee met last week in the church grounds with minister, the Reverend Julie Furner, Council’s heritage advisor Louise Thom and other associated Council staff to discuss their options.

According to a detailed analysis carried out two weeks ago by Tarago structural engineer David Potter and Orange builder Ron Loediwijks, who climbed up into the steeple to inspect the damage, the structure will have to be demolished and completely reconstructed.

However, the church’s property committee has decided for the time being that the steeple should at least be stabilised and that services cannot be held in the church building until this can happen.

Reverend Furner recently received a call from John and Belinda Crooks at RJ SidneyCraig, who have kindly offered to let the congregation have use of the Craig’s Hill Crematorium Chapel for services whilst the steeple is stabilised.

She also mentioned this to her congregation during church on Sunday morning, with the idea receiving unanimous support. 

“Obviously we are concerned about public safety, first and foremost,” Goulburn Uniting Church minister, Reverend Julie Furner said.

“There is the option to have the steeple stabilised at the moment, so that we will eventually be able to use the building again. We are looking into the steeple’s eventual removal, and there is at this stage a ‘big unknown’ as to whether we choose to have it reconstructed or not.

“We are just now waiting on further advice from structural engineer David Potter before we can proceed further.” 

Reverend Furner also noted that the steeple is a valuable landmark for Snowy Hydro and NSW Ambulance Rescue helicopters, who use it as a marker to find Goulburn Base Hospital.

“Our steeple is the first visible landmark that you see when you drive into town from Sydney,” she said.

The Uniting Church’s Canberra Region Presbytery, of which Goulburn Uniting Church is a member, as well as members of the Uniting Church Synod Committee have also been notified of the decision.

The Property Committee also weighed up the decision to add the steeple to the NSW State Heritage Register on recommendation from Council.

Council’s Director of Planning Louise Wakefield said Council has not made any decision in relation to the fate of the steeple.

“We have simply issued an Emergency Order requiring the steeple to be made structurally sound, and we are awaiting advice from the Uniting Church as to how they are going to achieve this,” she said.

“The Emergency Order will stay in place until signoff on the structural issues by an appropriate Structural Engineer has occurred.”

Ms Wakefield also confirmed the application for the steeple to be added the NSW State Heritage Register was of the utmost importance. 

“The Uniting Church and steeple may be of greater heritage significance than is currently recognised in the local LEP, and this may be considered when Council reviews the Heritage Strategy later this year,” she said.

“The Uniting Church can contact the NSW Heritage Office in the meantime and voluntarily place the property on the register.”

The potential benefit of such a listing could include opportunities to access funding for conservation works on the property.”