The Uniting Church in Brisbane recently succeeded in its bid to remove the former Wilston Methodist Memorial Church from the Queensland Heritage Register. The church had previously applied to demolish the building, which sits on a corner site facing Kedron Brook Road. Despite the Brisbane City Council rejecting the application, the Queensland Heritage Council decided to afford protection to the disused building, leading the church’s lawyers to appeal to the Planning and Environment Court. Judge Michael Williamson ultimately ruled that while the 1950s church was still intact, it did not meet the threshold for heritage protection.
In his decision, Judge Williamson acknowledged that the former Wilston Methodist Memorial Church had visual and aesthetic merit. He stated that he was satisfied, after viewing visual aids and conducting a site inspection, that the building did have certain qualities that could be considered attractive. However, he also noted that the church did not meet the exaggerated claims made by the respondent and its experts in terms of its beauty and emotional significance. The judge did not find the building to possess qualities that inspired an emotional response or strong aesthetic significance, particularly in terms of its contribution to the streetscape.
Despite the recognition of some visual and aesthetic merit of the former Wilston Methodist Memorial Church, Judge Williamson ultimately decided that it did not meet the necessary criteria for heritage protection. He acknowledged that the building had a cohesive modernist styling and some aesthetic appeal, but he did not find it to have qualities that would evoke a strong emotional or aesthetic response. The judge’s decision ultimately allowed the Uniting Church to proceed with their plans to demolish the church and potentially redevelop the site for other purposes.
The decision to remove the former Wilston Methodist Memorial Church from the Queensland Heritage Register marks the end of a long process that involved multiple appeals and assessments. While some may have viewed the building as having historical and architectural significance, the court ultimately did not find it to meet the criteria for heritage protection. With this decision, the Uniting Church now has the opportunity to move forward with their plans for the site, potentially leading to the demolition of the church and the development of new structures in its place.
While the removal of the former Wilston Methodist Memorial Church from the Queensland Heritage Register may disappoint those who value the building’s historical and architectural significance, it also opens up the possibility for new development and revitalization in the area. The Uniting Church may now proceed with their plans for the site, potentially bringing new life to the corner site that the church currently occupies. While some may lament the loss of a historic building, the decision ultimately allows for progress and change in the community.
Overall, the decision to remove the former Wilston Methodist Memorial Church from the Queensland Heritage Register reflects a balancing act between preserving historical and architectural heritage and allowing for progress and development. While the building had some visual and aesthetic merit, it ultimately did not meet the criteria for heritage protection as determined by the court. This decision paves the way for the Uniting Church to move forward with their plans for the site, potentially leading to new development and revitalization in the area.
