Wesley Church
1867-1870 - Wesley Church, 75 William Street, Perth, WA
Wesley Church, at the intersection of William and Hay Streets, is one of the oldest church buildings and one of few remaining 19th-century colonial buildings in the City of Perth. The Church is built of load-bearing brick laid in Flemish bond in the Victorian academic gothic style and features a landmark spire, steeply pitched roofs, parapeted gables, label (hood) moulds and wall buttressing. The 35 metres high spire with a weathercock on top is surrounded by four smaller spires at its base which are capped by metal finials. The roof structure is of hand-sawn timber and the roof covering was originally shingles, but at some point the Church was re-roofed in clay tiles.
The site for the church was purchased from James Inkpen (the first recorded Methodist to arrive in the colony, having landed in December 1829).
Wesley Church was designed by Richard Roach Jewell, an architect, circuit steward, clerk of colonial works and church member. Jewell was responsible for the design of a number of other prominent Perth buildings, including the Cloisters (1858), the Pensioner Barracks (1863), and extensions and alterations to Government House (1864) and Perth Town Hall (1870).
The Meckering earthquake of October 1968 caused structural damage to the church's steeple. A decision was made to demolish the steeple but, when approximately 9 metres was removed, the remainder of the structure appeared secure and so a copper cone was placed on top to replace the damaged section. The bell was also removed from the tower as it was considered that the structure was too weak to support its weight. The bell was then mounted on display outside on the Hay Street side of the church.
Wesley Quarter is a shopping precinct built around the rear sides of the church beneath the 11-story Wesley Centre office tower. Bound by Hay, William and Murray Streets, it is home to a unique blend of over 20 boutique outlets and high-end label stores with extensive offerings to suit any occasion and style. The tower and shopping areas (then known as Wesley Arcade) were built in 1970, but the aracde was rebuilt and extended in 2005.
