The Brisbane Synagogue 98 Margaret Street Brisbane
Brisbane Courier 8 July 1885 page 6
An architectural competition was organised for the new synagogue. but copies of the entries received by the Committee do not remain intact, nor is there any list of entrants. The Building Committee minute books suggest that the winning entry was received from Edward Wells Russell, born 1863, an employee of FDG Stanley and the brother-in-law of Arthur Morry. It appears that questions of cost arose which delayed commencement of the works by more than a year. Arthur Morry, a more experienced architect, obtained permission to take over and modify the work to bring it within the prescribed limits of cost. It is unclear who can lay claim to the original design, but it is certain that Morry carried it through to completion.
NEW HEBREW SYNAGOGUE - The ceremony of laying the foundation‑stone of the new Hebrew Synagogue in Margaret street was performed yesterday afternoon in the presence of a large gathering of ladies and gentlemen. The assembly included nearly the whole of the Jewish ladies in Brisbane, and a number of their friends, the members of the Synagogue and building committees. ..... A very satisfactory commencement has been made in the erection of the new building, which is being constructed from the designs of Mr Arthur Morry, of Brisbane, which wore selected in open competition rather more than twelve months ago. Some modifications have, however, been made from the original in order to bring it within the prescribed limit of cost. The general arrangement of the plan is that usually adopted for the best modern synagogues, and is specially suited to the requirements of Hebrew worship. The main entrance facing Margaret‑street, consists of a spacious portico enclosed with a pair of wrought‑iron sliding gates, of special design, under a deeply‑recessed and moulded arch of largo span, with detached shafts and foliated caps. From the portico inner lobbies, right and left, lead to the body of the synagogue, and to the staircase forming the approach to the ladies' galleries. Though building is divided into nave and side aisles with octagonal columns, having moulded and enriched caps and bases, carrying arches of large span on each side. Though ark is placed in an arched recess at the end, lighted by a large rose window of stone immediately above it and is approached by a broad flight of steps of polished cedar, This, together with the almemmar, is to be made of polished cedar from special designs by the architect. A staircase is provided at the rear of the building, giving additional access to the ladies' galleries and retiring‑rooms. Provision is also made for adding a schoolroom to the building at some future time. The dimensions are 80ft. by 47ft. by 33ft. from floor to ceiling, and accommodation is provided for 260 persons in the body, and 140 in the galleries, making a total of 400 sittings, in addition to which there are the usual robing and retiring rooms. Externally, the building will present a commanding appearance; the entrance is spacious and lofty, flanked by two turrets rising to a height of 70ft. from the floor line. Over the main entrance is large geometrical window 10 feet in diameter, of New Zealand stone, which will be filled with tinted cathedral glass in geometrical patterns. The style adopted is Byzantine, as being most in harmony with the character of the building. The materials used are brick, with concrete foundations, the front and portions of the side elevations to be cemented. the seats and finishings throughout are to be best mountain pine, with polished cedar cappings and mouldings. The contract has been let to Mr Arthur Midson for the sum of £3000, and the work is expected to be finished early in November next. The total cost of the structure when completed will be about £5000.
NEW HEBREW SYNAGOGUE, - The new synagogue for the Hebrew congregation in Brisbane is now completed and will be opened tomorrow. It has been built in Margaret‑street near the old Queensland Club by Mr A Midson, contractor, from designs prepared by Mr A Morry, architect, at a total cost of about £5,000 The structure is of brick covered with cement, on a concrete foundation, and presents from the front a very handsome appearance. The principal feature of the Margaret Street front is a doorway surmounted by a massive arch, above which is a largo circular geometrical tracery window of Oamaru stone, which is filled in with very handsome stained-glass lead lights, obtained from Messrs Lyon, Cottier, and Co, of Sydney. The front is flanked on either side by a minaret turret, rising to a height of 90 feet from the ground The style of the building is known to the initiated as Byzantine, which is the style usually adopted m the construction of buildings of this class The interior is moat elaborately fitted up in every respect The “almenur,” or pulpit, which has been made from special designs, has been placed in the middle of the ground floor, so that the minister will have no difficulty in making himself heard by those present in every part of the building The seats have been arranged to comfortably accommodate 400 people ‑ 200 on the ground floor, and the remainder, intended for the use of ladies, are placed in a gallery which extends round the two sides and the front, all the seats are of the best mountain pine. The interior is divided into nave and side aisles by large octagonal columns with moulded caps and base, finished in cement the ceiling is hexagonal in shape with handsome ventilators in each bay, and suspended from these are highly polished brass gasaliers, which together with the whole of the gas fittings have been specially imported from London On the balcony floor are two ladies' retiring rooms, which for the present it is intended to use for Sunday school work, and at the rear, on the ground floor, there is also a minister's retiring or robing room The gallery is approached by two flights of stairs, ono at the front and the other at the rear. The ark, which is placed in an arched recess, and which is the principal feature of the building, has been made from designs prepared by the architect in the Byzantine style of architecture, and is most richly carved and mounted It is composed entirely of Oamaru stone, and is approached by a broad flight of stone steps, at the foot of which, at each side, are two elaborately designed brass standards, each containing nine jets Just in front of the ark is suspended a handsome polished brass oil lamp, which, according to the Hebrew custom, is to be continually kept burning. The interior of the ark is fitted up with polished pine fittings, with brass mountings, and in front of the entrance is hung on brass rods a rich crimson curtain. The upper panel of the ark contains the ten commandments written in Hebrew characters, whilst the panels in the sides are filled in with both English and Hebrew characters in gold. Immediately over the ark in the end wall is a handsome circular geometrical tracery window, also of Oamaru stone and filled in with stained glass similar to that in the front. The church is well ventilated throughout, having a number of large swinging windows on either side, and its acoustic properties are expected to give complete satisfaction. Altogether the building, which has occupied eighteen months in erection, is, although comparatively small, most handsome and elaborately finished, and will compare favourably with some of the synagogues in the Southern Colonies. A consecration service will be held at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, and a large number of invitation cards have been issued. [Brisbane Courier Saturday 17 July 1886]