Situated near the Yan Yean/Diamond Creek Roads intersection, at 309 Diamond Creek Road, Plenty and snuggled into a hollow, passers by may not realise that this Baptist church when built in 1985 was the largest mud brick structure in Australia. Construction commenced in 1983.
The large vertical timbers are reclaimed piles from the old Nelson Pier at Williamstown. The oregon rafters are from the Dandy Starch factory and redressed floor joists from the Kensington Wool Store have been used for internal joinery. Church members pulled all nails out and the timber was sand blasted.
The building in not just a Church but a complex which includes a vestry, kindergarten, nursery, office block, large foyers, library, three general purpose lounges, kitchen. Large multi-purpose areas and several store rooms.
The baptism service requires full immersion so a small pool has been constructed inside the Church made with bricks from a 110 year old Glen Iris house.
Although construction wasn’t completely finished, the first services were held in the building in August 1984.
By the official opening in November 1984, the building cost $400,000 and it was debt free.
Following the Black Saturday fires in February 2009 the Church worked in conjunction with the Shire of Nillumbik providing fire relief to those affected by the bushfires.
Is this building still the largest mud brick structure in Australia?
