Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The Abbey



The Abbey is a function centre, often used for weddings, at Federation Square in Nicholls. It's not an abbey, it looks nothing like an abbey, and it's not my style at all, but it seems popular, and it does have one very interesting feature inside - a huge pipe organ case from a London church, said to be carved from 800-1000 year old oak timbers retrieved from shipwrecks and old manor houses. The Abbey's website claims the organ is 19th century, although this isn't clear - the Organ Historical Trust of Australia says it was attached to a 1911 organ in its original location in the Third Church of Christ, Scientist, Curzon Street, Mayfair, London. The organ case was brought to Australia in the 1980s and installed in the Woodoak Museum in Junee, NSW in 1988, before being transferred to The Abbey in 1995.

There are some photos of how the organ case is displayed now on The Abbey website gallery, and more information (including a photo of the case in its original location, with the two parts one on top of the other as they were designed to sit) on the OHTA site.

1 comment:

Gemma Wiseman said...

Fascinating story behind this oddly styled building! Not sure if I like it or not! It seems to be a mish-mash of styles!