Brisbane Synagogue
| Brisbane Synagogue | |
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Brisbane Synagogue, 2012
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| Location | 98 Margaret Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 27°28′24″S 153°01′37″E / 27.4733°S 153.0269°ECoordinates: 27°28′24″S 153°01′37″E / 27.4733°S 153.0269°E |
| Design period | 1870s – 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1885–86 |
| Architect | Arthur Morry |
| Official name: The Brisbane Synagogue | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600127 |
| Significant period | 1885–86 (fabric) |
| Significant components | stained glass window/s, furniture/fittings, tower – minaret, gallery |
| Builders | Arthur Midson |
 Location of Brisbane Synagogue in Queensland
Location of Brisbane Synagogue in Queensland
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The Brisbane Synagogue is a heritage-listed synagogue at 98 Margaret Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Arthur Morry and built from 1885 to 1886 by Arthur Midson. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
The Jewish families who settled in Queensland from the time of Separation formed the nucleus of the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation founded in Brisbane in 1865. The congregation used a number of venues as temporary places of worship, including a building in the grounds of Samuel Davis's home at North Quay (later known as Aubigny), while raising money through various land speculations to purchase a site and build a Synagogue. The present site was purchased by R B Lewin and sold to the congregation for £200. In 1885 designs for a Synagogue were sought from architects and plans submitted by Arthur Morry, who worked in the Queensland Colonial Architect's office, were chosen. The foundation stone was laid on 7 July 1885 and a bottle containing coins, newspapers and documents was embedded beneath it. The foundation stone is no longer visible following the raising of the level of Margaret Street, and it is believed that the courtyard of the Synagogue was raised at the same time. This is supported by the fact that ventilated arches for the basement are now located well below ground level.
Arthur Midson, a prominent building contractor, built the Synagogue for the sum of £6450. It was finally consecrated on 18 July 1886 in a ceremony of "the most imposing and interesting character" which was "crowded to excess" by people of all faiths. The building features a large circular geometric tracery window of Oamaru stone above the Margaret Street arched doorway. The stained glass lead lighting was obtained from Messrs Lyon, Cottier & Co of Sydney. The window is flanked on either side by a minaret turret which rose to a height of 90 feet (27 metres) from the original ground level. The rendered brick structure, constructed on concrete foundations, contains a basement, a nave and side aisles on the ground floor with a minister's retiring or robe room at the rear. In accordance with traditional Jewish religious practices the sexes are separated during worship, with a gallery level for females only. It contains 140 seats and two women's retiring rooms.
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